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Burlington, VT is Vermont's largest city, though largest here means a walkable college town of roughly 45,000 wrapped around the eastern shore of Lake Champlain. The University of Vermont sits on the hill above downtown, and between UVM and a few smaller colleges, students shape the whole place. You'll spend time on the Church Street Marketplace, a pedestrian stretch that doubles as the city's living room, and in neighborhoods like the Old North End, the South End, and the streets near campus on the hill. Waterfront Park and the Burlington Greenway hug the lake, and the city leans hard into its festivals, farmers market, and a music scene that punches above its size.
The classic student pick: dense, diverse, and an easy walk or short bus ride to both campus and downtown, with older houses chopped into shares. It is the heart of student living.
The streets right on the hill near UVM put you closest to class and tend to go fast since the location is unbeatable. It is the top choice for proximity.
Quieter and more creative, home to artist studios and a calmer residential feel while staying bikeable to the center. It suits students who want a mellow vibe.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Burlington.
Green Mountain Transit (GMT) runs the local buses, with downtown's Cherry Street hub tying routes together. Regular service runs up the hill to UVM, so you can skip a car if you live near a line. The bus connects campus, downtown, and the surrounding neighborhoods. Routes cover most student areas reliably.
Burlington is built for feet. The downtown core, Church Street, and the campus neighborhoods are tightly packed, and most students walk to class, errands, and the waterfront. Biking is excellent in the warm months thanks to the Burlington Greenway, an eight-mile paved path along Lake Champlain. Winter snow shifts more people onto the bus and good boots.
A car helps for grocery runs, winter weather, and weekend trips to the mountains. Plenty of students go without and lean on the bus, their bikes, and good boots once the snow flies. Parking in the dense core can be tight, so weigh that before driving. A vehicle is most useful for trips beyond the city.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
It varies by neighborhood and how many roommates you split with, but students typically see rooms in shared houses from about $700 to $1,100 a month, while a one-bedroom often runs $1,400 to $2,200. The Old North End tends to land on the friendlier end, and the closer you get to campus or the waterfront, the more you'll pay.
Browse student housing near each Burlington-area university.