Housing Market Analysis · 2026
Rent vs Buy in Burlington, VT
Local prices pre-filled. Adjust any input to match your situation.
Should you buy in Burlington?
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18x — is competitive for buying
A price-to-rent ratio of 18 suggests buying may be competitive with renting in Burlington, VT, depending on your mortgage rate and time horizon.
Monthly Cost Gap
Buying currently costs roughly $1,178 more per month than renting the median unit in Burlington, VT. That gap is the "opportunity cost" renters can invest — which is why the breakeven point matters so much here.
Price Trends
Prices in Burlington, VT grew 0.2% over the past year — modest but steady appreciation that generally supports long-term buying decisions.
Affordability
The income needed to qualify for a median home in Burlington, VT is approximately $104K. Many middle-income households are weighing whether to buy now or continue renting.
Interactive Calculator — Burlington Pre-filled
Values are set to Burlington, VT medians. Change anything to match your scenario.
At 10 years
Renting wins by $95K
No breakeven in selected timeframe.
Monthly Cost (Year 1)
Wealth Over Time
| Year | Buyer | Renter | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $83K | $128K | Rent |
| 2 | $103K | $151K | Rent |
| 3 | $124K | $176K | Rent |
| 4 | $145K | $202K | Rent |
| 5 | $168K | $229K | Rent |
| 6 | $191K | $258K | Rent |
| 7 | $215K | $288K | Rent |
| 8 | $241K | $320K | Rent |
| 9 | $267K | $354K | Rent |
| 10 | $295K | $390K | Rent |
Common Questions — Renting vs Buying in Burlington
Other VT Markets to Compare
See how the rent-vs-buy math stacks up in other VT cities.