Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Colchester, VT?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 76.5% of gross income.

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

Colchester median rent
$2,292/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Vermont)
$35,958/yr
Rent as % of income
76.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,997, and the 30% rule supports up to $899/mo in rent. Colchester's median rent of $2,292 exceeds that threshold by $1,393/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 132.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a retail salesperson salary

Retail pay sits below the rent threshold needed for solo apartment living in most US metros, which is the central tension behind the widely studied retail-housing affordability gap. At the national-average retail salary, the 30% rule supports about $927 a month in rent — below the median one-bedroom rent in nearly every metro tracked here. The per-city pages show which markets are least out of reach.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Vermont cities have lower median rent than Colchester, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

South Burlington, VT
$2,289/mo (76.4% of income)
South Burlington, VT
$2,259/mo (75.4% of income)
Hartford, VT
$2,225/mo (74.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Colchester

View full rent data for Colchester, VT

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Colchester, VT?

Median rent in Colchester is $2,292 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Vermont earns about $35,958 a year, which makes that rent 76.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a retail salesperson afford in Colchester?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Vermont (~$35,958/yr) supports up to $899 a month in rent. Colchester's current median rent is $2,292/mo, which is $1,393/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a retail salesperson work to cover rent in Colchester?

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a retail salesperson in Vermont works roughly 132.6 hours a month to cover Colchester's median rent of $2,292.

Where is rent cheaper than Colchester for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Vermont cities with lower median rent include South Burlington ($2,289/mo), South Burlington ($2,259/mo), Hartford ($2,225/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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