Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Barre, VT?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.2% of gross income.
Barre rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Vermont state estimate).
About rent and a firefighter salary
Firefighter base pay plus typical overtime sits modestly above the US median household income, but local rent levels determine whether that translates into affordability or rent burden. At the national-average firefighter base salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,570 a month in rent. The per-city pages compare local rent against local firefighter-pay estimates so renters can see where rent stays in range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Vermont cities have lower median rent than Barre, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Barre
View full rent data for Barre, VT →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in Barre, VT?
Median rent in Barre is $1,483 a month. A typical firefighter in Vermont earns about $60,926 a year, which makes that rent 29.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a firefighter afford in Barre?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Vermont (~$60,926/yr) supports up to $1,523 a month in rent. Barre's current median rent is $1,483/mo, which leaves a $40/mo buffer.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Barre?
At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a firefighter in Vermont works roughly 50.6 hours a month to cover Barre's median rent of $1,483.
Where is rent cheaper than Barre for a firefighter?
Nearby Vermont cities with lower median rent include Bennington ($1,388/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.