VT · Healthcare shortage profile
Chittenden County, VT
Peak severity leads this reading: Chittenden County's highest active HPSA score is 21.0, clearing HRSA's 17-point high-priority line. Population 168,323.
- Active HPSAs
- 3
- Population
- 168,323
- Peak shortage score
- 21.0
- MUA Index
- 58.0
Light-burden verdict
According to current HRSA Data Warehouse records, Chittenden County carries a comparatively light shortage burden - 3 active HPSA designations, more than 20% of the 3,289 real US counties, with primary care the deepest gap.
- 3
- Active HPSA designations
- 1
- Mental-health shortages
- 21
- Peak severity score (of 26)
- Top 80%
- US counties by volume
Based on HRSA primary/mental/dental shortage severity, Medically Underserved Area status, and estimated unmet provider need -- not patient outcomes, insurance access, facility quality, or wait times.
Dense ZCTA lattice over Chittenden County
Chittenden County intersects 21 Census ZCTAs, above the 15-ZIP dense-tercile cut. Shortage designations still attach at the county (or smaller HPSA) grain; the ZIP list is geography, not a second severity score.
Largest land-share ZCTAs in this county
9 additional ZCTAs intersect this county in the crosswalk (ordered by land share).
Source: Census ZCTA–county relationship file joined to this portal's county FIPS set. As of 2026-08-15.
Key findings
What the HRSA Data Warehouse does not surface for Chittenden County, VT on its own pages , computed from the retained designation mirror as of 2026-08-15. Each line carries its own denominator so it can be quoted as it stands.
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Peak HPSA score 21.0 clears HRSA's 17-point high-priority line.
Scores at or above 17 on the 0–25/26 scales open NHSC placement priority for the matching provider type; eligibility still follows the designated area, not the county boundary alone.
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33.3% of Chittenden County's 3 active designations are primary care.
Discipline mix from designated HPSA records only: 1 primary care, 1 mental health, 1 dental (denominator 3).
Chittenden County vs. every real US county
Total active HPSA designations, including counties with none
3 Top 80% higher than 20% of 3,289 real US counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more real US counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source HRSA Data Warehouse, designated HPSAs · 2026
State peer position. Chittenden County falls in the upper half of VT counties by active-designation volume, at rank 4 of 14. Ties share a rank; the comparison uses the same current designated records as the national chart.
Healthcare shortage designations from HRSA. FIPS: 50007. Population: 168,323.
Medically Underserved Area
Active HPSA scores
Current designated records only. Scores range 0–25 (primary/mental health), 0–26 (dental). Higher = greater need. What counts as a high score?
Highest-severity HPSA designations
All 3 active (designated) HPSAs in Chittenden County, ranked by HRSA shortage score.
| Name | Type | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Community Health Centers OF Burlington, Inc. | mental_health | 21.0 |
| Community Health Centers OF Burlington, Inc. | dental | 15.0 |
| Community Health Centers OF Burlington, Inc. | primary_care | 8.0 |
Light-burden reading for Chittenden County
Peak severity leads this reading: Chittenden County's highest active HPSA score is 21.0, clearing HRSA's 17-point high-priority line. Chittenden County's severest measured gap is in mental health, scored 21.0 of 25, past the 17-point line HRSA uses to open National Health Service Corps placement and enhanced Medicare reimbursement. Primary care reads 8.0 of 25; Dental care reads 15.0 of 26. The county also sits inside a Medically Underserved Area, indexed at 58.0, and the lower the index, the greater the measured need.
Chittenden County carries 3 active designations and sits below the national mid-pack (above 20% of counties). A light footprint still matters: a single high-score dental or mental-health record can open program geography even when the county total looks small next to heavy peers.
Chittenden County falls in the upper half of VT counties by active-designation volume, at rank 4 of 14. Read the active scores and the deepest-care guide link below before collapsing this county into a "no shortage" story.
Acting on Chittenden County's high-priority mental health
Chittenden County's shortage designations unlock specific federal programs and comparisons, here is how to act on them.
- Chittenden County's high-priority mental health designations are where NHSC placement geography concentrates, estimate the award and service terms. NHSC estimator
- See how the county's mental health burden compares with the rest of VT before drawing conclusions from a single score. VT overview
- Check the provider-to-population ratio behind an HPSA score against HRSA's designation thresholds. HPSA score lookup
HPSA scores describe shortage severity within HRSA's designation criteria, not the availability of any individual provider. For a specific appointment, contact a provider or your insurer; use HRSA's current tools to verify a designation.
Counties near Chittenden County's mental score of 21.0
One peer set for this severity-led county: nearest active mental HPSA score to 21.0 (severity lead on this page is “COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS OF BURLINGTON, INC.”).
Winnebago County, IL
21.0 mental score · 285,350 pop.
King County, WA
21.0 mental score · 2,269,675 pop.
Westchester County, NY
21.0 mental score · 1,004,457 pop.
Lake County, IL
21.0 mental score · 714,342 pop.
Guilford County, NC
21.0 mental score · 541,299 pop.
Jefferson County, LA
21.0 mental score · 440,781 pop.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Chittenden County's MUA standing sit beside its HPSA records?
- Yes - Chittenden County carries an MUA designation (index 58.0; lower = greater measured need) in addition to its HPSA rows. MUA and HPSA are separate HRSA tracks; both can open different federal pathways.
- Which record sets Chittenden County's peak score of 21.0?
- "COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS OF BURLINGTON, INC." leads the active set (score 21.0; mental health; 28,908 people in the service area; designated 10/26/2002). Clearing 17 opens NHSC high-priority placement for the matching provider type on the designated geography. Discipline mix across 3 active rows: 1 primary care, 1 mental health, 1 dental.
- Which other active designations sit under Chittenden County's severity reading?
- After "COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS OF BURLINGTON, INC.", the next active names on this release are "COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS OF BURLINGTON, INC.", "COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS OF BURLINGTON, INC." and "COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS OF BURLINGTON, INC.". Provider need (id-de-duped) totals ~0 FTE across disciplines that still carry a gap.
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse. FIPS: 50007. This county’s designations come from BCD_HPSA_FCT_DET_PC.csv (primary care) , BCD_HPSA_FCT_DET_MH.csv (mental health) and BCD_HPSA_FCT_DET_DH.csv (dental) — download the normalized export on our open data page. PlainHealthAccess is not affiliated with HRSA or any government agency.
HRSA Data Warehouse HPSA + MUA/P records for FIPS 50007 (Chittenden County, VT), vintage 2026-08-15. Active designation count 3; peak score 21.0; signature peak score 21.0. This profile is reference material, not professional advice; see methodology.