HUD Fair Market Rent · FY 2027 · Effective Oct 1, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027
Fair Market Rent in Washington County, Vermont (FY 2027)
A two-bedroom in Washington County carries a FY 2027 Fair Market Rent of $1,783 a month, effective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Everything Section 8 pays in Washington keys off that figure.
Two-bedroom FMR
$1,783
+20.3% from FY 2026
Payment standard
$1,605–$1,961
90% to 110% of the FMR, two-bedroom
Income to afford
$71,320
a year, with rent at 30% of income
Rank in Vermont
4th of 14
by two-bedroom FMR, highest first
FY 2027 Fair Market Rents
Payment standard is the 90% to 110% band a housing authority can set. Income needed puts rent at 30% of gross income, and the hourly wage assumes a 40-hour week.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard | Income needed | Hourly wage | vs FY 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,242 | $1,118–$1,366 | $49,680 | $23.88/hr | +10.7% |
| 1 bedroom | $1,363 | $1,227–$1,499 | $54,520 | $26.21/hr | +20.7% |
| 2 bedroom | $1,783 | $1,605–$1,961 | $71,320 | $34.29/hr | +20.3% |
| 3 bedroom | $2,230 | $2,007–$2,453 | $89,200 | $42.88/hr | +22.3% |
| 4 bedroom | $2,343 | $2,109–$2,577 | $93,720 | $45.06/hr | +19.4% |
Five to eight bedrooms (PropMetrics estimates)
HUD stops at four bedrooms. These add 15% of the four-bedroom rent per extra bedroom. It's our estimate, not a HUD number.
| Bedrooms | Estimated FMR | Payment standard |
|---|---|---|
| 5 bedroom Estimate | $2,694 | $2,425–$2,963 |
| 6 bedroom Estimate | $3,046 | $2,741–$3,351 |
| 7 bedroom Estimate | $3,397 | $3,057–$3,737 |
| 8 bedroom Estimate | $3,749 | $3,374–$4,124 |
Source: HUD Office of Policy Development and Research, FY 2027 Fair Market Rents. Rents include utilities. huduser.gov
Market check
HUD's number is one input. What does a two-bedroom in Washington actually rent for?
Search any address in Washington for a rent estimate built from nearby comps, with the HUD figure right next to it.
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What a voucher pays here
The voucher doesn't pay the FMR itself. It pays the payment standard. Housing authorities set it anywhere from 90% to 110% of FMR, which puts a two-bedroom standard in Washington somewhere between $1,605 and $1,961. The tenant pays roughly 30% of their income, the voucher covers the rest up to the standard, and the PHA won't approve a rent above what comparable unassisted units get.
$1,783 a month is affordable, by HUD's 30% rule, on an income of roughly $71,320 a year. Put another way, $34 an hour full time.
Worked example for a two-bedroom renting at the payment standard. The tenant pays 30% of monthly income and the voucher covers the rest.
| Monthly household income | Tenant pays (30%) | Voucher pays at 90%$1,605 | Voucher pays at 100%$1,783 | Voucher pays at 110%$1,961 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $750 | $855 | $1,033 | $1,211 |
| $4,000 | $1,200 | $405 | $583 | $761 |
Rate history
The two-bedroom rate went up 20% from FY 2026 ($1,482) to FY 2027 ($1,783). Since FY 2020 it's up 64% in total, about 7.3% a year. The Vermont median moved up 15% over the same year.
| Fiscal year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 2BR change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2020 | $773 | $828 | $1,090 | $1,358 | $1,580 | — |
| FY 2021 | $717 | $824 | $1,086 | $1,358 | $1,532 | -0.4% |
| FY 2022 | $760 | $869 | $1,144 | $1,454 | $1,551 | +5.3% |
| FY 2023 | $839 | $953 | $1,255 | $1,584 | $1,690 | +9.7% |
| FY 2024 | $985 | $1,106 | $1,453 | $1,832 | $1,975 | +15.8% |
| FY 2025 | $1,075 | $1,082 | $1,419 | $1,763 | $1,977 | -2.3% |
| FY 2026 | $1,122 | $1,129 | $1,482 | $1,824 | $1,962 | +4.4% |
| FY 2027In effect | $1,242 | $1,363 | $1,783 | $2,230 | $2,343 | +20.3% |
About this rate
Fair Market Rent is HUD's estimate of what a modest, decent unit rents for in an area, utilities included. It's set once a year and runs October to September. For FY 2027 that's October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. In Washington, that runs from $1,242 for a studio up to $2,343 for four bedrooms, all five rates in the table above.
Because Washington sits outside any HUD metro area, its rate is a county-wide figure built from local rents. One number covers every address in the county, Montpelier included.
Among Vermont's 14 counties, Washington ranks 4th for two-bedroom FMR. That's about 14% above the state median of $1,570 and about 68% above the national median county at $1,063. About 60,017 people live here, 3rd in the state.
Rates by ZIP code
Zoom in and the picture changes. HUD's Small Area FMRs put a two-bedroom at $1,520 in 05651 (East Montpelier) and $2,670 in 05650 (East Calais), with the 28 ZIP codes in between. Housing authorities in HUD-designated metros use those ZIP rates instead of the county rate. Everywhere else the ZIP numbers show where rents actually sit, and the county rate stays the official standard.
| ZIP | City | 2BR rate | vs county |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05601 | Montpelier | $1,780 | -0.2% |
| 05602 | Montpelier | $1,870 | +4.9% |
| 05603 | Montpelier | $1,783County rate | — |
| 05604 | Montpelier | $1,783County rate | — |
| 05609 | Montpelier | $1,780 | -0.2% |
| 05620 | Montpelier | $1,780 | -0.2% |
| 05633 | Montpelier | $1,780 | -0.2% |
| 05640 | Adamant | $1,910 | +7.1% |
| 05641 | Barre | $1,680 | -5.8% |
| 05647 | Cabot | $1,790 | +0.4% |
| 05648 | Calais | $1,780 | -0.2% |
| 05649 | East Barre | $1,590 | -10.8% |
| 05650 | East Calais | $2,670 | +49.7% |
| 05651 | East Montpelier | $1,520 | -14.8% |
| 05654 | Graniteville | $1,610 | -9.7% |
| 05658 | Marshfield | $1,830 | +2.6% |
| 05660 | Moretown | $1,990 | +11.6% |
| 05663 | Northfield | $1,730 | -3.0% |
| 05664 | Northfield Falls | $1,780 | -0.2% |
| 05666 | North Montpelier | $2,150 | +20.6% |
| 05667 | Plainfield | $1,800 | +1.0% |
| 05670 | South Barre | $1,680 | -5.8% |
| 05671 | Waterbury | $1,780 | -0.2% |
| 05673 | Waitsfield | $2,390 | +34.0% |
| 05674 | Warren | $2,410 | +35.2% |
| 05676 | Waterbury | $2,160 | +21.1% |
| 05677 | Waterbury Center | $2,030 | +13.9% |
| 05678 | Websterville | $1,660 | -6.9% |
| 05681 | Woodbury | $1,900 | +6.6% |
| 05682 | Worcester | $1,650 | -7.5% |
Rates by town
Vermont publishes Fair Market Rents town by town instead of by county. All 20 towns in Washington County share the same rate for FY 2027, so the county number is the town number wherever you are.
| Town | Population | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barre city | 8,412 | $1,242 | $1,363 | $1,783 | $2,230 | $2,343 |
| Montpelier city | 8,014 | $1,242 | $1,363 | $1,783 | $2,230 | $2,343 |
| Barre town | 8,005 | $1,242 | $1,363 | $1,783 | $2,230 | $2,343 |
| Northfield town | 5,920 | $1,242 | $1,363 | $1,783 | $2,230 | $2,343 |
| Waterbury town | 5,405 | $1,242 | $1,363 | $1,783 | $2,230 | $2,343 |
| Berlin town | 2,880 | $1,242 | $1,363 | $1,783 | $2,230 | $2,343 |
| East Montpelier town | 2,612 | $1,242 | $1,363 | $1,783 | $2,230 | $2,343 |
| Middlesex town | 1,943 | $1,242 | $1,363 | $1,783 | $2,230 | $2,343 |
| Waitsfield town | 1,918 | $1,242 | $1,363 | $1,783 | $2,230 | $2,343 |
| Marshfield town | 1,863 | $1,242 | $1,363 | $1,783 | $2,230 | $2,343 |
| Calais town | 1,713 | $1,242 | $1,363 | $1,783 | $2,230 | $2,343 |
| Warren town | 1,585 | $1,242 | $1,363 | $1,783 | $2,230 | $2,343 |
| Cabot town | 1,579 | $1,242 | $1,363 | $1,783 | $2,230 | $2,343 |
| Duxbury town | 1,548 | $1,242 | $1,363 | $1,783 | $2,230 | $2,343 |
| Moretown town | 1,532 | $1,242 | $1,363 | $1,783 | $2,230 | $2,343 |
| Fayston town | 1,342 | $1,242 | $1,363 | $1,783 | $2,230 | $2,343 |
| Plainfield town | 1,314 | $1,242 | $1,363 | $1,783 | $2,230 | $2,343 |
| Roxbury town | 942 | $1,242 | $1,363 | $1,783 | $2,230 | $2,343 |
| Worcester town | 831 | $1,242 | $1,363 | $1,783 | $2,230 | $2,343 |
| Woodbury town | 659 | $1,242 | $1,363 | $1,783 | $2,230 | $2,343 |
Nearby counties
Two-bedroom FMR, with how each compares to Washington.
Lamoille County
24 mi · 26,148 people
$1,535
-14%
Orange County
24 mi · 29,761 people
$1,581
-11%
Caledonia County
27 mi · 30,475 people
$1,327
-26%
Chittenden County
29 mi · 169,758 people
$2,165
+21%
Addison County
32 mi · 37,664 people
$1,636
-8%
Orleans County
41 mi · 27,606 people
$1,363
-24%
Franklin County
45 mi · 50,638 people
$2,165
+21%
Grand Isle County
46 mi · 7,450 people
$2,165
+21%
Questions people ask
$1,783 a month for FY 2027, which runs October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. The other rates are $1,242 for a studio, $1,363 for one bedroom, $2,230 for three and $2,343 for four.
Tools for this county
Fair Market Rent lookup
Any ZIP code's Small Area FMR by bedroom count
Section 8 rent calculator
Payment standard and tenant share for a specific rent
What is Fair Market Rent?
How HUD calculates FMR and what it means for landlords
Rent affordability calculator
The income a household needs for a given rent
What does a rental in Washington actually go for?
HUD's number is one input. Search any address in Washington for a rent estimate built from nearby comps. Free to start, no card.
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