Vermont Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained, Population Review

Population & Growth

Vermont's 645,254 residents make it the 50th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +82.2% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 70 people per square mile. By comparison, the US national average is roughly 94/sq mi, while New Jersey leads with ~1,260/sq mi and Alaska is the lowest at ~1.3/sq mi.

Race & Ethnicity

By Census ACS classification, Vermont is:

91.4% White (alone)
1.2% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
1.4% Hispanic or Latino (any race)
0.0% two or more races

Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals can exceed 100% in some breakdowns. The full racial composition (including Native Hawaiian, American Indian, etc.) is available on the Vermont state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in Vermont is $78,024, with per-capita income at $44,365. 5.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 2.4%.

Income is concentrated in metro counties — see the county-level rankings on the cities ranking page and counties ranking page for sub-state variation.

Age & Households

Median age in Vermont: 43.0 years (US median ~39). The population is 49.6% male and 50.4% female. Vermont skews older than the US median, often a sign of out-migration of younger residents or high retiree population.

Largest Cities in Vermont

Burlington city — population 44,649
South Burlington city — population 20,488
Rutland city — population 15,747
Essex Junction city — population 10,720

Largest Counties in Vermont

Chittenden County — population 168,831
Rutland County — population 60,484
Washington County — population 59,958
Windsor County — population 57,968
Franklin County — population 50,379

How Vermont Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 50th of 50 states. By median household income: see the richest states ranking. By population growth: see fastest growing states. By cost of living: see cheapest states to live.

See the complete Vermont state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

Vermont has a population of 645,254 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 50th among the 50 states. Population density is 70 people per square mile.

Vermont is gaining population, with a +82.2% change since 1910 (355,956 → 645,254). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

91.4% of Vermont's population identifies as White, 1.2% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 1.4% as Hispanic or Latino (any race). Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals may exceed 100%.

Median household income in Vermont is $78,024 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $44,365. 5.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in Vermont is 43.0 years. The population is 49.6% male and 50.4% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the Vermont state page.

The largest cities in Vermont by population: Burlington city (44,649), South Burlington city (20,488), Rutland city (15,747), Essex Junction city (10,720).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). Vermont ranks 50th. Detailed rankings update each ACS release cycle.

Across recent Census Population Estimates, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois have shown the largest sustained population declines. Vermont's own trend is gaining. National state-by-state rankings are published annually by the Census Population Estimates Program.

All demographic data on this page comes from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, currently the 2023 release. Historical population figures use Census Population Estimates Program annual estimates. Data is public domain and freely available at census.gov.