At $3,870/mo, rent takes about 47% of the local median household income, well above the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,870 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
30% of the median household income ($98,893) is $2,472 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,669); a 3-bedroom is $3,226.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Vail. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Vail, CO is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 69.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Vail, CO has changed in 5 years
Household income in the area moved from $100,417 to $98,893 across the same window, down 1.5% versus 2021. Census counts show Vail, CO losing about 287 residents over the five-year window, down 5.9% on net. The renter share has risen from 24.9% to 38.6%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 66.5% to 69.6% across the same window.
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At $3,870/mo, how Vail rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Vail rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Vail. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Vail
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Vail is $3,870/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,438/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,669/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,231/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,226/mo.
At 47% of local median household income ($98,893/yr), Vail ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Vail?
Is rent going up or down in Vail?
How does Vail rent compare to other cities in Colorado?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Vail?
At $3,870/mo, rent takes ~47% of Vail's median household income ($98,893/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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