Companion Care in South Burlington, VT for Seniors

Local figures

Companion Care in South Burlington, VT: the local picture

3,696

residents 65 or older (18% of South Burlington)

46%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (32% in Chittenden County)

16%

of residents 5+ speak a language other than English at home

4.9%

of households have no vehicle (7.1% in Chittenden County)

About 1,625 residents of South Burlington aged 65 or older live alone, 46% of older residents in households (32% in Chittenden County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

4.9% of South Burlington households have no vehicle (7.1% in Chittenden County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 3,696 South Burlington residents aged 65 or older, 456 are 85 or older (12%). Before the first visit with someone in that oldest group, ask the family about hearing, eyesight, walking and any memory changes, so the visit is planned around them.

1,850 South Burlington households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 754 rent. A companion visiting a house may also help with mail, light chores and keeping an eye on things; in an apartment building, ask whether visitors sign in.

About 183 older South Burlington residents (5.1%) live below the poverty line (7.8% in Chittenden County). For them, Medicaid home and community-based services or the local Area Agency on Aging may cover some companion or homemaker hours, depending on the state program; private pay is not the only route.

About 16% of South Burlington residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are other Asian and Pacific Island languages (780), other Indo-European languages (542), Spanish (400). If the person you care for is more at ease in one of these languages, say so in your posting; many caregivers list the languages they speak.

South Burlington compared with Chittenden County and Vermont

Census figure	South Burlington	Chittenden County	Vermont
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	46%	32%	30%
Residents 65 or older	18%	17%	21%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	16%	9.2%	5.5%
Households with no vehicle	4.9%	7.1%	6.2%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.1%	7.8%	8.7%
Residents 65+ with a disability	21%	26%	29%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$56,220	$70,052	—

Older residents in towns around South Burlington

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Shelburne, VT	3.6 mi	1,951	20%
Winooski, VT	4.1 mi	904	59%
Burlington, VT	4.7 mi	5,421	44%
Essex Junction, VT	5.0 mi	1,607	22%
Milton, VT	14 mi	562	39%
Keeseville, NY	15 mi	501	33%

Hospitals near South Burlington (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Univ. Of Vermont - Fletcher Allen Health Care	Burlington, VT	3.8 mi	4 of 5	(802) 847-0000
The University Of Vermont Health Network - Champl	Plattsburgh, NY	23 mi	2 of 5	(518) 562-7767
Elizabethtown Community Hospital	Elizabethtown, NY	25 mi	4 of 5	(518) 873-6377

Straight-line miles from the center of South Burlington. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a companion caregiver can help with

Conversation, cards, puzzles and shared hobbies
Walks and outings to the park, library or senior center
Company at meals, and help preparing them
Rides or escort to appointments, church and visits

Cost

What companion care costs in South Burlington

At the Vermont median aide wage of $20.00 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,733 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $4,685 monthly median income of South Burlington households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Vermont's minimum wage is $14.42 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a companion caregiver

Isolation is a health risk, not only a mood. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that nearly one in four Americans aged 65 and older living in the community is socially isolated, and linked isolation to higher risks of dementia, heart disease and early death (2020 report).

Questions worth asking: What do you enjoy doing with the people you care for? Are you comfortable driving, and is your car insured for passengers? How do you handle a client who does not want company at first? More in our companion care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Companion Care in South Burlington: common questions

How many seniors live alone in South Burlington?

About 1,625 residents aged 65 or older, 46% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (32% in Chittenden County).

How much does companion care cost in South Burlington?

At the Vermont median aide wage of $20.00 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,733 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $4,685 monthly median income of South Burlington households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Vermont's minimum wage is $14.42 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a companion caregiver do in South Burlington?

A companion keeps an older adult company and helps around the visit: conversation, activities, walks, meals, errands, rides and reminders. It suits someone who is mostly independent but lonely, or a family that wants someone to check in on weekdays.

More near South Burlington

More senior care near South Burlington

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in South Burlington

More for South Burlington families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

Companion Care for Seniors in South Burlington, VT