Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Colchester, VT?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 80.7% of gross income.

Colchester rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Vermont state estimate).

Colchester median rent
$2,292/mo
Bartender salary (Vermont)
$34,076/yr
Rent as % of income
80.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,840, and the 30% rule supports up to $852/mo in rent. Colchester's median rent of $2,292 exceeds that threshold by $1,440/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 139.9 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a bartender salary

Declared bartender pay sits below the rent threshold for a one-bedroom in most US cities. Actual tip income in high-volume bars and fine-dining can push real take-home substantially higher. At the national-average declared bartender salary, the 30% rule supports about $878 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Vermont cities have lower median rent than Colchester, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

South Burlington, VT
$2,289/mo (80.6% of income)
South Burlington, VT
$2,259/mo (79.6% of income)
Hartford, VT
$2,225/mo (78.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Colchester

View full rent data for Colchester, VT

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Colchester, VT?

Median rent in Colchester is $2,292 a month. A typical bartender in Vermont earns about $34,076 a year, which makes that rent 80.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a bartender afford in Colchester?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Vermont (~$34,076/yr) supports up to $852 a month in rent. Colchester's current median rent is $2,292/mo, which is $1,440/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a bartender work to cover rent in Colchester?

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a bartender in Vermont works roughly 139.9 hours a month to cover Colchester's median rent of $2,292.

Where is rent cheaper than Colchester for a bartender?

Nearby Vermont cities with lower median rent include South Burlington ($2,289/mo), South Burlington ($2,259/mo), Hartford ($2,225/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Vermont state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Colchester, VT. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.