The Town FilesBurke, Vermont
Town in Caledonia County · population 1,651 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $340,600
- Household income
- $87,143
- Jan low / Jul high
- -1° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 142 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 41.1
Burke is a town of 1,651 people in Caledonia County, Vermont. The median home is worth $340,600, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks hipper than 73% of Vermont towns.
How Burke ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Burke is worth $340,600, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $87,143, which is more affordable than 40% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $938 a month. 88.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Burke | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $340,600 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $938 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $87,143 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 88.6% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 29.4% | — |
Who lives in Burke
| People | Burke | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.7% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.4% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.0% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 23.4% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 25.3 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.3% | 89.3% |
Weather in Burke
July highs average 77.5°F and January lows -0.8°F. About 43.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 141.7 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 204 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Burke since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Vermont town. The strongest, an F0, struck on August 28, 1988 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 28, 1988.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 5, 2010.
Severe weather in Caledonia County since 1996
Caledonia County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Flood | DR-4826: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4810: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| July 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4720: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3595: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Caledonia County
Caledonia County had 11,117 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,371 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Burke itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Towns near Burke
- Lyndon, VT5.8 mi · 5,491 people · home $227,000
- Sutton, VT6.4 mi · 913 people · home $231,100
- Lyndonville, VT6.5 mi · 1,136 people · home $187,900
- Kirby, VT7.0 mi · 575 people · home $302,900
- Newark, VT8.6 mi · 584 people · home $229,900
- Sheffield, VT9.1 mi · 682 people · home $171,900
- St. Johnsbury, VT11.0 mi · 7,364 people · home $177,700
- Wheelock, VT11.8 mi · 759 people · home $189,600
Burke questions
Is Burke, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Burke scores better for retirees than 12% of Vermont towns and quieter than 31%. 21.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in Burke?
The median owner-occupied home in Burke is valued at $340,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,143, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $938 a month.
What is the weather like in Burke?
July highs average 77.5°F and January lows -0.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.3 inches of precipitation a year and 141.7 inches of snow.
Does Burke get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Burke since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on August 28, 1988. The typical Vermont town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)