What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Burlington has the most renters (58.5% rent).

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	South Burlington	Burlington
People
Population	20,756Lowest	44,675Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.3%Highest VT: +2.8%	+5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	38.2±1.8Highest 11% below VT	26.8±0.8Lowest 38% below VT
Kids under 18	19%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9%	11.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	17.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4%	12.1%±1.1Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	60.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±2Lowest VT: 7%	32.3%±2.2Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,667±$13kHighest 31% above VT	$71,109±$4kLowest 12% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$443,400±$19kLowest 40% above VT	$444,800±$19kHighest 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	$1,787±$59Highest 45% above VT	$1,649±$53Lowest 34% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,674Lowest 32% above VT	$7,335Highest 46% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±7.6Lowest VT: 48.4%	55.6%±4.9Highest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	7.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%	20.5%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.6%Highest VT: 73.2%	41.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT	1957Lowest 19 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 25% below VT	19 minHighest 20% below VT
Work from home	19.6%±3.3Highest VT: 16.9%	19%±2.5Lowest 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	#12 of 70 in VT	#23 of 70 in VT
School district	South Burlington School District	Burlington School District
High school in town	South Burlington High School	Burlington High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	12.1Highest
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.