What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burlington has the most renters (58.5% rent).

South Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.3%).

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	South Burlington
People
Population	44,675Highest	20,756Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+13.3%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	26.8±0.8Lowest 38% below VT	38.2±1.8Highest 11% below VT
Kids under 18	11.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	19%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	12.1%±1.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	17.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%	67.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	32.3%±2.2Highest VT: 7%	6.5%±2Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,109±$4kLowest 12% below VT	$106,667±$13kHighest 31% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$444,800±$19kHighest 40% above VT	$443,400±$19kLowest 40% above VT
	Burlington and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,649±$53Lowest 34% above VT	$1,787±$59Highest 45% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,335Highest 46% above VT	$6,674Lowest 32% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.6%±4.9Highest VT: 48.4%	42.9%±7.6Lowest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	20.5%Highest VT: 10.1%	7.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%	61.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 19 yrs older than VT	1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 20% below VT	18 minLowest 25% below VT
Work from home	19%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	19.6%±3.3Highest VT: 16.9%
	South Burlington and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#23 of 70 in VT	#12 of 70 in VT
School district	Burlington School District	South Burlington School District
High school in town	Burlington High School	South Burlington High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	11.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.