Rents are 9% below what Burlington's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $2,738 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
February. Asking rents in Burlington usually run 1% below trend in February and 1.6% above it in October, about $71 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.
Rent in Burlington is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in August 2017.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Burlington rose 37.1% while median household income rose 38.4% ($51,394 to $71,109). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Burlington is 38.1% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 8 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($71,109) is $1,778 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,550); a 2-bedroom is $2,040.
Winooski, 2 miles away, rents for 20% less ($2,181/mo), about $6,700 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Burlington. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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
Burlington, VT is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, 60.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Burlington, VT has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in Burlington, VT has increased by $650 per month, settling near $2,738 after starting the period at $2,088. Census figures show median household income at $71,109 today, compared with $59,331 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 11.2 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. About 58.5% of households rent today, against 61.7% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 57% to 60.5%. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Burlington on your salary?
At $2,738/mo, how Burlington rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Burlington rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Burlington. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Burlington
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Burlington is $2,738/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,450/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,040/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,550/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,630/mo.
At 46% of local median household income ($71,109/yr), Burlington ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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At $2,738/mo, rent takes ~46% of Burlington's median household income ($71,109/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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