Lake Champlain sunset from Burlington
County in Vermont

Chittenden County

Chittenden County has the most expensive homes in Vermont (median value $439,200) and the highest share of college graduates (56.8% of adults).

Chittenden County is home to 170,851 people (2024 estimate) on 537 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.

Key indicators

Population
170,851
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
168,340
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+1.5%
2020–2024
Land area
537 mi²
1,390 km²
Population density
318.2 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
1,300
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
1,330
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
−30
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+784
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$80,533
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$16.4 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$96,759
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
9.7%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
56.8%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
7.9%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$439,200
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
1.9%
BLS annual average, 2024

Historical data

Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.

Population

2000–2024
170,851▲ 16%

U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.

Data summary

IndicatorValueYear and source
Population estimate170,8512024 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 2010 Census156,5452010 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 2000147,161July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal
Change since 2000+16.1%2000–2024 · Census
International migration+1,0642024 · Census Vintage 2024
Domestic migration−2802024 · Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate7.6 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Death rate7.8 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Population rank in Vermont1st of 142024 · calculated
Per capita personal income$80,533BEA, 2024 · official
Gross domestic product$16.4 billionBEA, current dollars, 2024 · official
Median household income$96,759ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Poverty rate9.7%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Bachelor’s degree or higher56.8%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Foreign-born residents7.9%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median home value$439,200ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median gross rent$1,646/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median age37.3 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Households71,456ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Owner-occupied homes63.9%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official

Chittenden County in context

Comparable indicators for Chittenden County, Vermont and the United States.

IndicatorCountyVermontU.S.Reference
Population change 2020–2024+1.5%+0.8%+2.6%Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate (per 1,000)7.67.810.62024
Death rate (per 1,000)7.810.49.12024
Net migration rate (per 1,000)4.62.38.22024
Population density (/mi²)318.270.496.32024
Per capita personal income$80,533$71,287$73,204BEA, 2024
Median household income$96,759$81,203$80,734ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate9.7%10.1%12.5%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher56.8%43.8%35.7%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents7.9%4.3%14.1%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value$439,200$316,600$332,700ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median gross rent$1,646/month$1,234/month$1,413/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median age37.3 years43.1 years38.9 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year
Owner-occupied homes63.9%73.2%65.2%ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Cities & towns

4 cities · choose how to order them

Burlington
44,700 residents
South Burlington
20,600 residents
Essex Junction
10,800 residents
Winooski
7,900 residents

Did you know? Chittenden County

1st most populous of 14

With 170,851 residents in 2024, Chittenden County ranks 1st by population among Vermont's 14 counties and is home to 26.3% of the state's residents.

A quarter century of change

Its population went from 147,161 in 2000 to 170,851 in 2024, a change of +16.1%, compared with +6.4% for Vermont as a whole.

Births and deaths

In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 1,300 births and 1,330 deaths, so deaths outnumbered births by 30.

Record population

Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population in 2024, at 170,851.

1st in density

Chittenden County has about 318.2 residents per square mile of land, ranking 1st of 14 counties; Vermont averages 70.4.

Household income rank

With a median household income of $96,759 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 2nd of 14 Vermont counties; the state median is $81,203.

Size of the economy

Its economy produced $16.4 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 1st largest among 14 Vermont counties.

Latest economic growth

Real GDP grew 2.5% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).

Sources and methodology