Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Hartford, VT?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.5% of gross income.

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

Hartford median rent
$1,954/mo
Firefighter salary (Vermont)
$60,926/yr
Rent as % of income
38.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,523/mo in rent. Hartford's median rent of $1,954 exceeds that threshold by $431/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 66.7 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Hartford, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Brattleboro, VT
$1,892/mo (37.3% of income)
Brattleboro, VT
$1,875/mo (36.9% of income)
Brattleboro, VT
$1,753/mo (34.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Hartford

View full rent data for Hartford, VT

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Hartford, VT?

Median rent in Hartford is $1,954 a month. A typical firefighter in Vermont earns about $60,926 a year, which makes that rent 38.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Hartford?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Vermont (~$60,926/yr) supports up to $1,523 a month in rent. Hartford's current median rent is $1,954/mo, which is $431/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a firefighter in Vermont works roughly 66.7 hours a month to cover Hartford's median rent of $1,954.

Where is rent cheaper than Hartford for a firefighter?

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 firefighter 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.