3 Most Affordable and Safe Neighborhoods to Live in Burlington, Vermont

Life in Burlington, Vermont, is magical. You will enjoy quality of life: a tight-knit community, arts and culture, environmental stewardship, sustainability, multiculturalism, and a progressive atmosphere, plus affordability. Nestled between Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains, its natural beauty is breathtaking. In addition, according to WalletHub, Burlington is one of the safest cities in the US. (Safest Cities in America)

As Vermont’s largest city with a population of close to 45,000, Burlington is Vermont’s economic, cultural, and educational hub, yet, like the rest of Vermont, it is fundamentally community oriented. While housing costs in Burlington have risen significantly—with an average rent of $2,058 per month (32% higher than the national average) and median home prices around $414,812—you can enjoy substantial quality of life without breaking the bank. 

Below, we explore three of Burlington’s most affordable neighborhoods. Whether you are a renter or a buyer, you will find Burlington’s unique characteristics appealing. 

1. Old North End: Historic Character and Cultural Diversity

A. Neighborhood’s Employment

The Old North End is primarily a working-class section of Burlington, with an economically diverse population that includes college students, professionals, and recipients of various forms of government assistance. According to community surveys, residents here typically work more hours but earn less than those in other parts of the city, with many employed in the service sector. This economic reality is reflected in the neighborhood’s affordability. Eighty percent of residents rent their homes while only about 30% own a home. The neighborhood’s central location provides reasonable access to downtown employment opportunities, while its proximity to the University of Vermont creates service and support staff positions for residents.

B. Neighborhood’s Safety Rating

The Old North End maintains its safety due to strong community bonds that ensure mutual support and vigilance. Like many urban areas experiencing ongoing revitalization, safety conditions can vary by specific location and time of day. Residents, however, go beyond exercising normal urban precautions. They have worked hard to establish the neighborhood’s local character and actively engage in contributing to its overall security profile

C. Neighborhood’s Healthcare

The Commonwealth Fund ranked Vermont fifth in health system performance in 2023. The Old North End is home to the Community Health Centers of Burlington at Riverside (617 Riverside Avenue), which provides comprehensive medical, dental, psychiatry/mental health care, and various other services for people at all financial levels. This facility features a two-level parking garage with elevator access, making healthcare services readily accessible to neighborhood residents. The center operates Monday through Friday with medical services from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, dental services from 7:30 am to 3:45 pm, and an on-site pharmacy open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. This integrated healthcare hub significantly enhances the neighborhood’s livability by providing essential services within walking distance for many residents. For acute care, The University of Vermont Medical Center is easily accessible from the North End and features a trauma care unit. 

D. Neighborhood’s Education

Burlington parents in general interact frequently with educational staff and administration to elevate the quality of their children’s education. The Old North End is served by the Burlington public school system. Community surveys indicate that residents rate their happiness with education at 1.93 on a scale where 1 is “very happy” and 5 is “very unhappy”—slightly better than the overall Burlington average. The neighborhood’s ongoing revitalization efforts include educational resources that support its diverse population, including immigrant communities. The presence of educational facilities like the former “Ecole Nazareth” (now repurposed as a community center) reflects the area’s historical commitment to learning and community development across generations.

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E. Neighborhood’s Amenities

The Old North End features the Center of Recreation and Education (CORE) at the O.N.E. Community Center, which opened in 2017 as Burlington’s newest recreation facility. This center offers a gymnasium, pickleball courts (with drop-in sessions for beginners and intermediate players), and community rooms available for rent. The CORE Adult Center provides services specifically for older adults, including lunch, classes, painting activities, games, and weekly off-site activities for individuals fifty-five and older, with transportation available. The neighborhood’s historical character is complemented by modern amenities like these community spaces, which foster interaction among its diverse residents.

The Old North End’s central location provides good walkability and access to public transportation. Residents can reach downtown Burlington and its amenities with relative ease. Locals love the Intervale Center that manages 360 acres of organic farms, gardens, forest, and recreational trails in the heart of Burlington, and the many multicultural events hosted in the area. Revel in the incredible views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains or explore North Street’s diverse restaurants and locally owned businesses. Create a self-guided tour of street art and murals that decorate the buildings throughout the neighborhood.

While housing stock varies, the Champlain Housing Trust offers apartment options in the Old North End, with rents ranging from $950 to $1,887 for various unit types, including charming converted historical buildings that preserve the neighborhood’s architectural heritage.

F. Neighborhood’s Unique Attributes

The Old North End’s most distinctive characteristic is its extraordinary cultural diversity features the most diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds of anywhere in Burlington. A stroll around the neighborhood reveals its diverse cuisine options, such as Central Market Taste of Asia, The Mahawi African Market, the Nepali Dumpling House and Thai Phat, a Vietnamese-owned market. The options reflect the neighborhood’s multicultural environment. Historically, the neighborhood was home to a growing population of French Canadians whose parish life centered around Allen Street’s St. Joseph’s cathedral, the first national non-English speaking parish for Catholics in the area. In addition, it has seen waves of German immigrants, as well as Irish. More recently the area has diversified to include families from Somali, Bhutan, Sudan, and Syria. 

In recent years, the Champlain Housing Trust has played a significant role in preserving the neighborhood’s historical buildings while adapting them to contemporary needs. For example, when the Ecole Nazareth building was proposed for sale in 2014, the Housing Trust intervened to purchase the property on behalf of nonprofit tenants, demonstrating a commitment to maintaining community services in the Old North End. This blend of historical preservation and community-focused development creates a unique atmosphere that appeals to those seeking affordability without sacrificing character and convenience.

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2. South End: Creative Energy and Emerging Development

A. Neighborhood’s Employment

The South End is quite vibrant. It is easy to see why because the employment landscape is characterized by a distinct mix of creative professionals, entrepreneurs, and businesses of diverse sizes. The neighborhood’s Enterprise District serves as a hub for artists, makers, and innovative companies, creating diverse employment opportunities within walking distance for residents. The South Mountain Tech Corridor, identified in Phoenix’s General Plan as a key area for employment growth, focuses on attracting high-wage jobs in technology, bioscience, light manufacturing, finance, and other office and industrial uses. This economic diversity makes the South End particularly attractive to those seeking affordability combined with proximity to employment opportunities that match various skill levels and career interests.

B. Neighborhood’s Safety Rating

The mix of residential and commercial traffic in the South End ensures natural surveillance that enhances security during the day and at night. As with many neighborhoods experiencing revitalization, residents typically exercise normal urban precautions while benefiting from the area’s growing community cohesion. The South End’s evolving character includes attention to well-lit streets and public spaces designed with safety in mind.

C. Neighborhood’s Healthcare

The South End’s central location in Burlington ensures reasonable access to the city’s healthcare network, such as the Community Health Centers of Burlington on Pine Street. Good Health at 368 Dorset Street features medical, mental health and psychiatry services. The South End has ample connectivity to other Burlington healthcare providers throughout the metropolitan area. Future development plans include walkability and transportation options that will enhance residents’ ability to reach necessary medical services.

D. Neighborhood’s Education

The South End is served by the Burlington public school system. One of the best things about the South Burlington School District is a Multi-Tiered System of Education (MTSS) that helps monitor student progress and optimize learning environments. MTSS is committed to student support, professional development, anti-racist policies, and proficiency-based learning. 

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E. Neighborhood’s  Amenities

South End Apartments, a modern residential complex at the corner of Pine Street and Flynn Avenue, offers various amenities that enhance quality of life, including a fitness center, laundry facilities, elevator access, recycling and composting services, EV charging stations, public transportation access, lounge areas, storage space, and bicycle storage. Built in 2018, this 30-unit, 4-story building represents the kind of contemporary housing options emerging in the South End. The apartments feature large closets, large windows, and pet-friendly policies, with studios starting around $1,837, one-bedroom units from $2,100, and two-bedroom units from $2,495.

Beyond specific housing complexes, the South End is known for its artistic atmosphere, including numerous galleries, studios, and creative spaces that provide cultural enrichment opportunities for residents. The neighborhood’s industrial heritage has been repurposed to create unique living and working environments that appeal to those seeking urban character without premium pricing.

F. Neighborhood’s Unique Attributes

The South End’s most distinctive characteristic is its evolution from an industrial district to a creative hub with emerging residential opportunities. The city’s South End Innovation District initiative aims to transform underutilized parcels into a neighborhood where people can “work, create, live, and play—without getting in their cars.” This vision responds to Burlington’s housing crisis by encouraging a mixed-use neighborhood encouraging walkability and sustainability. 

The South End Coordinated Redevelopment project, a collaboration between the City of Burlington, Champlain College, and private developers, is another transformative effort. The project aims to develop a “vibrant, sustainable, and accessible mixed-use neighborhood” in the heart of the district, with plans for more than 1,000 new homes, including a minimum of 20% affordable housing. This coordinated approach to development, guided by the city’s Inclusionary Zoning program (which requires 15-25% affordable units in new developments), ensures that the South End’s growth includes housing options accessible to various income levels. For those seeking affordability in a neighborhood with creative energy and evolving character, the South End offers a compelling combination of reasonable housing costs and distinctive urban vitality.

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3. Downtown Burlington: Urban Convenience and Central Access

A. Neighborhood’s Employment

Downtown Burlington’s central location creates unparalleled access to employment opportunities across various sectors. As the city’s commercial and cultural heart, downtown hosts businesses ranging from retail and restaurants to professional services and corporate offices. The proximity to government buildings, cultural institutions, and the Church Street Marketplace—a pedestrian shopping area—creates a dense concentration of jobs within walking distance for residents. This exceptional accessibility to employment is a significant advantage that helps balance the neighborhood’s slightly higher housing costs compared to areas like the Old North End.

B. Neighborhood’s Safety Rating

The downtown area benefits from high foot traffic, well-lit streets, and the natural surveillance that comes with mixed-use development. The central location typically ensures prompt response times from emergency services. As with any urban center, residents exercise normal precautions, particularly at night, but the vibrant atmosphere and active street life contribute to overall security during business hours and evenings when restaurants and entertainment venues are operating.

C. Neighborhood’s  Healthcare

Downtown Burlington offers exceptional access to healthcare services, with facilities like the McKenzie House Apartments providing specialized housing for seniors and people with disabilities just a block away from the Church Street Marketplace and a short walk from Lake Champlain. While not a healthcare facility itself, this development demonstrates how to tailor downtown residential options to serve those with specific needs while providing proximity to medical services. The central location ensures that healthcare facilities throughout Burlington are accessible via public transportation or short drives.

D. Neighborhood’s Education

Downtown Burlington’s educational landscape is characterized by its proximity to learning opportunities rather than hosting many educational institutions directly. The area’s central location provides access to schools throughout the Burlington public school system, while its urban setting offers cultural and experiential learning opportunities through museums, libraries, and community events. For adult learners, downtown’s connectivity facilitates access to continuing education and professional development resources throughout the city.

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E. Neighborhood’s Amenities

Downtown Burlington offers the quintessential urban amenities that define city living walkable streets, diverse dining options, retail shopping, entertainment venues, and cultural attractions. The Church Street Marketplace serves as the neighborhood’s central feature—a pedestrian-friendly shopping and dining district that creates a vibrant atmosphere throughout the year. Lake Champlain’s waterfront is within easy reach, providing recreational opportunities and scenic beauty that complement the urban experience.

The Flynn Center in Burlington, Vermont, is a cornerstone of the city’s cultural life. Originally opened in 1930 as a “Wonder Theatre” for vaudeville and movies, it has evolved into a vibrant performing arts center. Today, the Flynn hosts a diverse range of events, including live music, theater, dance, and lectures, drawing both local residents and visitors. It stands as a historic and contemporary hub for artistic expression in the heart of Burlington.

Housing options downtown include properties managed by the Champlain Housing Trust, with rents ranging from $950 to $2,764 for various unit types. These include uniquely restored historical buildings and modern apartment complexes with features like elevators for accessibility. For example, King Street Apartments offer studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom options in a modern, multi-unit, secure building located in the heart of downtown Burlington, with rents starting from $950. This variety of housing types helps maintain some affordability in an otherwise premium location.

F. Neighborhood’s Unique Attributes

Downtown Burlington’s most distinctive characteristic is its combination of small-city charm and urban amenities, all within a highly walkable environment. Unlike many larger cities where downtown life comes at an extreme premium, Burlington’s downtown remains accessible, particularly through housing programs that maintain affordability. The neighborhood’s unique balance of commercial activity, cultural attractions, and residential options creates a dynamic atmosphere that appeals to those seeking an urban lifestyle without the intensity and cost of major metropolitan areas.

The historical character of many downtown buildings adds architectural interest while connecting residents to Burlington’s heritage. Modern developments and renovations complement these historic structures, creating a layered urban environment that offers both character and convenience for those prioritizing walkability, and access to employment.

Since 1980, the Burlington Farmers Market has been a pillar of community engagement, every Saturday from 10:00 am to 1:00pm during the late spring through autumn. The Burlington Farmers Market features a wide variety of local farmers and vendors that contribute 15% of the state economy. Farmers markets extend throughout most major towns in Vermont, forming a crucial community network. 

Conclusion

It is easy to understand why Burlington is such a popular destination for relocation. Each of its three most popular neighborhoods contains advantages it would be difficult to find elsewhere. The Old North End gives residents cultural diversity and historic character, the South End combines creative energy, sustainability and emerging development, while Downtown Burlington ensures urban convenience, and diverse options at all levels, in addition to surprising affordability through housing programs. Together, these neighborhoods demonstrate Burlington’s commitment to accessible housing while maintaining the city’s unique rural charm, showcasing local talent and highlighting its progressive character.