1st Advantage MortgageThe median Rutland County household earns $68,616, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Rutland County at a glance
- Housing costs in Rutland County
- Paychecks and income spread in Rutland County
- Employment and commuting in Rutland County
- How Rutland County compares with nearby counties
- Rutland County towns compared
- A Rutland County household budget, worked through
- Rutland County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Rutland County
- A Rutland County borrower's checklist
- Vermont rules that apply in Rutland County
- More guides for Rutland County
- Frequently asked questions
Rutland County at a glance
Roughly 60,425 residents live in Rutland County, Vermont, 2nd by population among the state's 14 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 931 square miles, that is close to 65 residents for every square mile of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Rutland County is not part of any metropolitan area. Rutland is the biggest of its 32 Census places, at roughly 15,712 people (26% of the county total).
Housing costs in Rutland County
Renters in Rutland County pay a median of $1,000 a month, 19% below the Vermont figure of $1,234. 50% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 26% spend half or more. With a median value of $229,400, a typical Rutland County house costs 3.3 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 75%. Half the housing stock was built before 1969.
| Housing | Rutland County | Vermont statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,000/mo | $1,234/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $229,400 | $316,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.6% | 5.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 26% | 19% | 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). High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Paychecks and income spread in Rutland County
The median household income in Rutland County is $68,616; statewide it is $81,203, so Rutland County runs 16% below Vermont as a whole. That places it 13th among Vermont's 14 county-level areas.
| Household income | Rutland County | vs Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.6% | +5.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.6% | +2.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.2% | -4.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.6% | -3.4 pts |
About 26% of households earn under $35,000, while 33% clear $100,000. 11.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.1%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.464 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Rutland County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Employment and commuting in Rutland County
By the Census industry count, 27% of employed Rutland County residents work in education and health care and 13% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in retail trade, at 13% locally and 11% for Vermont. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 6.4% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Rutland County | Gap to Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.1% | -1.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.4% | +2.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.3% | +0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.7% | -0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.6% | +0.7 pts |
| Construction | 8.3% | +0.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How Rutland County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (23 to 44 miles). Addison County leads the group on income ($89,639), Bennington County trails ($73,325), and Rutland County out-earns 0 of the six. Some neighbors are in New York. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Rutland County resident follows Vermont rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutland County | - | $68,616 | $1,000/mo | 75% |
| Windsor County, VT | 23 mi | $77,594 | $1,118/mo | 75% |
| Washington County, NY | 28 mi | $73,495 | $1,033/mo | 77% |
| Addison County, VT | 29 mi | $89,639 | $1,177/mo | 79% |
| Warren County, NY | 39 mi | $78,442 | $1,105/mo | 72% |
| Bennington County, VT | 40 mi | $73,325 | $1,109/mo | 74% |
| Orange County, VT | 44 mi | $82,232 | $1,173/mo | 83% |
Rutland County towns compared
32 Census places fall mainly inside Rutland County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 41,519 residents, leaving about 31% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $102,321 at the median in Hubbardton, $51,094 in Pittsford. No Rutland County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 32.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutland | city | 15,712 | $57,675 | $995 | 4 mi |
| Fair Haven | CDP | 2,537 | $66,131 | $768 | 11 mi |
| Clarendon | town | 2,460 | $59,609 | $1,096 | 7 mi |
| West Rutland | CDP | 2,125 | $53,393 | $883 | 1 mi |
| Brandon | CDP | 1,927 | $59,087 | $1,125 | 14 mi |
| Proctor | CDP | 1,586 | $75,060 | $1,059 | 4 mi |
| Mount Holly | town | 1,415 | $78,015 | $1,534 | 18 mi |
| Shrewsbury | town | 1,237 | $91,250 | $1,438 | 12 mi |
| Mendon | town | 1,113 | $100,524 | $1,230 | 8 mi |
| Castleton | CDP | 1,052 | n/a | $1,331 | 6 mi |
| Poultney | village | 1,033 | $70,536 | $868 | 11 mi |
| Pittsford | CDP | 891 | $51,094 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Hubbardton | town | 831 | $102,321 | $1,708 | 10 mi |
| Tinmouth | town | 827 | $79,219 | n/a | 12 mi |
A Rutland County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Rutland County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,718 before taxes
- Median rent: $1,000, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,058: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Rutland County households compared
Degree holders: 35% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 3.9%, against 3.9% for Vermont.
| People and households | Rutland County | Vermont | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.7 | 43.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 35.3% | 43.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.8% | 5.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.9% | 3.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.4% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.6% | 16.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 10.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.3% |
| 60+ min | 5.5% |
Borrowing situations common in Rutland County
Where the Rutland County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 48, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- 50% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
A Rutland County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Rutland County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Vermont license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Vermont rules that apply in Rutland County
Rutland County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Vermont guide.
More guides for Rutland County
For statewide rules and data, see the Vermont guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Rutland County?
$68,616 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $81,203 for Vermont. It ranks 13th of 14 in the state.
How much is rent in Rutland County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,000 a month; 50% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Rutland County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 75% of Rutland County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Rutland County?
By population: Rutland, Fair Haven, Clarendon, West Rutland, Brandon. The county has 32 Census places in all.
Does living in Rutland 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 Rutland County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.