Nestled on the shores of Lake Champlain, Burlington is Vermont’s largest city with a population of 43,000 and is one of more than a dozen towns and cities making up Chittenden County, the states most populated region. Burlington is a vibrant small city, with a vitality that more closely resembles that of a large metropolis. Among its many accolades, Burlington has been named one of America’s most livable cities. In addition, it has received numerous awards for its quality of life and its abundant culture, art, academia, business, recreational, and healthcare offerings.
Burlington is home to Champlain College, the University of Vermont, and the University of Vermont Medical Center, an academic medical facility and innovative research center within the larger University of Vermont Health Network. Champlain College has been named one of the “Top 20 Best Colleges for Information Technology in America,” and in 2021, it was recognized as one of the top innovative regional schools in the Northeast. The University of Vermont remains the only land-grant institution in the state and has a working dairy just outside of the city, a research forest in nearby Jericho, and is caretaker of two of our most traveled mountain summits—Mount Mansfield and Camel’s Hump.
There’s a reason Vermont is called the “Green Mountain” state. But its lush rolling hills are just one of the features that characterize the state. Fortunately, because of the state’s small size, it’s easy to explore the natural beauty found throughout all of Vermont—open fields, natural forests, parks, rivers and streams, bike paths, and small-town activities. (Think farmer’s markets, craft fairs, local festivals and parades, community suppers, and more!) Each season offers a range of recreational outdoor activities—running, biking, skiing, hiking, sailing, fishing, kayaking, and many more.
Burlington serves as a refugee resettlement community and has been welcoming newcomers to Vermont since 1980. In the last 40 years, over 8,000 refugees have begun new lives in Vermont which offers rich and diverse opportunities for people from different cultures to live, work, and play together. We are also fortunate to be home to many cultural markets and restaurants.
The business climate is well rounded with large employers and smaller entrepreneurial businesses. The creative economy thrives in Burlington and boasts a strong Business Association and a vibrant marketplace on Church Street with many shops and restaurants. Smaller businesses have a new home in the recently created HULA campus in the city’s South End, a cooperative workspace that supports local entrepreneurs and Vermont-based startups.
Although many of Vermont’s large dairy farms are no longer operating, numerous specialty farms can be found throughout the state. Their award-winning products have become synonymous with Vermont: maple syrup, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream.
For travelers coming from a distance, Burlington is easy to get to thanks to the Burlington International Airport. In addition, Amtrak has several stations throughout Vermont, in Essex, Waterbury, and St. Albans. For those arriving by car, Route 7 and I89 are the main highways into the area. Burlington’s bus network, Green Mountain Transit, offers routes throughout the city and to nearby towns, as well as to key locations in Northwest Vermont. Commuters and recreational bikers take advantage of the city’s 8-mile-long bike path which connects to trails in numerous nearby towns.
Our community mental health and social service system is among the best in the country. Vermonters have a long history of taking care of one another, with many local non-profit organizations working to make the lives of Vermonters better. We hope you will join us.
Additionally, many local organizations and annual events contribute to the lively and engaging Burlington and its surrounding area:
Flynn Center for Performing Arts • Fleming Museum • ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center • Church Street Marketplace • People’s United Vermont City Marathon • Discover Jazz Festival • Vermont International Film Festival • Annual South End Art Hop • Burlington’s Waterfront Park • Special Olympic’s Penguin Plunge • Shelburne Farms • Shelburne Museum Bolton Valley • Catamount Outdoor Family Center • Stowe • Smuggler’s Notch • Mad River Glen • Burlington Country Club • Kwiniaska Golf Club • The Links at Lang Farm
Still wondering why Burlington and Vermont are great places to live? Here’s just a few reasons:
Burlington
- Top 15 of the Happiest Cities in the U.S., Burlington and South Burlington (Wallet Hub, 2021)
- Best City for Entrepreneurs (Livability.com, 2017)
- Best Place to Raise a Family (Men’s Health Magazine, 2014)
- Top 12 College Towns for Commuting on Foot, #10 (The SpareFoot Blog, Aug 2014)
- Burlington, VT: Top Ten Tech Hubs (Techie.com’s Most Promising Tech Hubs to Watch, 2014)
- 10 Great Places to Live, #2 (Kiplinger’s, 2013)
- America’s Best Adventure Towns (National Geographic, Dec 2011)
- Best Cities for Outdoor Recreation (Outdoor Magazine, 2011)
- Runner-up in “City Cultural Diversity Award” (National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials and National League of Cities, 2011)
- Top Ten Small Cities, State of Wellbeing, #1 (Gallup-Healthways, 2010)
- One of the “100 Best Art Towns in America” (John Villani, Countryman Press, 2010)
- America’s Prettiest Cities, #2 (Forbes Magazine, 2010)
Vermont
- Best State to Live in America, #1 (CNBC, 2018)
- Best State for Healthy Eating & Exercise, #1 (Gallup Poll, March 2014)
- Best Educated State, #2 (Report Card on America, 2013)
- Top States for Quality of Life, #2 (CNBC, 2013)
- Most Peaceful State, #2 (United States Peace Index, 2012)
- Healthiest State, #1 (United Health Foundation, 2011)
- Greenest State in the Nation on a Survey of Pollution, Energy Use and Policy, #1 (24/7 Wall St website, 2010)
Visit http://www.vermont.org to view all that Vermont has to offer!