The Town FilesBurlington, Vermont
City in Chittenden County · population 44,743 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $444,800
- Household income
- $71,109
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 88 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 26.8
Burlington is a city of 44,743 people in Chittenden County, Vermont. The median home is worth $444,800, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Vermont towns, better for young professionals than 100% of Vermont towns, more vibrant than 100% of Vermont towns.
How Burlington 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 Burlington is worth $444,800, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 6.3 times the median household income of $71,109, which is more affordable than 4% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $1,649 a month. 41.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Burlington | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $444,800 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $1,649 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $71,109 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.3× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 41.5% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Burlington
| People | Burlington | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 26.8 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.1% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 11.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 60.5% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.5% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 2.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.1% | — |
| Work from home | 19.0% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 89.3% |
Weather in Burlington
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 12.9°F. About 37.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 87.5 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burlington since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Vermont town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 8, 1983 about 5.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 1987.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 9, 1968.
Severe weather in Chittenden County since 1996
Chittenden County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4810: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| April 19, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4770: Severe Winter Storm |
| July 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4720: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3595: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Chittenden County
Chittenden County had 103,301 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,186 a year. Unemployment was 1.6% in 2023; in Burlington itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Burlington
10 public schools with 3,477 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington High School | 9-12 | 989 | 12.7 |
| Champlain School | PK-5 | 544 | 22.7 |
| Edmunds Middle School | 6-8 | 353 | 9.3 |
| Lyman C. Hunt Middle School | 6-8 | 329 | 9.1 |
| J. J. Flynn School | PK-5 | 310 | 10.7 |
| C. P. Smith School | PK-5 | 260 | 13.0 |
| Integrated Arts Academy at H. O. Wheeler | PK-5 | 251 | 9.7 |
| Edmunds Elementary School | PK-5 | 241 | 10.5 |
| Sustainability Academy at Lawrence Barnes | PK-5 | 200 | 10.0 |
| Burlington Technical Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Burlington
- Winooski, VT2.7 mi · 7,997 people · home $381,500
- Colchester, VT4.3 mi · 17,524 people · home $394,400
- South Burlington, VT4.8 mi · 20,292 people · home $443,400
- Essex Junction, VT6.2 mi · 10,590 people · home $407,500
- Shelburne, VT7.1 mi · 6,178 people · home $553,200
- Shelburne, VT7.1 mi · 7,717 people · home $588,100
- Williston, VT8.3 mi · 10,103 people · home $475,800
- Essex, VT9.8 mi · 22,094 people · home $447,300
Burlington questions
Is Burlington, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Burlington scores better for retirees than 2% of Vermont towns and quieter than 0%. 12.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 26.8).
How much does a house cost in Burlington?
The median owner-occupied home in Burlington is valued at $444,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,109, so homes cost about 6.3 times income. Median rent is $1,649 a month.
What is the weather like in Burlington?
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 12.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.5 inches of precipitation a year and 87.5 inches of snow.
Does Burlington get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burlington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 8, 1983. 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)