Though it’s not the state capital, Burlington has long been Vermont’s most renowned city, set in the striking Green Mountain range. As the birthplace of Ben & Jerry’s, the shoreline of Lake Champlain and the home of the University of Vermont, the Queen City has become a New England home base for nearly 45,000 residents. “We have a fun, funky beat to the town,” says Kathy O’Brien, a senior sales associate with Four Seasons Sotheby’s, who has sold in Burlington for over 30 years. “There’s a certain vibrancy, and the young crowd at the University of Vermont keeps the place lively.”
UVM and its medical center have attracted many professors and healthcare professionals, while foodies and young adults come here to explore Church Street Marketplace and the trendy art and music scene. O’Brien notes that two other major draws to the city are its prime location and natural beauty. “Summers here rival something out of a movie, where it stays light until 9:30, and it’s super lush,” she says. “You can also be in New York City by jet in an hour or get to Montreal in two hours and feel like you’re in Europe.”
Relaxing by the marina at Waterfront Park is a favorite pastime for locals.
Church St. in downtown Burlington is a car-free walking street filled with a variety of shops.
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Magic, murals and markets feed into Burlington’s creative spirit
An array of events throughout the year reflects the city’s eccentric spirit. The Festival of Fools, held each summer, transforms downtown into a stage for street performers, magicians and acrobats, creating a unique, mystical experience for all ages. Another summer tradition, the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, celebrates world-class jazz performances across venues, parks and the streets.
Art can be discovered in every corner of town, from Old North End murals to shows at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts. An iconic nightlife attraction, Nectar’s is the live music venue where bands, including Phish, played their first gigs. The Fleming Museum of Art displays rotating exhibits, and local galleries and market vendors showcase work during the South End Art Hop each September.
On Summer evenings you can find local musicians playing to crowds along Church St in Burlington.
The Old North End Farmers' Market is every Tuesday from 3:00pm-6:30pm.
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Beach days, lake swings and the Forever Young Treehouse
Outdoor amenities are among the city’s biggest attractions. “I can be sailing world-class waters in the summer, and by winter, I can put on my winter boots and be on a ski lift in under 60 minutes,” O’Brien says. A majority of recreation centers around Lake Champlain, which is narrow enough to reveal views of the Adirondack Mountains in the distance. The Burlington Greenway bike path lines the lake, along with fitness stations, dog parks and swings that overlook the water. “There’s also a little ferry that takes bikers to the Champlain Islands, where there are miles of trails to explore,” O’Brien says. North and Leddy beaches are popular spots for swimming and kayaking during the summer, and Leddy Park has an ice arena. Battery Street Park is one of the city’s most popular gathering spaces with a music pavilion and the iconic Beansie’s Bus seasonal food truck. Oakledge Park’s Forever Young Treehouse was the first handicap-accessible public tree house in the world and is a popular spot for photoshoots and picnics.
A person fishes on the rocks at Salmon Hole in Riverside.
At Rock Point Park in North Burlington you can find many hiking trails and grazing sheep.
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Exploring the historic Church Street Marketplace and indulging in a creemee
The Church Street Marketplace is a bustling pedestrian-only strip of shops, breweries, restaurants and street performers. Visitors can enjoy takeout from one of the many dining options on the benches that line the brick road. “Leunigs Bistro is a real happy, fun place to eat, and if you want New York-quality food, Hen of the Wood is also in Church Street Marketplace,” O’Brien says.
Just as Midwesterners refer to soda as “pop,” Vermonters call soft-served ice cream, “creemees.” The city’s ice cream legacy dates back to 1978, when the original Ben & Jerry’s scoop shop opened out of an old gas station. Shoppers can pick up regional goods at the seasonal City Hall Park farmers market, and big-box grocers, department stores and University Mall are all nearby, as well.
During the summertime locals setup shop on the brick walkway of Church Street in Burlington.
For a delicious treat, stop by Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream in downtown Burlington.
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From O.N.E. farmhouses to Hill Section estates
Buyers can find a little bit of everything in Burlington’s housing market. Downtown condo buildings, multifamily homes and townhouse communities provide smaller units, though single-family properties are most common. New North End housing consists of Capes, ranch-style homes and waterfront lots on Lake Champlain or the Winooski River. Old North End, also known as O.N.E., is an artsy district with old farmhouses and multifamily Victorians.
More modest options may sell between $250,000 and $550,000, though large estates in Hill Section and close to the university and medical center can fetch $1 million. The city’s priciest homes line the waterfront and may surpass $2 million.
Newly built homes with unique designs can be found in Hill Section.
In Appletree Point you can find picturesque colonial homes.
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Above-average public schools and two four-year colleges
The Burlington School District scores a B grade on Niche. Burlington High School’s bi-weekly newspaper, The Register, has won numerous awards from state press associations. Rice Memorial High is a private option with an A, and Vermont Commons School, just south of the city, scores an A-plus for Grades 6 through 12.
Graduates can seek higher education at the University of Vermont, a public, four-year research institution. The university offers over 100 undergraduate majors, 60 master’s programs and 30 doctoral degrees. Champlain College provides private education for both on-campus and online learners.
Burlington High School located in downtown Burlington serves grades 9-12.
The University of Vermont's picturesque campus is on the border of the Old North End.
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Navigating Burlington by bus, bike, train or plane
Commuters can take Greyhound or Green Mountain Transit buses, and the Burlington Union Station services Amtrak trains. U.S. Route 7 runs southwest toward Albany, about 150 miles away, and Interstate 89 connects to Boston, about 215 miles southeast. Both cities can be reached within 3.5 hours. The Burlington International Airport operates just outside of the city in South Burlington and provides direct flights to major U.S. cities east of Denver.
Crime averages and Burlington Public Works snow protocol
According to Burlington’s Annual Report, the total number of incidents, or calls of service, from 2022 to 2023 increased by 22%. FBI graphs show violent crime rates typically fall lower than U.S. averages and higher than Vermont averages. Historically, Burlington has seen higher rates of property crimes than national and statewide averages.
Burlington gets an average of about 73 inches of snow per year, according to National Weather Service data. The city salts the sidewalks and plows main thoroughfares and bike lanes. “It takes a while to get used to the onset of the Vermont cold, but when you do, you’ll be outside in shorts when it hits 40 degrees,” O’Brien says.
On average, homes in Burlington, VT sell after 46 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Burlington, VT over the last 12 months is $509,000, up 9% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Soren is the principle broker for Central Vermont Real Estate in Montpelier, Vermont. He lives with his wife and 2 daughters in a 1830’s brick farmhouse in East Montpelier. Soren works with both buyers and sellers and especially loves helping buyers find, evaluate, negotiate on, and purchase the home or land that is right for them. He takes care in listening to his buyer clients and gaining an understanding of what they want and need so he can help them find the property that suits them.
In addition to his real estate experience, Soren has a masters in architecture degree as well as over 20 years experience as a builder in Central Vermont and he and his wife ran an architectural design and construction firm, Thunder Mill Design (see www.thundermilldesign.com) together. Now he devotes his full time and energy to assisting buyers & sellers in Central Vermont. Soren brings a broad base of knowledge and experience to the process of helping buyers & sellers and encourages his clients to take advantage of his background in order to gain a better understanding of the property and it's potential.
Feel free to call or email Soren any time with questions about specific properties or about the purchase process or the services he offers as a buyer's agent. He is also glad to provide a free market analysis of your home if you're thinking about selling and want to get a better idea of it's value. Soren is happy to help.
In addition to his real estate experience, Soren has a masters degree in architectural design as well as over 20 years experience as a builder in Central Vermont. He and his wife ran an architectural design and construction firm, Thunder Mill Design (see www.thundermilldesign.com) together. Now he devotes his full time and energy to assisting buyers & sellers in Central Vermont. Soren brings a broad base of knowledge and experience to the process of helping buyers & sellers and encourages his clients to take advantage of his background in order to gain a better understanding of the property and it's potential.
Feel free to call or email Soren any time with questions about specific properties or about the purchase process or the services he offers as a buyer's agent or listing agent. He is glad to provide a free market analysis of your home if you're thinking about selling and want to get a better idea of it's value. Soren is happy to help.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
