Compare towns
Burlington vs Castleton vs Colchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Colchester has the highest household income ($98k).
Burlington is a college town. 32.3% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Burlington | Castleton | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,675Highest |
4,453Lowest |
17,648 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 26.8±0.8Lowest 38% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
39.3±1.4Highest 9% below VT |
| Colchester and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Colchester and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.1%±1.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 32.3%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
10.9%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,109±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$97,891±$9kHighest 21% above VT |
| Colchester and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,800±$19kHighest 40% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$394,400±$25k 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,649±$53Highest 34% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,474±$122 19% above VT |
| Burlington and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,335Highest 46% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,471 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±4.9 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.2%±10.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 19 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 20% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
20 minHighest 15% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±2.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±3.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #23 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #18 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Burlington School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | Burlington High School | None in town | Colchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.