The town was named for Sir Edmund Burke, a member of the English Parliament.

[5] Burke is bordered by the towns of Lyndon and Kirby to the south, Victory to the southeast, East Haven to the northeast, Newark to the north, and Sutton to the west.

U.S. Route 5 runs through the western part of the town, connecting Lyndonville to the south with Barton and Newport to the north.

Vermont Route 5A leaves US-5 in the village of West Burke, leading north past Lake Willoughby to Derby.

Vermont Route 114 runs through East Burke, leading north to Island Pond and south to US-5 in Lyndonville.

Burke has the highest per capita income of any place in Caledonia County or the Northeast Kingdom.

[9] The town is also located just south of Lakes Willoughby and Crystal and the Mountains Hor and Pisgah around them, which attract swimmers and hikers.