On CDC estimates, South Burlington is among the healthiest U.S. towns
South Burlington beats Vermont on 21 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for South Burlington. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in South Burlington
COPD and diabetes are less common in South Burlington
South Burlington runs below Vermont on seven chronic conditions, most of all COPD (4.5% vs 6.5%), diabetes (6.6% vs 8.8%) and heart disease (4.9% vs 6.3%). Conditions ↓
South Burlington is an active town
Only 13.2% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 18.9% across Vermont. The town has 41 miles of trails across 14 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Few South Burlington adults smoke
7.4% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 11.2% across Vermont. Habits ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Vermont figure falls outside South Burlington’s likely range.
What’s behind South Burlington’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Burlington is among the healthiest U.S. towns, #6 of 71 in Vermont. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than almost every town); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 89%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). South Burlington’s median household income is $106,667; among the 7,649 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($80K–$133K), it’s healthier than 100%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 South Burlington adults…
South Burlington runs below VT on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Vermont
Share of adults, with the Vermont figure marked.
41 miles of trails across 14 parks and preserves
Care in and near South Burlington
1 community health center in South Burlington, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of South Burlington; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of South Burlington adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Vermont.
How South Burlington adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, South Burlington does better than Vermont.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7.5% of South Burlington adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.3% across Vermont.
South Burlington and the towns around it
South Burlington’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 10 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Burlington | A+ | 22.3% | 6.6% | 7.4% | CDC place |
| Williston | A+ | 22.4% | 6.9% | 7.7% | ZIP 05495 |
| Burlington | A | 23.1% | 5.4% | 9.5% | CDC place |
| Essex Junction | A+ | 23.2% | 6.6% | 9.3% | CDC place |
| Essex | A+ | 23.3% | 6.9% | 8.8% | ZIP codes |
| Colchester | A | 24.9% | 7.4% | 10.5% | ZIP 05446 |
| Shelburne | A+ | 21.7% | 7.4% | 6.6% | ZIP 05482 |
| Winooski | A | 23.6% | 6% | 9.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of South Burlington adults live with a disability (Vermont 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for South Burlington
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, South Burlington is better than Vermont on 21 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Vermont figure falls inside South Burlington’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | South Burlington | VT | U.S. | vs VT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 10.5%9–12 | 14.5% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.2%9–11.5 | 12.5% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.1%12.6–15.9 | 15.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 22.3%19.2–25.6 | 28.6% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 6.6%5.8–7.6 | 8.8% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 26.1%23.8–28.5 | 31.4% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 29.3%26.8–31.7 | 32.1% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 23.4%21.4–25.5 | 27.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.4–11.7 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.8–10.3 | 9.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.9%4.4–5.5 | 6.3% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.5%3.9–5.3 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.6%2.3–2.9 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 5.5%4.4–6.6 | 10.1% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.4%6.1–8.8 | 11.2% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 13.2%11.1–15.5 | 18.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.2%15.1–19.2 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 24.5%21.7–27.6 | 28.6% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.5%3.7–5.4 | 6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.1%74.5–79.5 | 76.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 74.5%72.2–76.8 | 69.2% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.3%85.7–88.7 | 85.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.9%72–77.3 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.9%68.8–74.9 | 69.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.8%72.2–81.1 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.5%22.9–28.1 | 26.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.5%17.5–21.6 | 22% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 6.2%5.5–7 | 9.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.5%5.8–7.3 | 8.6% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.4%3.9–5 | 5.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5%4.5–5.5 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.5%6.7–8.5 | 11.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 20.9%18.5–23.7 | 26.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.1%7–9.3 | 11% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.4%9.1–11.9 | 12.5% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.4–6.8 | 7.7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.1%2.8–3.5 | 4% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.3%4.6–6.1 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.4%2.1–2.7 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Vermont figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in South Burlington
Is South Burlington a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Burlington is among the healthiest U.S. towns: A+ for health, #6 of 71 in Vermont. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 100%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in South Burlington?
CDC estimates 22.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 19.2% and 25.6%, against 28.6% across Vermont and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to South Burlington?
Univ. of Vermont - Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, 3.2 miles in a straight line from South Burlington’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in South Burlington have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.7–5.4%), against 6% across Vermont.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in South Burlington more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in South Burlington.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Vermont figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.