The Burlington metropolitan area is a metropolitan area

Metropolitan area

The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...

 consisting of three counties in northwestern Vermont

Vermont

Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...

 (Chittenden

Chittenden County, Vermont

Chittenden County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 156,545. Its shire town is Burlington. Chittenden is the most populous county in the state, with more than twice as many residents as Vermont's second-most populous county, Rutland.Chittenden County...

, Franklin

Franklin County, Vermont

Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. It is part of the Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 47,746. Its shire town is the City of St. Albans.-Geography:...

, and Grand Isle

Grand Isle County, Vermont

Grand Isle County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 6,970. Its shire town is North Hero.Grand Isle County is part of the Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...

) and anchored by the principal cities of Burlington

Burlington, Vermont

Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....

 and South Burlington

South Burlington, Vermont

-Economy:CommutAir, a regional airline, is headquartered in the city, by the airport. The Magic Hat Brewing Company, one of the United States's larger craft breweries, is located here.One measure of economic activity is retail sales...

. The Office of Management and Budget defines the area as one of its metropolitan statistical areas (the Burlington-South Burlington Metropolitan Statistical Area), a designation used for statistical purposes by the United States Census Bureau

United States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...

 and other agencies. The MSA designation represents the counties containing the contiguous urbanized area

United States urban area

Urban areas in the United States are defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as contiguous census block groups with a population density of at least with any census block groups around this core having a density of at least . Urban areas are delineated without regard to political boundaries. The census...

 centered on the city of Burlington, plus adjacent counties that are socially and economically linked to the urban core (as measured by commuting). An alternative definition using towns

New England town

The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...

 instead of counties as basic units is the Burlington-South Burlington New England City and Town Area (NECTA). That New England city and town area

New England City and Town Area

A New England City and Town Area or NECTA is a geographic and statistical entity defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, for use in describing aspects of the New England region of the United States...

 had an estimated population of 194,354 in 2007.

The three-county area contains four of Vermont's nine cities and as of the 2000 Census had a population of 198,889. A July 1, 2009 estimate placed the population at 208,055.

Counties

List of counties making up the MSA:

• Chittenden
  Chittenden County, Vermont
  Chittenden County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 156,545. Its shire town is Burlington. Chittenden is the most populous county in the state, with more than twice as many residents as Vermont's second-most populous county, Rutland.Chittenden County...
  
  
• Franklin
  Franklin County, Vermont
  Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. It is part of the Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 47,746. Its shire town is the City of St. Albans.-Geography:...
  
  
• Grand Isle
  Grand Isle County, Vermont
  Grand Isle County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 6,970. Its shire town is North Hero.Grand Isle County is part of the Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
  
  

Towns and cities

List of towns/cities making up the NECTA:

• Bolton
  Bolton, Vermont
  Bolton is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 971 at the 2000 census.The principal transportation artery of the town is US Route 2, which follows the north side of the Winooski River...
  
  
• Buels Gore
  Buels Gore, Vermont
  Buel's Gore is a gore in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 12 at the 2000 census. In Vermont, gores and grants are unincorporated portions of a county which are not part of any town and have limited self-government .-Geography:According to the United States Census...
  
  
• Burlington
  Burlington, Vermont
  Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
  
   (Principal city)
• Cambridge
  Cambridge, Vermont
  Cambridge is a town in Lamoille County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,186 at the 2000 U.S. Census. Cambridge includes the village of Jeffersonville.-History:...
  
  
• Charlotte
  Charlotte, Vermont
  Charlotte is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The town was named for Sofia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, youngest daughter of Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.The population was 3,569 at the 2000 census....
  
  
• Colchester
  Colchester, Vermont
  Colchester is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 17,067 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth-largest municipality and second-largest town in Vermont by population.-Geography:...
  
  
• Duxbury
  Duxbury, Vermont
  Duxbury is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,289 at the 2000 census. It claims to be the only municipality in the United States which has an elected position of dogcatcher.-History:...
  
  
• Essex
  Essex, Vermont
  Essex is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 19,587 at the 2010 census.By population, Essex is the largest town in Vermont, and the second-largest municipality .-Government:...
  
  
• Hinesburg
  Hinesburg, Vermont
  Hinesburg is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The town was named for Abel Hine, town clerk. The population was 4,340 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
  
  
• Huntington
  Huntington, Vermont
  Huntington is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,861 at the 2000 census.The town was originally called New Huntington but the name was changed to Huntington in 1795...
  
  
• Fairfax
  Fairfax, Vermont
  Fairfax is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,765 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 40.5 square miles , of which, 40.2 square miles of it is land and 0.3 square miles of it ...
  
  
• Ferrisburg
• Fletcher
  Fletcher, Vermont
  Fletcher is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,179 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 38.0 square miles , of which, 37.8 square miles of it is land and 0.2 square miles of it ...
  
  
• Georgia
  Georgia, Vermont
  Georgia is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,375 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 45.2 square miles , of which, 39.5 square miles of it is land and 5.7 square miles of it ...
  
  
• Grand Isle
  Grand Isle, Vermont
  Grand Isle is a town in Grand Isle County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,955 at the 2000 census.A landing for the Lake Champlain Transportation Company's ferry to Plattsburgh, New York at Cumberland Head is located on the western shore of Grand Isle at Gordon's...
  
  
• Isle La Motte
  Isle La Motte, Vermont
  -Notable events:Around 480 Million Years ago when the Chazy Formation was flourishing, Strematoporoid colonies were among the most common builders of the reef.In 1609, Samuel de Champlain debarked on Isle La Motte July 9....
  
  
• Jericho
  Jericho (town), Vermont
  Jericho is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 5,015 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 35.5 square miles , of which 35.4 square miles is land and 0.1 square mile is...
  
  

• Milton
  Milton, Vermont
  Milton is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 10,352 at the 2010 census. According to local legend, the town was named for the English poet John Milton, but the name most likely originated from William FitzWilliam, 4th Earl FitzWilliam, who held the title...
  
  
• Monkton
  Monkton, Vermont
  Monkton is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,759 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Monkton is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.2 square miles , of which 36.0 square miles is land and...
  
  
• North Hero
  North Hero, Vermont
  North Hero is a town in and the shire town of Grand Isle County, Vermont, United States. The population was 810 at the 2000 census.-Government:...
  
  
• Richmond
  Richmond, Vermont
  Richmond is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The 2000 census revealed a population of 4,090.Local students attend Mount Mansfield Union High School, Camel's Hump Middle School, And Richmond Elementary School. Mount Mansfield Union High is in the neighboring town of Jericho...
  
  
• St. Albans
  St. Albans (city), Vermont
  St. Albans is a city in and the shire town of Franklin County, Vermont, in the United States. At the 2000 census, the city population was 7,650. St Albans City is completely surrounded by St. Albans town, which is incorporated separately from the city of St. Albans...
  
   (city)
• St. Albans
  St. Albans (town), Vermont
  St. Albans is a town in Franklin County, Vermont. The population was 6,392 at the 2010 census. The town completely surrounds the city of St. Albans, which was separated from the town and incorporated in 1902. References to "St. Albans" prior to this date generally refer to the town center, which...
  
   (town)
• St. George
  St. George, Vermont
  St. George is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The town was named for the patron saint of England. St. George has the smallest land area of any town in Vermont, though the incorporated cities of Vergennes and Winooski are smaller...
  
  
• Shelburne
  Shelburne, Vermont
  Shelburne is a town in southwestern Chittenden County, Vermont, United States, along the shores of Lake Champlain. The population was 7,144 at the 2010 census.-History:...
  
  
• South Burlington
  South Burlington, Vermont
  -Economy:CommutAir, a regional airline, is headquartered in the city, by the airport. The Magic Hat Brewing Company, one of the United States's larger craft breweries, is located here.One measure of economic activity is retail sales...
  
   (Principal city)
• South Hero
  South Hero, Vermont
  South Hero is a town in Grand Isle County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,696 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 47.5 square miles , of which 15.1 square miles is land and 32.4 square miles is...
  
  
• Starksboro
  Starksboro, Vermont
  Starksboro is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,898 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 45.5 square miles , of which 45.5 square miles is land and 0.1 square mile is...
  
  
• Underhill
  Underhill, Vermont
  Underhill is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,980 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 51.4 mi2 , of which 51.3 mi2 is land and 0.1 mi2 is water.-Education:Underhill...
  
  
• Vergennes
  Vergennes, Vermont
  Vergennes is a city located in the northwest quadrant of Addison County, Vermont, in the United States. Bordered by the towns of Ferrisburgh, Panton and Waltham, as of the 2000 census the city population was 2,741. It is the smallest of Vermont's nine cities in terms of population...
  
  
• Westford
  Westford, Vermont
  Westford is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,087 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 39.3 square miles , of which 39.3 square miles is land and 0.04 square mile is...
  
  
• Williston
  Williston, Vermont
  Williston is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 8,698 at the 2010 census, an increase of over 1,000 people since the 2000 census...
  
  
• Winooski
  Winooski, Vermont
  Winooski is a city in Chittenden County, Vermont, in the United States. Located at the mouth of the Winooski River, as of the 2010 census the city population was 7,267...
  
  

Demographics

As of the census

Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

of 2000, there were 198,889 people, 75,978 households, and 49,311 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 95.43% White, 0.74% African American, 0.58% Native American, 1.53% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.94% of the population.

Economy

The metro had a gross metropolitan product

Gross metropolitan product

Gross Metropolitan Product or Gross Regional Product is one of several measures of the size of the economy of a metropolitan area...

 of $8.38 billion in 2004, 38.2% of the total for the state. Personal income was $7 billion.

Personal income

The median income for a household in the MSA was $44,122, and the median income for a family was $51,690. Males had a median income of $35,363 versus $26,070 for females. The per capita income

Per capita income

Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...

 for the MSA was $21,175.

The median wage in the area in 2008 was $16.47 hourly or $34,258 annually. This was 7.6% higher than in the rest of the state.

Industry

The largest industrial facility in Vermont is IBM

IBM

International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...

's semiconductor plant in Essex Junction.

Volunteers

The metropolitan area ranked ten points higher than the US average, helping to propel the state to ninth in the country for volunteerism for the period 2005-8. 37.4% of the population volunteered during this period. The national average was 26.4%. The local average annual number of hours was 40.8.

Media

There are four network-affiliated television stations in the city. They include WFFF

WFFF-TV

WFFF-TV is the Fox-affiliated television station for Vermont's Champlain Valley and Upstate New York's North Country. Licensed to Burlington, Vermont, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 43 from a transmitter on Vermont's highest peak, Mount Mansfield...

 channel 44 (Fox

Fox Broadcasting Company

Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...

), WFFF's digital subchannel

WFFF-DT2

WFFF-DT2 is the CW-affiliated television station for Vermont's Champlain Valley and Upstate New York's North Country. It is a second digital subchannel of Fox affiliate WFFF-TV owned by Smith Media, LLC...

 44-2 (The CW), its sister station, WVNY

WVNY

WVNY is the ABC-affiliated television station for Vermont's Champlain Valley and Upstate New York's North Country. Licensed to Burlington, Vermont, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 13 from a transmitter on Vermont's highest peak Mount Mansfield. The station can also be...

 channel 22 (ABC

American Broadcasting Company

The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...

), WPTZ

WPTZ

WPTZ, virtual channel 5, is an NBC-affiliated television station located in Plattsburgh, New York, USA. WPTZ is owned by Hearst Television, and has its studios in Plattsburgh and transmitter located on Mount Mansfield in Vermont....

 (NBC

NBC

The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...

), and WCAX

WCAX-TV

WCAX-TV, virtual channel 3, is a television station in Burlington, Vermont, USA. WCAX is affiliated with the CBS Television Network and has been locally owned by the Hasbrook/Martin family and their company, Mount Mansfield Television, since the station's inception...

 channel 3 (CBS

CBS

CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...

). WCAX, WFFF, and WPTZ operate news departments. WCAX is the only Burlington-based news department, while WPTZ is based in Plattsburgh, New York

Plattsburgh (city), New York

Plattsburgh is a city in and county seat of Clinton County, New York, United States. The population was 19,989 at the 2010 census. The population of the unincorporated areas within the Town of Plattsburgh was 11,870 as of the 2010 census; making the population for the immediate, urban Plattsburgh,...

 with a bureau in nearby Colchester

Colchester, Vermont

Colchester is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 17,067 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth-largest municipality and second-largest town in Vermont by population.-Geography:...

. WFFF and WVNY are also based in Colchester.

Comcast Communications is the city's major cable television

Cable television

Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...

 service provider. Residents within the city limits are also served by municipally-owned Burlington Telecom

Burlington Telecom

Burlington Telecom is a municipal telecommunications company providing residents of Burlington, Vermont with television, telephone and internet services. The company runs its communications offerings on a city-wide fiber-optic network.-History:...

.

These cable channels are Burlington based: Public-access television

Public-access television

Public-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...

 VCAM

Vermont Community Access Media

Vermont Community Access Media is Chittenden County, Vermont's Public, educational, and government access cable TV station and digital media resource center, seen in the Burlington area on and Comcast channel 15...

-Channel 15, RETN-Channel 16, and Channel 17.