Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Burlington, VT?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.4% of gross income.

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

Burlington median rent
$1,990/mo
Carpenter salary (Vermont)
$59,112/yr
Rent as % of income
40.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,926, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,478/mo in rent. Burlington's median rent of $1,990 exceeds that threshold by $512/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 70 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a carpenter salary

Carpenter pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. Union carpenters in high-cost cities often earn well above the BLS mean. At the national-average carpenter salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,524 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Hartford, VT
$1,954/mo (39.7% of income)
Hartford, VT
$1,902/mo (38.6% of income)
Hartford, VT
$1,895/mo (38.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Burlington

View full rent data for Burlington, VT

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Burlington, VT?

Median rent in Burlington is $1,990 a month. A typical carpenter in Vermont earns about $59,112 a year, which makes that rent 40.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Burlington?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Vermont (~$59,112/yr) supports up to $1,478 a month in rent. Burlington's current median rent is $1,990/mo, which is $512/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Burlington?

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a carpenter in Vermont works roughly 70 hours a month to cover Burlington's median rent of $1,990.

Where is rent cheaper than Burlington for a carpenter?

Nearby Vermont cities with lower median rent include Hartford ($1,954/mo), Hartford ($1,902/mo), Hartford ($1,895/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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