Burlington
RANK #975 / 996 NAT · POP 168,309
1YR FORECAST: -2.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +4%
Burlington, the largest city in Vermont and the county seat, anchors Chittenden County, situated in northwestern Vermont between Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains. The county is Vermont's most populous, home to over a quarter of the state's residents. Commuting within the county is facilitated by Green Mountain Transit, offering bus services, and carpooling options are encouraged. The community offers access to outdoor recreation, including hiking and biking trails like the Island Line Trail, and winter sports at Bolton Valley and Cochran's Ski Area. Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak, is also located within the county.
Chittenden County offers a quality of life recognized for its natural beauty and community focus. The economy is diversified, with significant employment in healthcare, education, and retail. The University of Vermont and the UVM Medical Center are major institutions and employers in the area. Recent economic developments include ongoing housing projects in Burlington and Winooski, aiming to address housing shortages, though rising costs remain a factor. The county's public schools are highly rated, and towns like South Burlington, Essex, and Williston are noted for their schools and family-friendly amenities.
Above national median (4.7x)
Below national median
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 4.8x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Chittenden County scores just 1/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #975 of 996 counties. Job growth at +0.1% and median household income of $89,494 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Chittenden County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $378,300 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.24 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,511/month on average.
Population and employment in Chittenden County are both close to flat — population +0.5% YoY and jobs +0.1%. Home values shifted +0.6% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.1% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Chittenden County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.