Rents are 12% 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 $2,000 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: August 17, 2026
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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 $420 per month, settling near $2,000 after starting the period at $1,580. Census figures show median household income at $71,109 today, compared with $59,331 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 6.7 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 $2,000/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: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Burlington is $2,000/mo as of August 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 34% of local median household income ($71,109/yr), Burlington ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 5.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Burlington an affordable city for renters?
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What percentage of Burlington residents rent vs. own?
How does Burlington rent compare to the national average?
At $2,000/mo, rent takes ~34% 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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