What it's like to live in Burlington
Burlington is a small city in Vermont with unemployment below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Burlington deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, and a poverty rate above the national average.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Crime above national average
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
How Burlington compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Burlington
Based on Burlington's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,298
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $65,960 a year
- 54% of Burlington renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$88,960
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $44,480
- Homes cost 6.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 17% above US
$1,649/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,649 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $444,800. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $444,800 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 47% below US
2.3% unemployment
Unemployment here is 2.3%, well below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 47% above US
483 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 4103/100k · Burlington Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 28% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 5 in 10 workers drive to work; 5% take public transit; 19% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 80°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 16°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 68% above US
61% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
10 public schools inside the boundary
There are 10 public schools inside the boundary and 6 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park (68 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Burlington's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,649/mo) equals 28% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers, remote workers (19% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
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