Rome vs. Burlington: Detailed 2026 Comparison

Rome boasts a significantly larger population of 2.7 million compared to Burlington's 186,948. Despite its smaller size, Burlington demonstrates a higher GDP per capita at $74,600 versus Rome's $27,600. This indicates Burlington's population is wealthier on average. Burlington also shows stronger economic growth with a 2.89% GDP growth rate compared to Rome's 0.58%. The lower mortgage rate in Burlington (6.36%) compared to Rome (3.16%) further enhances its appeal for property investment and ownership.

Burlington offers substantially more affordable housing, with a property price-to-income ratio of just 3.98 compared to Rome's alarming 12.4 ratio. The average apartment rent in Burlington is approximately $1,700/month, significantly lower than Rome's $2,300/month. While Burlington's overall cost of living index is 58.6, just 67% of Rome's 86.9 index, certain categories show marked differences. For instance, Burlington's grocery costs are 36% lower, and transportation expenses are 42% cheaper than in Rome.

Burlington provides superior transportation infrastructure with a much lower property price-to-income ratio and significantly shorter commute times (average 23.33 minutes vs. Rome's 40.8 minutes). Safety comparisons show Burlington scoring higher on both the Safety Index (54.49 vs. Rome's 49.16) and Health Care Index (64.47 vs. Rome's 62.3). Both cities have relatively low pollution levels, but Burlington's index