Can A Chef Afford Rent in Hartford, VT?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.7% of gross income.

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

Hartford median rent
$1,954/mo
Chef salary (Vermont)
$62,226/yr
Rent as % of income
37.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,186, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,556/mo in rent. Hartford's median rent of $1,954 exceeds that threshold by $398/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 65.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a chef salary

Chef pay varies sharply by restaurant type, with executive chefs at high-end establishments earning materially above the BLS mean. At the national-average chef salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,604 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Brattleboro, VT
$1,892/mo (36.5% of income)
Brattleboro, VT
$1,875/mo (36.2% of income)
Brattleboro, VT
$1,753/mo (33.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Hartford

View full rent data for Hartford, VT

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Hartford, VT?

Median rent in Hartford is $1,954 a month. A typical chef in Vermont earns about $62,226 a year, which makes that rent 37.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a chef afford in Hartford?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Vermont (~$62,226/yr) supports up to $1,556 a month in rent. Hartford's current median rent is $1,954/mo, which is $398/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Hartford?

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a chef in Vermont works roughly 65.3 hours a month to cover Hartford's median rent of $1,954.

Where is rent cheaper than Hartford for a chef?

Nearby Vermont cities with lower median rent include Brattleboro ($1,892/mo), Brattleboro ($1,875/mo), Brattleboro ($1,753/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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