Town · Vermont
Colchester, Vermont
Colchester, town, in Chittenden County, Vermont. Colchester had 17,565 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 17,524 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 17,648 (±23). GEOID 5000714875.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
17,565
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 17,524 · ACS 2020-2024: 17,648 ±23
Median household income
$97,891
±$8,720 (90% margin)
Vermont: $81,203
Median home value
$394,400
±$24,630 (90% margin)
Vermont: $316,600
Median gross rent
$1,474
±$122 (90% margin)
Vermont: $1,234
Where is Colchester and what county is it in?
Colchester is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont. It covers 36.3 square miles of land, 483 residents per square mile in 2020.
Colchester is in the Burlington-South Burlington, VT metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Colchester, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 17,565 people lived in Colchester on July 1, 2025, up 0.3% since 2020, in line with Vermont (+0.2%). The 2020 Census counted 17,524 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 17,648 (±23).
| Measure | Colchester | Chittenden County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 17,648±23 | 169,758 | +345 |
| Households | 7,092±327 | 71,456 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.28±0.10 | 2.23 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 7,853±386 | 74,888 | no clear change |
Colchester's population since 2000
From 16,986 in 2000 to 17,565 in 2025: up 3.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Colchester as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Colchester?
The median resident of Colchester is 39.3 years old; 19.1% are under 18 and 17.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 87.0%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 5.1%. 7.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Colchester | Chittenden County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3±1.4 | 37.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 19.1%±2.2 pts | 17.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.9%±1.7 pts | 16.9% | – |
| Male | 49.5%±2.2 pts | 48.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.3%±1.3 pts | 2.9% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 87.0%±2.5 pts | 85.5% | −4.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.1%±1.2 pts | 2.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.1%±1.0 pts | 4.4% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.1%±1.6 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.0%±1.9 pts | 7.9% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 8.3%±1.8 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.6%±1.3 pts | 4.5% | – |
| With a disability | 12.1%±1.8 pts | 11.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.8%±1.1 pts | 3.5% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.3%±1.6 pts | 96.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 40.8%±3.7 pts | 56.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 17.3%±2.9 pts | 24.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.6%±2.7 pts | 82.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.3%±1.4 pts | 6.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Colchester earn?
Half of Colchester's 7,092 households earn less than $97,891 a year (±$8,720), against $96,759 in Chittenden County and $81,203 in Vermont. In 2015-2019 it was $87,490 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 7.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Colchester | Chittenden County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $97,891±$8,720 | $96,759 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $116,592±$7,151 | $123,772 | – |
| Per capita income | $46,762±$3,454 | $52,322 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 7.0%±1.9 pts | 9.7% | −3.9 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.6%±3.9 pts | 7.6% | −10.6 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.3%±3.5 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.0%±1.5 pts | 96.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.8%±2.7 pts | 93.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Colchester?
Owners occupy 74.1% of Colchester's occupied homes and renters 25.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $394,400 by its owner (±$24,630). The median renter pays $1,474 a month including utilities, and 34.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Colchester | Chittenden County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $394,400±$24,630 | $439,200 | +$68,266 |
| Median gross rent | $1,474±$122 | $1,646 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 34.6%±9.9 pts | 40.2% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,070±$147 | $2,268 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 74.1%±3.5 pts | 63.9% | +5.4 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 25.9%±3.5 pts | 36.1% | – |
| Housing units | 7,853±386 | 74,888 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±1.4 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 56.5%±4.0 pts | 51.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 9.2%±2.3 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.8%±0.7 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 7.3%±2.4 pts | 11.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 12.3%±3.3 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.3%±2.3 pts | 7.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Colchester building?
Builders took permits for 81 new housing units in Colchester in 2025 (33 in single-family houses), 4.6 per 1,000 residents against 3.6 across Vermont.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Colchester work and get to work?
62.6% of Colchester's workers drive alone and 19.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.8%.
| Measure | Colchester | Chittenden County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 70.3%±2.7 pts | 70.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8%±2.1 pts | 3.2% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 62.6%±4.8 pts | 61.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.8%±3.4 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.8%±0.7 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Walked | 5.0%±1.7 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 19.0%±3.7 pts | 19.8% | +13.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.9 min±1.1 | 21.1 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Colchester?
5 census tracts lie mostly in Colchester, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $77,933 (Tract 22.01) to $133,214 (Tract 23.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 23.03Chittenden County | 5,087 | $125,313 |
| Tract 22.02Chittenden County | 4,757 | $95,083 |
| Tract 22.01Chittenden County | 3,524 | $77,933 |
| Tract 23.04Chittenden County | 2,925 | $87,426 |
| Tract 23.01Chittenden County | 1,355 | $133,214 |
| Tract 25.02Chittenden County | 2,502 | $71,745 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Colchester) · Census block assignment files
How does Colchester compare with other places in Vermont?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Colchester is the 697th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the most populous of 237 in Vermont.
Colchester ranks 43rd of 198 places in Vermont with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 1st | 237 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 72nd | 173 |
| Residents per square mile | 41st | 202 |
| Median household income | 43rd | 198 |
| Per capita income | 77th | 202 |
| Median home value | 34th | 201 |
| Median gross rent | 26th | 187 |
| Poverty rate | 123rd | 162 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 88th | 200 |
| Median age | 163rd | 202 |
| Owner-occupied share | 137th | 201 |
| Work from home | 55th | 185 |
| Travel time to work | 161st | 202 |
Colchester's figures with every place in Vermont (CSV)
Every place in Vermont, sortable · Compare Colchester with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Colchester?
7 of the 57 figures for Colchester on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Colchester are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.