About
Life in South Burlington
If you're considering South Burlington, understand that you're looking at a solidly built suburban city of about 20,500 people that functions as the economic engine of the greater Burlington area—not a quaint village or a weekend destination. The local economy is genuinely diverse: healthcare and education drive jobs here (34% of the workforce), but you'll also find manufacturing, retail, professional services, and some notable employers like GE Healthcare, Ben & Jerry's headquarters, and CommutAir airline. The median household income sits around $107,000, and with an unemployment rate hovering near 2.2%, job prospects are strong if you're in fields like healthcare, education, tech, or skilled trades.
South Burlington at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.2%
Foreign-Born
12.7%
Broadband Internet
93.2%
of households
Population Growth
+5.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics12.7% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in South Burlington: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In South Burlington, the largest foreign-born group is from India (20.0%), and 4.0% of residents speak Other Asian/Pacific at home.
Under 18
19.0%
of residents
65 and Older
17.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.3%
of households
Married Couples
39.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.16
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 45% above VT average
Rent, home values, and income in South Burlington
In South Burlington, rent runs 45% above the VT average, and home values are 40% above the VT average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,674
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
61.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1989
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $477,192 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below VT average
Unemployment in South Burlington
Unemployment in South Burlington is 0.5 percentage points lower than the VT average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What South Burlington Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.7 min avg
How South Burlington residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In South Burlington, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 85% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 1 mi
Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV)
Small hub710k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 30% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in South Burlington runs 30% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
230.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
4,713.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
South Burlington Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 24 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
63.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Chittenden County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Chittenden County, which includes South Burlington, the most common type is winter weather, with 24 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24 | Winter Weather | $105,000 |
| 2024 | 19 | Winter Weather | $1.2M |
| 2023 | 18 | Winter Weather | $267,000 |
| 2022 | 20 | Winter Storm | $1.2M |
| 2021 | 17 | Winter Weather | $222,000 |
| 2020 | 17 | Winter Weather | $304,000 |
| 2019 | 16 | Winter Storm | $1.3M |
| 2018 | 19 | Winter Storm | $1.4M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Chittenden County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Chittenden County, which includes South Burlington, is typically good — 320 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
320
per year
Moderate Days
41
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Chittenden County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 16°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
South Burlington has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 16°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
59°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
32°/16°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
37.5"
Annual Snowfall
87.5"
Hot Days/Year
8
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
145
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
157
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29°F | 13°F | 2.13" |
| Feb | 32°F | 14°F | 1.77" |
| Mar | 41°F | 24°F | 2.24" |
| Apr | 55°F | 36°F | 3.07" |
| May | 69°F | 48°F | 3.76" |
| Jun | 78°F | 57°F | 4.26" |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 4.06" |
| Aug | 81°F | 61°F | 3.54" |
| Sep | 73°F | 53°F | 3.67" |
| Oct | 59°F | 42°F | 3.83" |
| Nov | 46°F | 32°F | 2.70" |
| Dec | 35°F | 21°F | 2.50" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in South Burlington
Uninsured
3.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside South Burlington's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Univ. of Vermont - Fletcher Allen Health Care
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2 mi away · Burlington
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in South Burlington
South Burlington's student/teacher ratio is 12.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 67.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
67.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near South Burlington (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 11,743 students · in-state tuition $19,514 · 77% graduate · median earnings $68,368 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,752 students · in-state tuition $50,000 · 59% graduate · median earnings $60,573 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park, 66 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for South Burlington
South Burlington has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park (66 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park
National Historical Park
66 mi awaySaint-Gaudens National Historical Park
National Historical Park
79 mi awayPublic Libraries in South Burlington
South Burlington
550 Dorset St., S. Burlington
Cities Near South Burlington
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to South Burlington?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
South Burlington FAQ
Is South Burlington, Vermont affordable?⌄
South Burlington's median rent is $1,787/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $106,667/year. Median home value is $443,400.
Is South Burlington, Vermont safe?⌄
South Burlington's violent crime rate was 231 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 4714 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in South Burlington, Vermont?⌄
South Burlington has an unemployment rate of 2.2%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in South Burlington, Vermont?⌄
The cost of living in South Burlington is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,787/month and median household income is $106,667/year. The median home value is $443,400. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in South Burlington, Vermont?⌄
The average commute in South Burlington is 18 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from