Is West Burke, VT a Good Place to Live?
West Burke is a small town of 175 in Vermont, with a median household income of $24,750 and a 11.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.
Strengths: West Burke stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether West Burke is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All West Burke city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 95.2West Burke's overall cost of living index is 95.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in West Burke costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.
| Metric | West Burke, VT | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $205,000 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $843 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.5% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $24,750 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeWest Burke's violent crime rate is 106.7 per 100,000 residents — 72% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
West Burke is served primarily by Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | West Burke, VT | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — |
| Elementary Schools | 7 | — |
| Middle Schools | N/A | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 14.9:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.1% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 84.2% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
West Burke sees average highs of 22.7°F in January and 77.0°F in July, with 46.0 inches of annual precipitation and 113.6 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | West Burke, VT |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 22.7°F |
| Average High — July | 77.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 113.6" |
Demographics
| Metric | West Burke, VT | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 175 | — |
| Median Age | 45.9 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.7% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 24.1 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 94.3% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.6% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2.3% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 28.0% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in West Burke
West Burke, VT is covered by 1 ZIP code: