Student Housing in Burlington, VT
Student Housing in Burlington, VT
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About Student Housing in Burlington
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.
Best Neighborhoods for Students in Burlington
Old North End
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 Hill
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.
The South End
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.
Getting Around Burlington as a Student
Here's what you need to know about getting around Burlington.
Public Transit
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.
Walking and Biking
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.
Parking
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.
Frequently Asked Questions: Student Housing in Burlington
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.
The Old North End is the long-running favorite for shared houses, the streets on the hill near UVM win on proximity to class, and the South End and downtown suit students who want a quieter or more central feel respectively. Most of these put you within walking or biking distance of campus.
Not really. The city is compact and walkable, GMT buses run up to UVM and around downtown, and the Greenway makes biking easy in warm months. A car is handy for winter weather, grocery hauls, and mountain trips, but plenty of students skip it.
Very close. The neighborhoods right on the hill border campus, and the Old North End is a short walk or quick bus ride away. Many students live within a mile of class and never drive to campus.
Burlington is generally a safe college town, and the student-heavy areas near campus and downtown see steady foot traffic. As anywhere, lock up, stay aware at night, and use common sense in less busy stretches, but most students feel comfortable walking and biking around.
Early. The good shared houses near campus get snapped up months ahead, so most students start hunting in the fall for the following academic year. If you wait until spring, expect slimmer pickings, especially close to UVM.
Most student rentals run a standard 12-month lease tied to the academic calendar, often starting in late spring or summer. Some landlords offer shorter terms, but year-long leases are the norm, and many houses lease as a whole rather than by the room.
Sometimes water and trash are included, but heat and electricity often aren't, and Vermont winters make heating a real line item. Budget roughly $100 to $250 a month per household for utilities depending on the season and how drafty the place is. Always ask what's covered before signing.
Yes. Most student housing here is shared, so finding roommates is common through campus groups and word of mouth. Summer sublets are easy to find since many students leave town, though always get the arrangement in writing and clear it with the landlord.
It's a genuine perk. The Burlington Greenway and Waterfront Park give you eight miles of lakeshore path for biking, running, and swimming in summer, and the sunsets over the Adirondacks are hard to beat. Winters are cold, but the lake and nearby mountains make outdoor life a year-round thing here.
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