Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Burlington, VT?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.9% of gross income.
Burlington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Vermont state estimate).
About rent and a police officer salary
The gap between a police officer's base pay and the rent in the city they patrol is a widely tracked local affordability question. Many large-city departments now publish recruitment materials that include a local-rent comparison, because affordability has become a recruiting issue. At the national-average officer base pay, the 30% rule supports about $1,932 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local officer-pay estimates to show where rent stays within that range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Vermont cities have lower median rent than Burlington, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Burlington
View full rent data for Burlington, VT →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Burlington, VT?
Median rent in Burlington is $1,990 a month. A typical police officer in Vermont earns about $74,952 a year, which makes that rent 31.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Burlington?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Vermont (~$74,952/yr) supports up to $1,874 a month in rent. Burlington's current median rent is $1,990/mo, which is $116/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Burlington?
At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a police officer in Vermont works roughly 55.2 hours a month to cover Burlington's median rent of $1,990.
Where is rent cheaper than Burlington for a police officer?
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 police officer salary.