Vermont households earn a median $81,203 a year and pay a median $1,234 in rent, according to the Census Bureau. Before borrowing, confirm the lender's state license, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and walk away from any upfront fee.
On this page
- Vermont by the numbers
- What the numbers mean for Vermont borrowers
- Largest places in Vermont
- The next 20 places in Vermont
- Counties with the most residents
- How Vermont earns a living
- More context for Vermont budgets
- Checking a lender in Vermont
- Can Vermont residents use the questionnaire?
- Local guides in Vermont
- Frequently asked questions
Vermont by the numbers
Before any advice, the data: Vermont against the country on income, housing costs, work and commuting.
| Budget measure | Vermont | U.S. | Rank of 51 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $81,203 | $80,734 | 20th |
| Years of median income to buy the median home | 3.9x | 4.1x | 26th |
| Workers commuting 45+ minutes | 13% | 17% | 32nd |
| Working from home | 17% | 15% | 12th |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree | 44% | 36% | 4th |
| Age, median | 43.1 | 38.9 | 3rd |
| Gini index (inequality) | 0.453 | 0.483 | 40th |
| Households earning under $35,000 | 20% | 21% | 33rd |
| Share of households at $100,000+ | 40% | 41% | 20th |
| Poverty rate | 10.1% | 12.5% | 40th |
| Jobless rate, 5-year ACS | 3.6% | 5.2% | 46th |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,234 | $1,413 | 26th |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 48% | 51% | 28th |
| Median home value | $316,600 | $332,700 | 24th |
| Homes owner-occupied | 73% | 65% | 4th |
| Mortgaged owners paying 30%+ on housing | 29% | 28% | 17th |
What the numbers mean for Vermont borrowers
Jobs and hardship: an average 3.6% unemployment rate in the 2020 to 2024 survey, and 10.1% of people below the federal poverty line. If you were recently out of work, wait until you have a few steady paychecks before you apply.
Commutes shape budgets too: 13% of Vermont workers travel 45 minutes or more each way (U.S.: 17%), and 17% work from home. Remote and self-employed workers should expect lenders to ask for bank statements or tax returns in place of a simple pay stub.
The typical Vermont home is valued at $316,600 (3.9 times median income), and 73% of households own the place they live in. The owner cost burden rate, for households with a mortgage, is 29%. Owners can also compare a home-equity line against a personal loan, keeping in mind that equity borrowing puts the house at risk.
Housing for renters: median rent of $1,234 (26th of 51), with 48% of renting households putting 30 percent or more of income toward it. Rent-burdened households should put a cushion ahead of any loan, even a small one.
Largest places in Vermont
The 12 most populous places in Vermont, with Census income, rent and home value for each. Linked names have their own local guide on this site.
| City or town | County | Population | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Home value (median) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | Chittenden County | 44,675 | $71,109 | $1,649 | $444,800 |
| South Burlington | Chittenden County | 20,756 | $106,667 | $1,787 | $443,400 |
| Colchester | Chittenden County | 17,648 | $97,891 | $1,474 | $394,400 |
| Rutland | Rutland County | 15,712 | $57,675 | $995 | $185,500 |
| Essex | Chittenden County | 11,516 | $110,199 | $1,569 | $447,300 |
| Essex Junction | Chittenden County | 10,803 | $89,257 | $1,544 | $407,500 |
| Hartford | Windsor County | 10,736 | $78,125 | $1,218 | $304,500 |
| Williston | Chittenden County | 10,144 | $106,967 | $1,832 | $475,800 |
| Bennington | Bennington County | 9,245 | $54,257 | $1,115 | $191,700 |
| Barre | Washington County | 8,412 | $65,625 | $1,093 | $210,400 |
| Winooski | Chittenden County | 8,293 | $79,522 | $1,643 | $381,500 |
| Montpelier | Washington County | 8,014 | $81,030 | $1,302 | $375,100 |
Counting places of 20,000 or more people, median household income in Vermont tops out at $106,667 in South Burlington and bottoms out at $71,109 in Burlington. The state has 0 places over 50,000 and 8 over 10,000. Rents differ just as much, from a median $1,649 a month in Burlington to $1,787 in South Burlington.
The next 20 places in Vermont
From Brattleboro (7,657 residents) down to Bellows Falls (2,891).
| Place | Residents | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brattleboro | 7,657 | $52,734 | $1,113 |
| Middlebury | 7,220 | $86,250 | $1,201 |
| St. Albans | 6,954 | $57,980 | $1,150 |
| Shelburne | 6,499 | $109,583 | $1,439 |
| St. Johnsbury | 5,859 | $53,711 | $912 |
| Morristown | 5,722 | $66,273 | $1,214 |
| Georgia | 4,890 | $105,011 | $1,629 |
| Rockingham | 4,807 | $70,857 | $1,062 |
| Derby | 4,537 | $80,250 | $1,096 |
| Newport | 4,394 | $54,646 | $850 |
| Springfield | 4,237 | $46,760 | $818 |
| Charlotte | 3,916 | $144,375 | $1,738 |
| Northfield | 3,766 | $60,789 | $997 |
| Shaftsbury | 3,607 | $86,071 | $1,079 |
| Milton | 3,555 | $77,550 | $1,471 |
| Highgate | 3,528 | $81,017 | $895 |
| White River Junction | 3,364 | $77,168 | $1,222 |
| Underhill | 3,141 | $92,267 | n/a |
| Wilder | 3,087 | $75,143 | $1,142 |
| Bellows Falls | 2,891 | $56,086 | $1,038 |
Measured as a year of median rent against median household income, housing weighs most in Brattleboro (25%) and least in Highgate (13%) among these 20 places.
Counties with the most residents
Vermont has 14 counties or equivalents. The 14 most populous are below.
| County | Residents | Median household income | Median rent | Typical home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chittenden County | 169,758 | $96,759 | $1,646 | $439,200 |
| Rutland County | 60,425 | $68,616 | $1,000 | $229,400 |
| Washington County | 60,017 | $83,449 | $1,163 | $315,000 |
| Windsor County | 57,990 | $77,594 | $1,118 | $296,400 |
| Franklin County | 50,638 | $81,313 | $1,180 | $306,700 |
| Windham County | 45,923 | $72,217 | $1,056 | $279,600 |
| Addison County | 37,664 | $89,639 | $1,177 | $361,200 |
| Bennington County | 37,269 | $73,325 | $1,109 | $279,900 |
| Caledonia County | 30,475 | $69,970 | $920 | $227,900 |
| Orange County | 29,761 | $82,232 | $1,173 | $271,300 |
| Orleans County | 27,606 | $70,103 | $892 | $223,400 |
| Lamoille County | 26,148 | $74,908 | $1,160 | $304,700 |
| Grand Isle County | 7,450 | $97,396 | $1,425 | $394,100 |
| Essex County | 5,982 | $59,294 | $827 | $172,500 |
The county income gap: $97,396 at the top in Grand Isle County, $59,294 at the bottom in Essex County. That spread is a reminder to size a payment to your own budget, not to a state average.
How Vermont earns a living
Which sectors put Vermont to work? The four biggest are below, alongside national shares.
| Sector | Share of Vermont workers | U.S. share | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education, health care and social assistance | 29% | 24% | +5.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11% | 11% | +0.2 pts |
| Professional, scientific and administrative services | 10% | 13% | -2.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10% | 10% | -0.0 pts |
Vermont's signature sector, measured against the U.S., is education, health care and social assistance at 29% of employed residents. Hourly workers with variable schedules should average several months of pay when sizing a payment.
More context for Vermont budgets
Incomes are spread unevenly: 20% of Vermont households earn under $35,000 (U.S.: 21%), while 40% earn $100,000 or more (U.S.: 41%) and 11% top $200,000. Households at the lower end often do better with a smaller loan, or with a hardship plan from the creditor they already owe.
With a median age of 43.1 and 44% of adults holding a four-year degree, Vermont has a Gini inequality index of 0.453, ranking 40th from most to least unequal.
The median household in Vermont earns $81,203 a year, about the same as the national median of $80,734, which ranks 20th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Use it as a yardstick: if your income sits well below the median, keep the loan smaller and the term shorter.
Checking a lender in Vermont
Before you share details with any lender, confirm it may lend in Vermont. The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation is the state banking agency listed in the Conference of State Bank Supervisors directory.
- Report fee-first offers at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- CFPB complaints reach the lender and are tracked by a federal regulator.
- NMLS Consumer Access shows many lenders' licenses state by state.
Can Vermont residents use the questionnaire?
Partner coverage varies by state. If no lending partner is accepting Vermont matches yet, the questionnaire says so on the location step and offers an email waitlist instead of asking for anything else. The guides and calculators work for everyone.
Local guides in Vermont
Until Vermont cities get their own pages, treat this as the local guide for the whole state; the search box knows every Vermont town.
Frequently asked questions
Which agency licenses lenders in Vermont?
Start with the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation, Vermont's banking agency in the CSBS directory. Many lenders' state licenses also appear on NMLS Consumer Access, and the CFPB takes complaints nationwide.
How much does a typical Vermont household earn?
About $81,203. Half of Vermont households earn more and half less; nationally the midpoint is $80,734.
What is the median rent in Vermont?
The typical renter pays $1,234; the U.S. median is $1,413. In Vermont, 48% of renting households spend 30 percent or more of income on housing.
Do home values in Vermont change how I should borrow?
The median home in Vermont is valued at $316,600, about 3.9 times the median household income of $81,203. Where housing takes a big share of income, keep new payments modest and compare total cost rather than stretching the term.