1st Advantage MortgageThe median Grand Isle County household earns $97,396, and 8% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Grand Isle County
- What Grand Isle County households earn
- Housing costs in Grand Isle County
- The Grand Isle County job picture
- Grand Isle County towns compared
- Grand Isle County and the counties next door
- More Grand Isle County figures
- Before borrowing in Grand Isle County
- What a median Grand Isle County budget can carry
- Four steps for Grand Isle County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Grand Isle County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Grand Isle County
Roughly 7,450 residents live in Grand Isle County, Vermont, 13th by population among the state's 14 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 82 square miles, that is close to 91 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Burlington-South Burlington, VT metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 5 Census places inside Grand Isle County, Grand Isle leads by population with about 2,192; 4 of the 5 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Grand Isle County figure on this page as a rough guide.
What Grand Isle County households earn
Half of Grand Isle County households take in less than $97,396 a year and half take in more, 20% above the Vermont median of $81,203.
| Household income | Grand Isle County | vs Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.4% | -4.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.6% | -3.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.5% | +2.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 17.5% | +6.4 pts |
Some 15% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 49% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 7.9% of Grand Isle County residents in poverty, against 10.1% across Vermont. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.461 here. A household earning below the $97,396 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Grand Isle County
A typical Grand Isle County rental runs $1,425 a month including utilities, which is 15% above Vermont. By the Census definition, 44% of Grand Isle County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $394,100, a typical Grand Isle County house costs 4.0 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 90% of homes. Median construction year: 1984.
| Housing | Grand Isle County | Vermont statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,425/mo | $1,234/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $394,100 | $316,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 90% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 36% | 29% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
The Grand Isle County job picture
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Grand Isle County residents work in education and health care and 12% in manufacturing. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.1% in Grand Isle County. 24% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 18% work from home. Households without a car make up 1.4% of the total (6.2% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Grand Isle County workers | vs Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.1% | -2.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.7% | +1.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.9% | +0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.4% | +0.5 pts |
| Construction | 8.7% | +0.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.4% | -2.6 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Grand Isle County towns compared
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 64% of Grand Isle County residents live in one of the 5. North Hero has the highest median household income on the list ($102,143) and Isle La Motte the lowest ($82,500), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Grand Isle County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Isle | town | 2,192 | $100,846 | $1,363 | 6 mi |
| North Hero | town | 1,263 | $102,143 | $1,556 | 4 mi |
| Isle La Motte | town | 577 | $82,500 | $1,391 | 5 mi |
| Alburgh | village | 486 | $60,000 | $1,721 | 12 mi |
| South Hero | CDP | 219 | $98,654 | $1,338 | 11 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Grand Isle County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Grand Isle County's, from 20 to 51 miles away. None of the six report a higher median household income than Grand Isle County; Chittenden County is highest at $96,759 and Orleans County lowest at $70,103. The list crosses into New York, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Isle County | - | $97,396 | $1,425/mo | 90% |
| Franklin County, VT | 20 mi | $81,313 | $1,180/mo | 77% |
| Clinton County, NY | 20 mi | $71,224 | $1,003/mo | 69% |
| Chittenden County, VT | 26 mi | $96,759 | $1,646/mo | 64% |
| Lamoille County, VT | 35 mi | $74,908 | $1,160/mo | 73% |
| Washington County, VT | 50 mi | $83,449 | $1,163/mo | 74% |
| Orleans County, VT | 51 mi | $70,103 | $892/mo | 80% |
More Grand Isle County figures
Degree holders: 44% of adults over 25. 3.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Grand Isle County | Vermont | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.9 | 43.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 44.0% | 43.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.2% | 5.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.4% | 3.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.4% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 17.9% | 16.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.9% | 10.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Grand Isle County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 31.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 14.1% |
| 60+ min | 9.7% |
Before borrowing in Grand Isle County
Based on the Grand Isle County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Commuter costs. 24% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Manufactured homes. 13% of Grand Isle County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Retirees. At a median age of 48.9, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 49% of Grand Isle County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
What a median Grand Isle County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Grand Isle County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $8,116 before taxes
- Median rent: $1,425, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,497 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Grand Isle County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Four steps for Grand Isle County borrowers
Steps that save money for Grand Isle County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Vermont borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Who licenses lenders for Grand Isle County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Grand Isle County resident can confirm its license with the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Vermont: Vermont personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Vermont guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Grand Isle County household make?
About $97,396 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 20% above the Vermont median.
Is Grand Isle County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,425 against $1,234 statewide, and 44% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Grand Isle County?
By population: Grand Isle, North Hero, Isle La Motte, Alburgh, South Hero. The county has 5 Census places in all.
Does living in Grand Isle County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Grand Isle County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Grand Isle County residents?
The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation licenses consumer lenders in Vermont; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.