Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Colchester, VT?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 77.6% of gross income.
Colchester rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Vermont state estimate).
About rent and a waiter or waitress salary
Declared server pay (base plus reported tips) sits below the rent threshold needed for a one-bedroom apartment in most US cities, which is why the server workforce tends to live in shared housing. Actual tip income varies widely and can push real take-home well above the BLS figure, particularly in fine-dining and high-volume restaurants. At the national-average declared server salary, the 30% rule supports about $913 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Vermont cities have lower median rent than Colchester, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Colchester
View full rent data for Colchester, VT →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Colchester, VT?
Median rent in Colchester is $2,292 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Vermont earns about $35,434 a year, which makes that rent 77.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a waiter or waitress afford in Colchester?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Vermont (~$35,434/yr) supports up to $886 a month in rent. Colchester's current median rent is $2,292/mo, which is $1,406/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Colchester?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Vermont works roughly 134.5 hours a month to cover Colchester's median rent of $2,292.
Where is rent cheaper than Colchester for a waiter or waitress?
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 waiter or waitress salary.