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City · 8,014 residents · Washington County, Vermont

Montpelier , Vermont

In Montpelier, a typical home is worth $375,100 and typical rent is $1,302 a month. Compared with all of Washington County, the typical home value is 19% higher, typical rent is 12% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 21 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $375,100

    19% above the county

    18% above Vermont

    • Montpelier
    • Washington
    • Vermont

  • Typical rent

    $1,302a month

    12% above the county

    6% above Vermont

    • Montpelier
    • Washington
    • Vermont

  • Typical household income

    $81,030a year

    3% below the county

    About the same as Vermont

    • Montpelier
    • Washington
    • Vermont

  • Households that own their home

    53%

    21 points below the county

    20 points below Vermont

    • Montpelier
    • Washington
    • Vermont

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$415,449
0.6% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Montpelier is in Washington County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Washington County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Montpelier apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in St. Johnsbury, the typical home value is $174,500: 53% less than in Montpelier ($375,100).

  2. 53% of households in Montpelier own their home, against 74% in Washington County.

  3. Nearby, in St. Johnsbury, the typical rent is $912: 30% less than in Montpelier ($1,302).

  4. The typical home in Montpelier is worth $375,100, 19% more than in Washington County as a whole ($315,000).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Montpelier

What homes there are in Montpelier, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Homes in Montpelier are varied: detached houses are the largest group, at 48%, against 65% in Washington County.

Year built

In Montpelier, half of the homes were built before 1955; in Washington County, before 1973.

There are fewer big homes in Montpelier than in Washington County: 41% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 59%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$2,048 a month

Washington County: $1,942 a month

Without a mortgage

$1,006 a month

Washington County: $843 a month

Owners with a mortgage

68%

Washington County: 60%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Montpelier is $2,048 a month, more than in Washington County ($1,942); without one, $1,006.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Montpelier rose 49%; in Washington County, it rose 39%.

Rents in Montpelier rose at about the same pace as in Washington County: 28% since 2015–2019, against 27%.

Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 25%, while home values changed +49% and rent +28%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureMontpelierWashington CountyVermontUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate3.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.7%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.5%1.6%3.4%
People per household 2.132.262.282.53
Drive alone 55%70%69%69%
Carpool 5%7%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%1%3%
Walk or bike 11%3%5%3%
Work from home 27%19%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Montpelier are smaller: 2.13 people on average; in Washington County, 2.26.

Working from home is more common in Montpelier: 27%, against 19% in Washington County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Montpelier?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Montpelier, worth $375,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 50% of the typical household income in Montpelier, which is $81,030 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $145,522 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Washington County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Montpelier. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $13,129 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,396

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$368,305
Total interest
$529,905
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $6,334 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,891 a month

  • Tight

    $1,891 to $2,431 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,431 a month

    Your payment · 50%

Compared with the typical household income in Montpelier ($81,030 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,396
Principal & interest$2,495
Property tax$578
Home insurance$156
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$166

You need at least $13,129 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Montpelier and Washington County

Montpelier is in Washington County, Vermont. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Montpelier's own numbers

Typical home value
$375,100
Typical monthly rent
$1,302
Typical yearly household income
$81,030
Households that own their home
53%
Effective property tax rate
1.85%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Washington County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,783
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+69%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
4.4%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Washington County.

Everything about Washington County

Buying

Buying a home in Montpelier

A typical home in Montpelier is worth $375,100: 19% above the county and 18% above Vermont. With the typical household income in Montpelier ($81,030 a year), a typical home costs 4.6 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Montpelier 4.6 years
  • Washington 3.8 years
  • Vermont 3.9 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Washington County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Washington County rose 98% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Washington County.

Period County Vermont U.S.
Last year (2025) +6.1% +3.6% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +69% +64% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +98% +89% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Montpelier next to Washington County, Vermont and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Montpelier $375,100
  • Washington $315,000
  • Vermont $316,600
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Montpelier $1,302
  • Washington $1,163
  • Vermont $1,234
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Montpelier $81,030
  • Washington $83,449
  • Vermont $81,203
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Montpelier next to Washington County and Vermont
Measure Montpelier Washington County Vermont U.S.
Typical home value $375,100 $315,000 $316,600 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,302 $1,163 $1,234 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $81,030 $83,449 $81,203 $80,734
Households that own their home 53% 74% 73% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $6,936 $5,498 $5,039 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.85% 1.75% 1.59% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 42% 41% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Washington County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Montpelier

For a typical $375,100 home in Montpelier, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Montpelier's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,396a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $13,129
    Cash to close
    $24,382
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $166

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,327a month

    Down payment
    $18,755
    Cash to close
    $30,008
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $178

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,767a month

    Down payment
    $75,020
    Cash to close
    $86,273
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $3,114a month

    Down payment
    $56,265
    Cash to close
    $67,518
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Montpelier and for Washington County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Montpelier

1.85%of the home’s value each year

$6,936 a year for the typical owner in Montpelier.

  • Montpelier 1.85%
  • Washington 1.75%
  • Vermont 1.59%

What Vermont publishes Property tax credit for your primary home (homestead) (Vermont Department of Taxes)

Exemptions and deadlines in Vermont

Flood risk in Washington County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Washington County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
4.4%
1,047
Of those, with NFIP insurance
38%
County Vermont U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 4.4% 1.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 38% 37% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Montpelier

Typical rent in Montpelier is $1,302 a month: 12% above the county. In Montpelier, 42% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Washington County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,783 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $34.29 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Washington County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,242 $23.88 $49,680
1 bedroom $1,363 $26.21 $54,520
2 bedrooms $1,783 $34.29 $71,320
3 bedrooms $2,230 $42.88 $89,200
4 bedrooms $2,343 $45.06 $93,720

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Montpelier

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Montpelier is in ZIP code 05602.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,870: $87 more than the fair market rent for Washington County ($1,783).

  • 05602 $1,870$2,340

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Montpelier when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Montpelier

HUD lists 15 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Montpelier. These are the largest.

  • Pioneer Apts 155 Main St, Montpelier 05602 60 low-income homes · Run by Montpelier Housing Authority · Average payment: $417 a month · Average wait: 6 months (802) 229-9232
  • Lane Shops Apartments 1 Mechanic St, Montpelier 05602 50 low-income homes · For older adults
  • River Station Apts 193 Barre St, Montpelier 36 homes, 29 low-income · 1 bd: 6 · 2 bd: 27 · 3 bd: 3 · In service since 2006 · For families
  • North Branch Phase I 87 Elm St, Montpelier 23 low-income homes · Studio: 7 · 1 bd: 8 · 2 bd: 4 · 3 bd: 4 · In service since 1993 · For families
  • Cummings ST Apts Redevelopment 21 Cummings St, Montpelier 20 low-income homes · 2 bd: 5 · 3 bd: 10 · 4 bd: 5 · In service since 2008 · For families

See all 40 buildings in Washington County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Montpelier

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Washington County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A young man and a young woman look something up together on a laptop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Montpelier

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Montpelier or Washington County. The ones below are statewide in Vermont: they work in Montpelier the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Vermont

  • VHFA ASSIST

    Statewide in Vermont

    Vermont state agency loan of up to $10,000 at 0% deferred, with no monthly payments, for the down payment and closing costs alongside the VHFA MOVE mortgage; for people who have never owned a home and have less than $20,000 in liquid savings. Offered by Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • First Generation Homebuyer Grant

    Statewide in Vermont

    Open, per the source

    Vermont state agency grant of $15,000 for the down payment and closing costs, with a VHFA mortgage; for people who have never owned a home and have less than $20,000 in liquid savings, if their parents or guardians never owned a home (or lost it to foreclosure) or if they were in foster care. Offered by Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA).

    Grant

    See the program Official page

  • Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)

    Statewide in Vermont

    Vermont state agency certificate that turns up to 50% of the interest you pay each year on your mortgage into a credit on your federal taxes, capped at $2,000 a year, while you live in the home and keep the original mortgage. Offered by Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA).

    Tax credit

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Montpelier

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Montpelier, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Downstreet Housing and Community Development, Inc.

    22 Keith Ave, Barre · 6 miles away

    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • Homebuyer education workshops
    (802) 477-1331

  • Gilman Housing Trust, Inc. DBA Ruraledge

    1222 Main St, St Johnsbury · 29 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    (802) 535-3555

  • Champlain Housing Trust

    88 King St, Burlington · 35 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (802) 861-7394

Every agency in Washington County All counseling agencies in Vermont

Help in Spanish near Montpelier

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Montpelier

HUD’s record names them for Montpelier or Washington County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Montpelier Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (802) 229-9232

2 other authorities have an office in Washington County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Washington County

These cities are also in Washington County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Washington County Housing in Vermont

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Montpelier, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Washington County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Montpelier.

All guides
A smiling girl holds up a small mushroom she found on a forest outing.

Questions

Housing questions about Montpelier

Short answers with the numbers for Montpelier and all of Washington County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Montpelier?

The typical home value in Montpelier is $375,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Washington County it is $315,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Montpelier?

Typical rent in Montpelier is $1,302 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Washington County is $1,783.

What is the FHA loan limit in Montpelier?

Montpelier uses the FHA limit for all of Washington County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Montpelier?

The typical homeowner in Montpelier pays $6,936 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.85% of the home’s value; in Washington County, the rate is 1.75%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Montpelier?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Washington County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).