What it's like to live in South Burlington
South Burlington is a small city in Vermont with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. South Burlington deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, cold, harsh winters, and heavy snowfall.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Cold, harsh winters
- Heavy snowfall — 88" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How South Burlington compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to South Burlington
Based on South Burlington's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,574
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $71,480 a year
- 41% of South Burlington renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$88,680
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $44,340
- Homes cost 4.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 26% above US
$1,787/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,787 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 $443,400. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $443,400 · 41% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 49% below US
2.2% unemployment
Unemployment here is 2.2%, well below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 30% below US
231 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 4714/100k · South Burlington Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 32% below US
18 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 17.7 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 20% 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
Education & workforce▲ 88% above US
68% 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
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, 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 (66 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
South Burlington's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,787/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers, anyone prioritizing low crime, and remote workers (20% of workers here already work from home). It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
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