The 05201 zip code in Bennington 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 | Bennington 🥇 | 100.0 | $225,705 | $2,184 |
| 2 | Rutland 🥈 | 84.3 | $256,955 | $2,184 |
| 3 | Milton 🥉 | 80.7 | $433,288 | $2,184 |
| 4 | Barre | 80.5 | $293,460 | $2,184 |
| 5 | Saint Albans | 70.9 | $354,690 | $1,900 |
| 6 | Montpelier | 65.5 | $393,951 | $2,184 |
| 7 | Middlebury | 65.2 | $436,239 | $2,184 |
| 8 | Essex | 62.9 | $473,072 | $2,184 |
| 9 | Brattleboro | 60.4 | $324,696 | $2,184 |
| 10 | Colchester | 55.9 | $468,224 | $2,184 |
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1. Bennington
Here's why the 05201 zip code in Bennington is Vermont's most affordable place to live.
🔎 Key data about Bennington
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 13 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 100.0 | No. 1 | N/A |
| Median home value | $225,705[1] | No. 1 | -$175,349.88 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.9 | No. 1 | -1.5 |
| Home value five-year change | 39.3%[2] | No. 3 | -6.9% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.2%[3] | No. 11 | 0.2% |
| Rental costs | $2,184[4] | No. 3 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.90% | No. 2 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $58,257[5] | No. 11 | -$16,988 |
| Property taxes | $4,410[6] | No. 1 | -$1,436 |
| Energy costs | $0.20 kWh[7] | No. 1 | $0.00 |
Bennington's 05201 zip code is the cheapest place to live in Vermont, leading the 13 markets we evaluated.
The median home value is $225,705, making it the 1st-cheapest housing market in the state. Forecasts project a 1.2% change in home values in the next year. Rent in the zip code averages $2,184 per month, which is the 2nd cheapest amount in Vermont.
The median property tax for homeowners in Bennington is $4,410 per household, the No. 1 ranked market in Vermont.
Residents pay $0.20 per kWh of electricity, which ranks No. 1 among Vermont markets.
2. Rutland
The 5701 zip code is the 2nd-cheapest place to live in Vermont.
🔎 Key data about Rutland
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 13 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 84.3 | No. 2 | N/A |
| Median home value | $256,955[8] | No. 2 | -$144,099.55 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.53447205 | No. 4 | -0.8 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.4549672513[9] | No. 8 | -0.7% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.2%[10] | No. 11 | 0.2% |
| Rental costs | $2,184[11] | No. 3 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.90% | No. 2 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | 56667[12] | No. 12 | -$18,578 |
| Property taxes | $4,438[13] | No. 2 | -$1,408 |
| Energy costs | 0.2036883249 kWh[14] | No. 1 | $0.00 |
Rutland's 5701 zip code has a median home value of $256,955, which is the 11th-cheapest housing market in Vermont. You can rent for an average of $2,184 per month. That's the 3rd-cheapest price in the state.
The average household income in the zip code is 56667, which ranks 12th-highest in the state.
Homeowners in Rutland pay a median property tax of $4,438 per year, making it the 2nd-most affordable market in Vermont.
Rutland ranks No. 1 among Vermont energy markets. You'll pay 0.2036883249 per kWh of electricity.
3. Milton
The 3rd-cheapest place to live in Vermont is Milton's 5468 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Milton
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 13 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 80.7 | No. 3 | N/A |
| Median home value | $433,288[15] | No. 7 | $32,233.04 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.021453813 | No. 2 | -1.3 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.3746377131[16] | No. 2 | -8.7% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.9%[17] | No. 3 | -0.1% |
| Rental costs | $2,184[18] | No. 3 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.90% | No. 2 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | 107744[19] | No. 1 | $32,499 |
| Property taxes | $5,162[20] | No. 5 | -$684 |
| Energy costs | 0.2036883249 kWh[21] | No. 1 | $0.00 |
The No. 7 cheapest housing market in Vermont is Milton's 5468 zip code, with a median home value of $433,288. Rents in the market average $2,184 per month, making it the 3rd-most affordable rental market in the state.
The median property tax for households in Milton is $5,162, which makes it the 5th-cheapest place in Vermont. Milton ranks No. 1 among Vermont markets by energy costs. Residents pay 0.2036883249 per kWh of electricity.
4. Barre
The 5641 zip code in Barre comes in at No. 4 on our list of the cheapest places to live in Vermont.
🔎 Key data about Barre
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 13 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 80.5 | No. 4 | N/A |
| Median home value | $293,460[22] | No. 3 | -$107,594.78 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.278337101 | No. 3 | -1.1 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.5915691619[23] | No. 12 | 13.0% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.1%[24] | No. 10 | 0.1% |
| Rental costs | $2,184[25] | No. 3 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.90% | No. 2 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | 68592[26] | No. 8 | -$6,653 |
| Property taxes | $4,866[27] | No. 4 | -$980 |
| Energy costs | 0.2036883249 kWh[28] | No. 1 | $0.00 |
The No. 3 cheapest housing market in Vermont is Barre's 5641 zip code, where the median home value is $293,460. Renters here pay an average of $2,184 per month.
When it comes to energy costs, Barre ranks 1st among Vermont markets. Residents pay 0.2036883249 per kWh of electricity.
The median property tax for households in the zip code is $4,866, which makes it the 4th-cheapest market in Vermont.
5. Saint Albans
The 5478 zip code in Saint Albans ranks No. 5 among Vermont's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about Saint Albans
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 13 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 70.9 | No. 5 | N/A |
| Median home value | $354,690[29] | No. 5 | -$46,364.83 |
| Home affordability ratio | 5.238751283 | No. 10 | -0.1 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.5102796584[30] | No. 11 | 4.8% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.9%[31] | No. 3 | -0.1% |
| Rental costs | $1,900[32] | No. 1 | -$284 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.81% | No. 1 | -0.1% |
| Median household income | 67705[33] | No. 9 | -$7,540 |
| Property taxes | $4,467[34] | No. 3 | -$1,379 |
| Energy costs | 0.2036883249 kWh[35] | No. 1 | $0.00 |
Saint Albans's 5478 zip code has a median home value of $354,690, the 5th-cheapest market in the state. Forecasts project a 0.9% change in home values in the next year.
The median property tax per household in Saint Albans is $4,467. It's the 3rd-cheapest market by tax rate in Vermont.
6. Montpelier
The No. 6 most affordable place to live in Vermont is the 5602 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Montpelier
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 13 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 65.5 | No. 6 | N/A |
| Median home value | $393,951[36] | No. 6 | -$7,103.45 |
| Home affordability ratio | 5.026424337 | No. 7 | -0.3 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.4098910953[37] | No. 5 | -5.2% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.2%[38] | No. 11 | 0.2% |
| Rental costs | $2,184[39] | No. 3 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.90% | No. 2 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | 78376[40] | No. 7 | $3,131 |
| Property taxes | $6,296[41] | No. 9 | $450 |
| Energy costs | 0.2036883249 kWh[42] | No. 1 | $0.00 |
The back half of our top 10 kicks off with Montpelier's 5602 zip code, which has the 6th-cheapest home values in Vermont. The median home value is $393,951. Rents average $2,184 per month, making it the 3rd-most affordable rental market in the state.
Residents pay 0.2036883249 per kWh of electricity. It's the 1st-cheapest energy market.
7. Middlebury
Middlebury's 5753 zip code is the 7th-cheapest place to live in Vermont.
🔎 Key data about Middlebury
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 13 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 65.2 | No. 7 | N/A |
| Median home value | $436,239[43] | No. 8 | $35,184.12 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.954948295 | No. 6 | -0.4 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.3675775201[44] | No. 1 | -9.4% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.9748100141%[45] | No. 8 | 0.0% |
| Rental costs | $2,184[46] | No. 3 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.90% | No. 2 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | 88041[47] | No. 6 | $12,796 |
| Property taxes | $6,613[48] | No. 12 | $767 |
| Energy costs | 0.2036883249 kWh[49] | No. 1 | $0.00 |
You'll find the 8th-cheapest home values in Vermont in Middlebury's 5753 zip code. The median value: $436,239. Renters in Middlebury pay an average of $2,184 per month.
Homeowners in Middlebury pay a median property tax of $6,613 per year, which is Vermont's 12th-most affordable market.
The average household income is 88041, which ranks 6th-highest in the state.
8. Essex
The 8th-cheapest place to live in Vermont is Essex's 5452 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Essex
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 13 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 62.9 | No. 8 | N/A |
| Median home value | $473,072[50] | No. 11 | $72,017.55 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.857850221 | No. 5 | -0.5 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.4354948562[51] | No. 6 | -2.6% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.9%[52] | No. 3 | -0.1% |
| Rental costs | $2,184[53] | No. 3 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.90% | No. 2 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | 97383[54] | No. 3 | $22,138 |
| Property taxes | $6,598[55] | No. 11 | $752 |
| Energy costs | 0.2036883249 kWh[56] | No. 1 | $0.00 |
The 11th-cheapest housing market in Vermont is Essex's 5452 zip code, with a median home value of $473,072. Renters pay an average of $2,184 per month, the No. 3 rental market in the state.
The median property tax for households in Essex is $6,598, which makes it the 11th-cheapest place in Vermont. The average household income of 97383 ranks 3rd.
9. Brattleboro
Brattleboro's 5301 zip code sneaks into the top ten of Vermont's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about Brattleboro
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 13 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 60.4 | No. 9 | N/A |
| Median home value | $324,696[57] | No. 4 | -$76,358.77 |
| Home affordability ratio | 6.171045098 | No. 12 | 0.8 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.441878486[58] | No. 7 | -2.0% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.9748100141%[59] | No. 8 | 0.0% |
| Rental costs | $2,184[60] | No. 3 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.90% | No. 2 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | 52616[61] | No. 13 | -$22,629 |
| Property taxes | $5,555[62] | No. 6 | -$291 |
| Energy costs | 0.2036883249 kWh[63] | No. 1 | $0.00 |
The 4th-cheapest housing market in Vermont is Brattleboro's 5301 zip code, where the median home value is $324,696. Renters pay an average of $2,184 per month. It's the state's 3rd-cheapest rental market.
The median property tax for households within the zip code is $5,555, which makes it the 6th-cheapest property tax rate in Vermont.
10. Colchester
The final spot on our list of the most affordable places to live in Vermont goes to the 5446 zip code in Colchester.
🔎 Key data about Colchester
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 13 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 55.9 | No. 10 | N/A |
| Median home value | $468,224[64] | No. 9 | $67,169.53 |
| Home affordability ratio | 5.17088908 | No. 8 | -0.2 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.6213650565[65] | No. 13 | 15.9% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.9%[66] | No. 3 | -0.1% |
| Rental costs | $2,184[67] | No. 3 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.90% | No. 2 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | 90550[68] | No. 4 | $15,305 |
| Property taxes | $5,651[69] | No. 7 | -$195 |
| Energy costs | 0.2036883249 kWh[70] | No. 1 | $0.00 |
The 9th-most affordable market in Vermont is Colchester's 5446 zip code. The median home value is $468,224. Rent in the market costs $2,184 per month on average, making it the 3rd-most affordable rental market in Vermont.
The median property tax for households in Colchester is $5,651, which is the 7th-cheapest property tax rate in the state.
Colchester ranks No. 1 among Vermont markets by energy costs, with households paying 0.2036883249 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 23.8% 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 23.8% 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 4.8% 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 4.8% 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 11.9% 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 4.8% 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 11.9% 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 7.1% 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 7.1% 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.
