Vermont ranked 49th in population in the US with an estimated total of 616,592 in 2002, an increase of 1.3% since 2000. Between 1990 and 2000, Vermont's population grew from 562,758 to 608,827, an increase of 8.2%. The population is projected to reach 638,000 by 2005 and 678,000 by 2025. The population density in 2000 was 65.8 persons per sq mi.
In 2000, the median age for Vermont residents was 37.7. In the same year, 24.2% of the populace were under age 18 while 12.7% were age 65 or older. The rural population increased 12% between 1970 and 1980; in the 1990s, Vermont had the highest percentage of rural dwellers in all states.
Vermont cities with the largest populations, all under 100,000, include Burlington, Rutland, and Montpelier.