Burlington, Vermont
Green Mountain paradise on Lake Champlain
Livability (2025)
#2 Top 100 Best Places to Live
Outside Magazine (2024)
#3 Best Towns
WhereAtHome Score
73.4
Cout of 100
Overview
Burlington consistently ranks among America's most livable small cities, offering Lake Champlain waterfront, Green Mountain access, and a progressive community. The University of Vermont anchors the economy, while Church Street provides a vibrant pedestrian downtown. High costs reflect extreme desirability.
Key Highlights
- Lake Champlain waterfront
- Green Mountain ski resort access
- Church Street pedestrian marketplace
- University of Vermont campus
- Strong local food and farm-to-table scene
- Progressive, environmentally conscious community
Key Metrics
2024 Presidential Election
Chittenden County (county-level results)
Source: County-level results from MIT Election Data + Science Lab. Learn more
Climate
Summer High
81°F
Winter Low
11°F
Annual Rainfall
36"
Sunny Days
158
Amenities & Infrastructure
35+ Parks
Green spaces and recreation
1 Major Hospitals
Healthcare access
3 Universities
Higher education institutions
Public Transit Available
Bus, rail, or metro service
Major Employers
Score Breakdown
6 of 6 score factors available. Missing factors are excluded and available weights are rescaled.
Median home value relative to national average (Weight: 20%)
How affordable housing is relative to local incomes (Weight: 20%)
Average commute time compared to national average (Weight: 15%)
Overall crime levels based on FBI crime statistics (Weight: 20%)
Walk Score — ease of daily errands on foot (Weight: 15%)
Median income relative to national average, adjusted for cost of living (Weight: 10%)
Location
Compare with another city
Start ComparisonLast Updated: 2026-07-01
Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau, Zillow, FBI Crime Data Explorer, Walk Score, and Niche.
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