What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Colchester has the most homeowners (74.1%).

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	Colchester
People
Population	20,756Highest	17,648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.3%Highest VT: +2.8%	+2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	38.2±1.8Lowest 11% below VT	39.3±1.4Highest 9% below VT
	Colchester and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9%	19.1%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Colchester and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	17.9%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4%
	Colchester and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±2Lowest VT: 7%	10.9%±1.3Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,667±$13kHighest 31% above VT	$97,891±$9kLowest 21% above VT
	South Burlington and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$443,400±$19kHighest 40% above VT	$394,400±$25kLowest 25% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,787±$59Highest 45% above VT	$1,474±$122Lowest 19% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,674Highest 32% above VT	$5,471Lowest 9% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±7.6Lowest VT: 48.4%	46.2%±10.6Highest VT: 48.4%
	Colchester and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	7%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	74.1%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT	1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 25% below VT	20 minHighest 15% below VT
Work from home	19.6%±3.3Highest VT: 16.9%	19%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9%
	South Burlington and Colchester 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	#18 of 70 in VT
School district	South Burlington School District	Colchester School District
High school in town	South Burlington High School	Colchester High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	11.8Highest
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.