What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

Colchester has the most homeowners (74.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Burlington	Colchester
People
Population	44,675Highest	17,648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Highest VT: +2.8%	+2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	26.8±0.8Lowest 38% below VT	39.3±1.4Highest 9% below VT
Kids under 18	11.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	19.1%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	12.1%±1.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	17.9%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.5%Highest VT: 43.8%	40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	32.3%±2.2Highest VT: 7%	10.9%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,109±$4kLowest 12% below VT	$97,891±$9kHighest 21% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$444,800±$19kHighest 40% above VT	$394,400±$25kLowest 25% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,649±$53Highest 34% above VT	$1,474±$122Lowest 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	$5,471Lowest 9% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.6%±4.9Highest VT: 48.4%	46.2%±10.6Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Burlington and Colchester 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%	7%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%	74.1%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 19 yrs older than VT	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 20% below VT	20 minHighest 15% below VT
Work from home	19%±2.5 VT: 16.9%	19%±3.9 VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#23 of 70 in VT	#18 of 70 in VT
School district	Burlington School District	Colchester School District
High school in town	Burlington High School	Colchester High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	11.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.