Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Burlington, VT?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.5% of gross income.

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

Burlington median rent
$1,990/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Vermont)
$63,613/yr
Rent as % of income
37.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,301, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,590/mo in rent. Burlington's median rent of $1,990 exceeds that threshold by $400/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 65.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a real estate agent salary

Real estate agent pay is commission-driven and varies widely with local market conditions. The BLS mean averages high and low producers. At the national-average agent salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,640 a month in rent — though successful agents in active markets earn well above this.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Hartford, VT
$1,954/mo (36.9% of income)
Hartford, VT
$1,902/mo (35.9% of income)
Hartford, VT
$1,895/mo (35.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Burlington

View full rent data for Burlington, VT

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Burlington, VT?

Median rent in Burlington is $1,990 a month. A typical real estate agent in Vermont earns about $63,613 a year, which makes that rent 37.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Burlington?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Vermont (~$63,613/yr) supports up to $1,590 a month in rent. Burlington's current median rent is $1,990/mo, which is $400/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Burlington?

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a real estate agent in Vermont works roughly 65.1 hours a month to cover Burlington's median rent of $1,990.

Where is rent cheaper than Burlington for a real estate agent?

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 real estate agent 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.