West Burke, Vermont Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 161, West Burke's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

West Burke is a small community located in Vermont, within Caledonia County. The total population is 161. It ranks as the 146th most populous out of 179 Census-designated places in Vermont.

Age Demographics

The median age in West Burke is 59.2 years. This is 37% higher than the state median of 43.1 years. Only 11.8% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in West Burke is $27,321. This is 66% lower than the state median of $81,203. It is also 66% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.5%. This is 104% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 7.7%. This is 116% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $275,000. Housing costs are 13% lower than the state median of $316,600. The home-value-to-income ratio of 10.1x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 61.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% lower than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

West Burke has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (7.4% vs 2.6%).

Education

28.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 35% lower than the state rate of 43.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for West Burke, Vermont is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Vermont state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 179 Census-designated places in Vermont. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.