Relocation profile · Federal data
Burlington-South Burlington, VT
BEA RPP 100.9 ranks #319 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).
- 100.9
- Cost index (US=100)
- $2,140
- 2BR rent / mo
- $78,385
- Median salary
- 55.9
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Burlington-South Burlington ranks #114 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (55.9/100), with its strongest marks in low hazard and schools.
- #114
- of 387 US metros · Above median
- 648,493
- metro-area population
- 225
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 289
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: housing (6/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Burlington-South Burlington ranks #114 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 100.9 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $2,140/mo, median salary $78,385; LiveAbility Score 55.9/100, strongest in low hazard and schools.
Signature: BEA RPP 100.9 ranks #319 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).
Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP 100.9 lands in the dearer third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $2,140/mo.
LiveAbility 55.9/100 puts Burlington-South Burlington in the top third (#114 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Burlington-South Burlington area is 108,730.
Burlington-South Burlington vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
56 Top 30% higher than 70% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Burlington-South Burlington housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Burlington-South Burlington MSA; housing RPP 103.8 (100 = national average); 2BR $2,140/mo.
Burlington-South Burlington wages and employment
Burlington-South Burlington posts 108,730 total employment with median salary $78,385 against a dearer-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | $37,330 |
| Registered Nurses | $98,330 |
| General and Operations Managers | $98,430 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $37,190 |
| Cashiers | $36,880 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Burlington-South Burlington area from NCES.
Life Score Breakdown
Burlington-South Burlington's composite Life Score is 48.3/100 (D), computed across 6 of 7 dimensions (missing dims omitted; remaining weights renormalized).
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Burlington-South Burlington ranks #114 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 55.9/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Burlington-South Burlington - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Low hazard
Low hazard
98 /100
- Schools
Schools
87 /100
- Air quality
Air quality
87 /100
- Job market
Job market
82 /100
- Safety
Safety
79 /100
- Cost of living 18
Cost of living
18 /100
- Climate 15
Climate
15 /100
- Housing 6
Housing
6 /100
What this shows Burlington-South Burlington's strongest dimensions are low hazard and schools; its weakest among scored dims is housing at 6/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Burlington-South Burlington to
Metros near Burlington-South Burlington on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Burlington-South Burlington on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Burlington-South Burlington cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Burlington-South Burlington wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Burlington-South Burlington?
Burlington-South Burlington runs a $78,385 median salary at a 100.9 cost index, ranking #114 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Burlington-South Burlington's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Burlington-South Burlington head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Burlington-South Burlington
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.