The 05641 zip code in Barre tops our ranking of the most affordable places to live in Vermont.
We looked at 13 zip codes in the state, evaluating home values, rental costs, energy rates, property taxes, and five other affordability indicators. We used the data we gathered to calculate our proprietary Affordability Score for each zip code.
Top 10 most affordable places to live in Vermont
| Rank | City | Affordability Score | Median home value | Rental costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barre 🥇 | 100.0 | $307,361 | $1,432 |
| 2 | Milton 🥈 | 89.7 | $447,649 | $1,928 |
| 3 | Bennington 🥉 | 89.1 | $246,775 | $1,928 |
| 4 | Essex | 80.2 | $478,677 | $2,000 |
| 5 | Williston | 79.0 | $585,390 | $1,850 |
| 6 | Brattleboro | 76.7 | $334,448 | $1,592 |
| 7 | South Burlington | 72.0 | $480,517 | $2,319 |
| 8 | Montpelier | 67.8 | $419,348 | $1,928 |
| 9 | Middlebury | 67.4 | $473,027 | $1,928 |
| 10 | Rutland | 65.3 | $282,886 | $1,928 |
Buy in Vermont and get cash back
Get matched with a top agent in Barre or any other affordable place in the state. Compare your money-saving options until you find the perfect fit, or walk away with no obligation.
1. Barre
Here's why the 05641 zip code in Barre is Vermont's most affordable place to live.
🔎 Key data about Barre
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 13 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 100.0 | No. 1 | N/A |
| Median home value | $307,361[1] | No. 3 | -$116,820.29 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.0 | No. 2 | -1.1 |
| Home value five-year change | 44.7%[2] | No. 12 | 13.4% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.5%[3] | No. 3 | -0.1% |
| Rental costs | $1,432[4] | No. 1 | -$497 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.86% | No. 2 | -0.5% |
| Median household income | $76,855[5] | No. 8 | -$5,813 |
| Property taxes | $4,901[6] | No. 4 | -$1,040 |
| Energy costs | $0.22 kWh[7] | No. 5 | $0.00 |
Barre's 05641 zip code is the cheapest place to live in Vermont, leading the 13 markets we evaluated.
The median home value is $307,361, making it the 3rd-cheapest housing market in the state. Forecasts project a 0.5% change in home values in the next year. Rent in the zip code averages $1,432 per month, which is the 2nd cheapest amount in Vermont.
The median property tax for homeowners in Barre is $4,901 per household, the No. 4 ranked market in Vermont.
Residents pay $0.22 per kWh of electricity, which ranks No. 5 among Vermont markets.
2. Milton
The 5468 zip code is the 2nd-cheapest place to live in Vermont.
🔎 Key data about Milton
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 13 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 89.7 | No. 2 | N/A |
| Median home value | $447,649[8] | No. 7 | $23,467.90 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.9 | No. 1 | -1.2 |
| Home value five-year change | 26.2%[9] | No. 4 | -5.1% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.5%[10] | No. 3 | -0.1% |
| Rental costs | $1,928[11] | No. 4 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.33% | No. 5 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $114,709[12] | No. 1 | $32,041 |
| Property taxes | $5,473[13] | No. 6 | -$468 |
| Energy costs | $0.23 kWh[14] | No. 11 | $0.01 |
Milton's 5468 zip code has a median home value of $447,649, which is the 3rd-cheapest housing market in Vermont. You can rent for an average of $1,928 per month. That's the 4th-cheapest price in the state.
The average household income in the zip code is $114,709, which ranks 1st-highest in the state.
Homeowners in Milton pay a median property tax of $5,473 per year, making it the 6th-most affordable market in Vermont.
Milton ranks No. 11 among Vermont energy markets. You'll pay $0.23 per kWh of electricity.
3. Bennington
The 3rd-cheapest place to live in Vermont is Bennington's 5201 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Bennington
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 13 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 89.1 | No. 3 | N/A |
| Median home value | $246,775[15] | No. 1 | -$177,405.80 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.1 | No. 3 | -1.0 |
| Home value five-year change | 29.5%[16] | No. 7 | -1.9% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.6%[17] | No. 12 | 0.0% |
| Rental costs | $1,928[18] | No. 4 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.33% | No. 5 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $59,798[19] | No. 13 | -$22,870 |
| Property taxes | $4,430[20] | No. 1 | -$1,511 |
| Energy costs | $0.22 kWh[21] | No. 5 | $0.00 |
The No. 1 cheapest housing market in Vermont is Bennington's 5201 zip code, with a median home value of $246,775. Rents in the market average $1,928 per month, making it the 4th-most affordable rental market in the state.
The median property tax for households in Bennington is $4,430, which makes it the 1st-cheapest place in Vermont. Bennington ranks No. 5 among Vermont markets by energy costs. Residents pay $0.22 per kWh of electricity.
4. Essex
The 5452 zip code in Essex comes in at No. 4 on our list of the cheapest places to live in Vermont.
🔎 Key data about Essex
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 13 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 80.2 | No. 4 | N/A |
| Median home value | $478,677[22] | No. 9 | $54,495.55 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.7 | No. 6 | -0.4 |
| Home value five-year change | 28.0%[23] | No. 6 | -3.3% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.5%[24] | No. 3 | -0.1% |
| Rental costs | $2,000[25] | No. 11 | $72 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.97% | No. 3 | -0.4% |
| Median household income | $101,349[26] | No. 4 | $18,681 |
| Property taxes | $6,694[27] | No. 10 | $753 |
| Energy costs | $0.23 kWh[28] | No. 11 | $0.01 |
The No. 9 cheapest housing market in Vermont is Essex's 5452 zip code, where the median home value is $478,677. Renters here pay an average of $2,000 per month.
When it comes to energy costs, Essex ranks 11th among Vermont markets. Residents pay $0.23 per kWh of electricity.
The median property tax for households in the zip code is $6,694, which makes it the 10th-cheapest market in Vermont.
5. Williston
The 5495 zip code in Williston ranks No. 5 among Vermont's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about Williston
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 13 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 79.0 | No. 5 | N/A |
| Median home value | $585,390[29] | No. 13 | $161,208.29 |
| Home affordability ratio | 5.5 | No. 12 | 0.3 |
| Home value five-year change | 30.6%[30] | No. 8 | -0.7% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.5%[31] | No. 3 | -0.1% |
| Rental costs | $1,850[32] | No. 3 | -$78 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.73% | No. 1 | -0.6% |
| Median household income | $107,054[33] | No. 2 | $24,386 |
| Property taxes | $5,587[34] | No. 8 | -$354 |
| Energy costs | $0.21 kWh[35] | No. 2 | $0.00 |
Williston's 5495 zip code has a median home value of $585,390, the 13th-cheapest market in the state. Forecasts project a 0.5% change in home values in the next year.
The median property tax per household in Williston is $5,587. It's the 8th-cheapest market by tax rate in Vermont.
6. Brattleboro
The No. 6 most affordable place to live in Vermont is the 5301 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Brattleboro
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 13 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 76.7 | No. 6 | N/A |
| Median home value | $334,448[36] | No. 4 | -$89,733.62 |
| Home affordability ratio | 5.1 | No. 8 | -0.1 |
| Home value five-year change | 19.7%[37] | No. 1 | -11.6% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.6%[38] | No. 10 | 0.0% |
| Rental costs | $1,592[39] | No. 2 | -$337 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.41% | No. 12 | 0.1% |
| Median household income | $65,910[40] | No. 10 | -$16,758 |
| Property taxes | $5,551[41] | No. 7 | -$390 |
| Energy costs | $0.22 kWh[42] | No. 5 | $0.00 |
The back half of our top 10 kicks off with Brattleboro's 5301 zip code, which has the 4th-cheapest home values in Vermont. The median home value is $334,448. Rents average $1,592 per month, making it the 2nd-most affordable rental market in the state.
Residents pay $0.22 per kWh of electricity. It's the 5th-cheapest energy market.
7. South Burlington
South Burlington's 5403 zip code is the 7th-cheapest place to live in Vermont.
🔎 Key data about South Burlington
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 13 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 72.0 | No. 7 | N/A |
| Median home value | $480,517[43] | No. 10 | $56,336.05 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.5 | No. 4 | -0.6 |
| Home value five-year change | 32.3%[44] | No. 9 | 0.9% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.4%[45] | No. 1 | -0.2% |
| Rental costs | $2,319[46] | No. 13 | $391 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.20% | No. 4 | -0.1% |
| Median household income | $105,616[47] | No. 3 | $22,948 |
| Property taxes | $6,714[48] | No. 11 | $773 |
| Energy costs | $0.21 kWh[49] | No. 2 | $0.00 |
You'll find the 10th-cheapest home values in Vermont in South Burlington's 5403 zip code. The median value: $480,517. Renters in South Burlington pay an average of $2,319 per month.
Homeowners in South Burlington pay a median property tax of $6,714 per year, which is Vermont's 11th-most affordable market.
The average household income is $105,616, which ranks 3rd-highest in the state.
8. Montpelier
The 8th-cheapest place to live in Vermont is Montpelier's 5602 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Montpelier
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 13 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 67.8 | No. 8 | N/A |
| Median home value | $419,348[50] | No. 6 | -$4,833.31 |
| Home affordability ratio | 5.2 | No. 9 | 0.0 |
| Home value five-year change | 26.7%[51] | No. 5 | -4.6% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.5%[52] | No. 3 | -0.1% |
| Rental costs | $1,928[53] | No. 4 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.33% | No. 5 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $81,320[54] | No. 7 | -$1,348 |
| Property taxes | $6,246[55] | No. 9 | $305 |
| Energy costs | $0.22 kWh[56] | No. 5 | $0.00 |
The 6th-cheapest housing market in Vermont is Montpelier's 5602 zip code, with a median home value of $419,348. Renters pay an average of $1,928 per month, the No. 4 rental market in the state.
The median property tax for households in Montpelier is $6,246, which makes it the 9th-cheapest place in Vermont. The average household income of $81,320 ranks 7th.
9. Middlebury
Middlebury's 5753 zip code sneaks into the top ten of Vermont's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about Middlebury
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 13 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 67.4 | No. 9 | N/A |
| Median home value | $473,027[57] | No. 8 | $48,845.40 |
| Home affordability ratio | 5.2 | No. 10 | 0.0 |
| Home value five-year change | 23.5%[58] | No. 2 | -7.8% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.6%[59] | No. 10 | 0.0% |
| Rental costs | $1,928[60] | No. 4 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.33% | No. 5 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $91,659[61] | No. 6 | $8,991 |
| Property taxes | $6,721[62] | No. 12 | $780 |
| Energy costs | $0.22 kWh[63] | No. 5 | $0.00 |
The 8th-cheapest housing market in Vermont is Middlebury's 5753 zip code, where the median home value is $473,027. Renters pay an average of $1,928 per month. It's the state's 4th-cheapest rental market.
The median property tax for households within the zip code is $6,721, which makes it the 12th-cheapest property tax rate in Vermont.
10. Rutland
The final spot on our list of the most affordable places to live in Vermont goes to the 5701 zip code in Rutland.
🔎 Key data about Rutland
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 13 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 65.3 | No. 10 | N/A |
| Median home value | $282,886[64] | No. 2 | -$141,295.31 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.6 | No. 5 | -0.5 |
| Home value five-year change | 44.2%[65] | No. 11 | 12.8% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.5%[66] | No. 13 | 0.9% |
| Rental costs | $1,928[67] | No. 4 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.33% | No. 5 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $61,610[68] | No. 12 | -$21,058 |
| Property taxes | $4,595[69] | No. 3 | -$1,346 |
| Energy costs | $0.22 kWh[70] | No. 5 | $0.00 |
The 2nd-most affordable market in Vermont is Rutland's 5701 zip code. The median home value is $282,886. Rent in the market costs $1,928 per month on average, making it the 4th-most affordable rental market in Vermont.
The median property tax for households in Rutland is $4,595, which is the 3rd-cheapest property tax rate in the state.
Rutland ranks No. 5 among Vermont markets by energy costs, with households paying $0.22 per kWh of electricity.
How we ranked the most affordable places in Vermont
We evaluated 13 zip codes in Vermont with a population over 10,000 on nine metrics. We then assigned each market an Affordability Score based on its weighted and combined rankings.
Our proprietary Affordability Score is a score on a scale of 0 (worst in state) to 100 (best in state) that estimates the affordability of a particular zip code. It takes into account these key data points for each zip code.
- Median home value: The median home value for each zip code comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. The lower the median home value relative to the median value in Vermont, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 13.0% to median home value.
- Home affordability ratio. The home affordability ratio is the typical median home value divided by the median household income in the zip code, which reveals the number of years of household income needed to afford a home in that zip code. A lower ratio is better because it means more households can afford a home. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 28.0% to the home affordability ratio.
- Home value five-year change: The home value five-year change is the amount that the median home value in the zip code has risen or fallen during the last five years. Our data comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. We assign a weight of 10.0% to the home value five-year change.
- Home value one-year forecast: The home value one-year forecast comes from Zillow Forecast data. It projects how much home values in the zip code are forecasted to change in the next year. We assign a weight of 8.0% to the home value one-year forecast.
- Rental costs. The rental costs are the observed rents in the zip code, sourced from the Zillow Observed Rent Index. The index includes "listed rents that fall into the 40th to 60th percentile range for all homes and apartments in a given region." We assign a weight of 7.0% to rental costs.
- Median household income: The inflation-adjusted median household income figures for the zip code comes from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 5.0% to median household income.
- Rent affordability ratio. The rent affordability ratio is the ratio of rental costs divided by median household income, which provides the percentage of household income needed to pay a typical month’s rent in the zip code. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 17.0% to the rent affordability ratio.
- Property taxes: The property tax figures are the median real estate taxes paid in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The lower the property tax rate relative to the Vermont average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 8.0% to property taxes.
- Energy costs: The energy costs are the costs of a kilowatt hour (kWh) of residential electricity in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Department of Energy. The lower the cost of electricity relative to the Vermont average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 4.0% to energy costs.
✍️ Editor’s note: Our Affordability Score identifies the most affordable places in a state by zip code. Often the zip code we identify will represent an entire city or portion of a city.
Occasionally the zip code we identify will encompass an area that includes one or more small towns. In these cases, the data we’ve gathered applies to the entire zip code, not just the single town we’re using to help identify the zip code's location.
If you’re looking to move to one of these affordable places, we recommend doing additional research to make sure the costs in the area — and the quality of life it offers — meet your specific needs.
