Everything about Burlington drives healthy living. For starters, it is surrounded by the Adirondacks and Lake Champlain. It has great skiing, hiking, and biking throughout and nearby and a population that takes advantage of all these outdoor lifestyle opportunities. If that wasn’t enough, it also has nearly universal single-payer healthcare, access to amazing medical facilities at the University of Vermont, and a well-educated, engaged community.

While Burlington doesn’t approach the price-iness of, say, Boston or NYC, it has acquired the higher cost of living of other popular groovy, beautiful, escape-the-big-city, lifestyle burgs. One other note: if you trend red-state, it should go without saying, but you will not feel chill in Burlington.

Healthy Living

LookyLOO Review of Burlington? 

While there is a growing condo scene downtown, much of Burlington is as you might expect. Lots of beautiful tree-lined streets with older homes that all seem to have exposed brick, vintage floorings, wood trim, and big fireplaces for the long winter - you know the drill.

Check out the local [calendar of events](https://www.helloburlingtonvt.com/events/) for a better understanding of the daily lifestyle options.

We highly recommend visiting Burlington and staying in the community in a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our [partnership with Expedia](expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ) as well.

Tree-Lined Streets

Lifestyle 

We’re going to assume you live in some crazy expensive city and are craving a new groovy, outdoorsy, liberal lifestyle but can’t completely give up city amenities? If the answer to all of those points is a resounding yes, then move to Burlington, now. 


Ditch The Big Cities

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**__nautilus__**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I love being able to walk almost anywhere I need to go! I also love that I can walk 20-30 minutes north or south on the greenway and find beautiful beaches, woods, and trails in Rock Point, Oakledge, or Red Rocks. I love watching sunsets from a lot of places, with Battery Park being one of the best. I love hanging out in the parks by the waterfront, and in the summer kayaking on the lake. I love being less than an hour by car from at least three great places to ski! I love popping out to an apple orchard on the weekend for apples, cider, and donuts.

Edit: also love the local businesses. Particular shout outs to Onyx Tonics, Brio, and Shy Guy.

For more reviews of what living in Burlington is like from locals, check out [The Reviews](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/burlington/reviews).


Reviews of Burlington from Locals

**The Best Thing About Burlington?**  Healthy Living

Everything about Burlington drives health living. For starters it is surrounded by the Adirondacks and Lake Champlain. It has great skiing, hiking, biking throughout and nearby and a population that takes advantage of all these outdoor lifestyle opportunities. If that wasn’t enough it also has nearly universal single-payer healthcare, access to amazing medical facilities at the University of Vermont, and a well educated, engaged community. 

**The Worst Thing About Burlington?**  Do-Re-Mi

While Burlington doesn’t approach the priciness of say Boston or NYC, it has acquired the higher cost of living of other popular groovy, beautiful, escape-the-big-city, lifestyle burgs. One other note, if you trend red-state, it should go without saying but you will not feel chill in Burlington. 


**How You Living?**  Tree-Lined Streets

While there is a growing condo scene downtown much of Burlington is as you might expect. Lots of beautiful tree-lined streets with older homes that all seem to have exposed brick, vintage floorings, wood trim and big fireplaces for the long winter -- you know the drill. 

**Why You Should Move Here Now?**  Ditch The Big Cities

We’re going to assume you live in some crazy expensive city and are craving a new groovy, outdoorsy, liberal lifestyle but can’t completely give up city amenities? If the answer to all of those points is a resounding yes, then move to Burlington, now. 


Burlington has five major neighborhoods and the Old North End is where most of the students end up. Older homes that have been cut up into apartments for rent are the dominant form of housing for students. The neighborhood is relatively diverse and is a short walk to downtown if you’re looking to head out for the night. There are also restaurants and pubs in Old North End but the bigger nightlife and activities are downtown. Young Professionals looking for a more cool vibe will often choose Old North End over Downtown. 
- Old North End


College Students

Old North End

Downtown is the dominant neighborhood for young professionals. Housing is mostly condos and apartment buildings that are sprinkled throughout the commercial district. Bars, clubs, parks, beach access and performing arts are all short walks from anywhere downtown making it the most convenient choice for those who either work downtown or who simply want to be near where they socialize.  
- Downtown
- Old North End


Young Professionals

Downtown

The entire city of Burlington is LGBTQ+ friendly but the neighborhood that pulls together the community the most is the South End post-industrial section. Housing and commercial operations are primarily converted warehouses where artists set up galleries and new condos were built to house the emerging population. Anywhere in Burlington works but South End is the starting point. https://www.gayrealestate.com/news/usa/vermont/burlington/burlington-vermont-lgbtq-city-guide.html
- South End


LGBTQ+

South End

The New North End is a popular neighborhood for families. Nice homes overlooking Lake Champlain are available, some with beach access, and plenty of bike trails and parks to keep the kiddos on their outdoor toes. The Hill is another beautiful neighborhood for families. Big homes, great yards, plenty of outdoor space and the Burlington Country Club for those who like to chase that little ball around the course. Lake views come with a premium and is one of the primary selling points of homes here. https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/a-guide-to-burlington-home-buying-by-neighborhood/Content?oid=2539262
- New North End
- Hill


Families

New North End

Burlington

**Historical-Run-1511**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I love being able to walk to work/restaurants/groceries, I love that my kids are happy at BHS, I love walks along the lakefront or just around my neighborhood, I love my little front yard garden, I love how dog-friendly it is, I love the snow, I love the energy of the college kids everywhere. I just think despite all of its issues it's a really nice place to live if (big if) you can afford it.

**__nautilus__**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I love being able to walk almost anywhere I need to go! I also love that I can walk 20-30 minutes north or south on the greenway and find beautiful beaches, woods, and trails in Rock Point, Oakledge, or Red Rocks. I love watching sunsets from a lot of places, with Battery Park being one of the best. I love hanging out in the parks by the waterfront, and in the summer kayaking on the lake. I love being less than an hour by car from at least three great places to ski! I love popping out to an apple orchard on the weekend for apples, cider, and donuts.

Edit: also love the local businesses. Particular shout outs to Onyx Tonics, Brio, and Shy Guy.

**suzieking85**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I've moved states and regions many times, and personally it takes me a while to get used to new places. Could that be part of it? I grew up here in Burlington and came back after a long absence, and it took me a good year to really feel comfortable. It's partly about finding some community and friends, but it's also about routine and knowing where to go to get stuff done. I like that there's no traffic (compared to proper cities), that there's cool local places to go to get pretty much anything I need, that there's lots of places to enjoy nature that are free and easy to get to, that it's big enough to not know about everything or everyone but small enough that I'm familiar with a lot of the people I encounter in the day to day, that it's close to Canada, that there's a bunch of good bakeries, that if I stay outside long enough there will be a friendly dog I can probably pet, and there's a ton of good food for a city of this size

There's some rough stuff going on for sure, but a lot of the things I've always liked about this place are constant.

**woden_spoon**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉

There’s plenty to do without it feeling like the “big city.” Sure, there’s homelessness, theft, some violence, and public drug abuse, but welcome to any US city.

For the first time in a while I visited Portland (Maine) and Boston, just this week, and it is apparent that both are struggling with the same issues, but on a larger scale.

In Burlington, I have a choice of nice breweries, cafes, restaurants, bookstores, and record shops, but it takes all of 10 minutes to get out of the city and actually be in nature.

My wife and I have dogs, and she has a horse, and we both value the psychological benefits of nature (we grew up in a rural part of New Hampshire) so these are important considerations.

Burlington, Vermont

So Quaint It Will Make You Puke

Looklyloo Score: 91

Reviews

What's it like to live in Burlington?