1st Advantage MortgageThe median Chittenden County household earns $96,759, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Vermont before sharing details.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Chittenden County
- What it costs to live in Chittenden County
- Paychecks and income spread in Chittenden County
- The Chittenden County job picture
- Chittenden County and the counties next door
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Chittenden County
- What a median Chittenden County budget can carry
- People and households in Chittenden County
- Before borrowing in Chittenden County
- Steps before you apply in Chittenden County
- Checking a lender's license in Vermont
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Chittenden County
Roughly 169,758 residents live in Chittenden County, Vermont, 1st by population among the state's 14 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 537 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 316 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Burlington-South Burlington, VT metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 26 places in the county (10 incorporated, 16 census-designated); the largest is Burlington, with about 44,675 residents, or 26% of the county.
What it costs to live in Chittenden County
A typical Chittenden County rental runs $1,646 a month including utilities, which is 33% above Vermont. By the Census definition, 50% of Chittenden County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $439,200, about 4.5 times the median household income. 64% of Chittenden County households own their home and 36% rent. The median year built is 1981.
| Housing | Chittenden County | Vermont statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,646/mo | $1,234/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $439,200 | $316,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 64% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.4% | 5.9% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Paychecks and income spread in Chittenden County
The median household income in Chittenden County is $96,759; statewide it is $81,203, so Chittenden County runs 19% above Vermont as a whole. In the state ranking that is 2nd of 14.
| Income band | Share in Chittenden County | Difference from Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.5% | -3.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.8% | -4.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.4% | +4.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 15.2% | +4.2 pts |
Some 17% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 49% have six-figure incomes. 9.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.1%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.441 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Chittenden County median.
The Chittenden County job picture
Education and health care employs 30% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 12%. Compared with Vermont, the county leans toward professional and administrative services (12% against 10%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 62% drive to work alone and 7% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Chittenden County workers | vs Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.1% | +1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.2% | +2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -0.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.7% | -0.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.6% | +0.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.6% | +0.6 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Chittenden County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Chittenden County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Lamoille County at 24 miles out to Clinton County at 37. Income ranges from $71,224 in Clinton County to $97,396 in Grand Isle County; 1 of these neighbors top Chittenden County's median. The list crosses into New York, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chittenden County | - | $96,759 | $1,646/mo | 64% |
| Lamoille County, VT | 24 mi | $74,908 | $1,160/mo | 73% |
| Grand Isle County, VT | 26 mi | $97,396 | $1,425/mo | 90% |
| Washington County, VT | 26 mi | $83,449 | $1,163/mo | 74% |
| Franklin County, VT | 28 mi | $81,313 | $1,180/mo | 77% |
| Addison County, VT | 30 mi | $89,639 | $1,177/mo | 79% |
| Clinton County, NY | 37 mi | $71,224 | $1,003/mo | 69% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Chittenden County
26 Census places fall mainly inside Chittenden County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 146,374 residents, leaving about 14% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $54,661 in Hinesburg to $144,375 in Charlotte. This guide covers each of the 26 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | city | 44,675 | $71,109 | $1,649 | 9 mi |
| South Burlington | city | 20,756 | $106,667 | $1,787 | 6 mi |
| Colchester | town | 17,648 | $97,891 | $1,474 | 10 mi |
| Essex | town | 11,516 | $110,199 | $1,569 | 5 mi |
| Essex Junction | city | 10,803 | $89,257 | $1,544 | 3 mi |
| Williston | town | 10,144 | $106,967 | $1,832 | 3 mi |
| Winooski | city | 8,293 | $79,522 | $1,643 | 6 mi |
| Shelburne | CDP | 6,499 | $109,583 | $1,439 | 9 mi |
| Charlotte | town | 3,916 | $144,375 | $1,738 | 14 mi |
| Milton | CDP | 3,555 | $77,550 | $1,471 | 12 mi |
| Underhill | town | 3,141 | $92,267 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Jericho | village | 1,346 | $89,740 | $1,755 | 5 mi |
| Richmond | CDP | 753 | $71,250 | $1,875 | 5 mi |
| Hinesburg | CDP | 733 | $54,661 | $1,650 | 9 mi |
What a median Chittenden County budget can carry
Chittenden County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $8,063 gross per month ($96,759 / 12)
- Less median rent of $1,646, which is 20% of it
- $1,821: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
People and households in Chittenden County
Degree holders: 57% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 3.5%, against 3.9% for Vermont.
| Residents | Chittenden County | Vermont | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 43.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 56.8% | 43.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.9% | 5.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.5% | 3.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.1% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 19.8% | 16.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.7% | 10.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 42.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.7% |
| 60+ min | 3.5% |
Before borrowing in Chittenden County
Where the Chittenden County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Six-figure budgets. For the 49% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- 50% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Steps before you apply in Chittenden County
Steps that save money for Chittenden County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Chittenden County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Vermont.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Checking a lender's license in Vermont
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Chittenden County, check the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Vermont guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Vermont guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Chittenden County earn?
The median is $96,759; 49% earn $100,000 or more and 17% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Chittenden County?
$1,646 a month at the median, about 20% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Chittenden County?
By population: Burlington, South Burlington, Colchester, Essex, Essex Junction. The county has 26 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Chittenden County or elsewhere in Vermont, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Chittenden County residents?
The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation licenses consumer lenders in Vermont; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.