Cost of Living in Chittenden County, Vermont
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Chittenden County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Chittenden County ranks #3,004 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 4%)
Sourced county brief
Chittenden County Median Gross Rent Reaches $1,646 Monthly
The median gross rent in Chittenden County is $1,646 per month, a figure that is $514 above the Vermont unweighted county mean of $1,132. For renter households, the official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI), as reported in ACS table B25071, is 30.2%. This official estimate is 0.8 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean GRAPI of 29.4%. The median renter-household income was recorded at $59,998. In the owner-occupied sector, the median home value was estimated at $439,200, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $292,950. Median selected monthly owner costs for all housing units were $1,826, which is $456 above the Vermont unweighted county mean of $1,370. These statistics are snapshot estimates from the American Community Survey 5-year data release. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Chittenden County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.2% of renter household income in Chittenden County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,646 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,826. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $65,840 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Vermont unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,132 per month. Chittenden County's $1,646 median is 45.4% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Chittenden County
Rent Burden
20.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,258
per month
Owner Cost Burden
22.6%
of gross income
The median home in Chittenden County may be a stretch
Median home value is $439,200. Estimated monthly cost: $3,506 vs. your max of $2,258.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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