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In
northern Vermont, picturesque Burlington (population
37,000) is nestled along the banks of Lake Champlain, the
sixth largest fresh water lake in the United
States (after the Great Lakes), and is home to
the University of Vermont (population 14,000
students). Beautiful scenery,
a quintessential New England charm, a high quality of life and
a liberal political and social scene are why
retirees come to Burlington (in fact Burlington
may be one of the most left-leaning places in
the nation, with 82% of residents calling
themselves Democrats). The town dates from the 1770s,
and its most famous
residents have been American Revolution war hero
Ethan Allen
and ice cream makers Ben and Jerry. An
important early sea port and military post,
Burlington began to focus on revitalization in
the latter part of the 20th-century. Today
it is a little funky, a bit artsy and tinged with a
collegiate hipness. It has an educated
population (40% of residents hold a
undergraduate or graduate degree), and 27% of
the population is age 45 or better.
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Burlington's cost-of-living is 20% above
the national average, and the median home price is $260,000,
down 4% from a year ago but still well above the national
median. Much of the city's architecture from the
late 19th-century and early-20th century has been preserved,
and the Hill
Section, a desirable area full of elegant, two and four bedroom
Italianate, Queen Anne and Colonial Revival-style residences,
showcases this. Historic homes, some for as
little as $100,000, can be found throughout the city, but single family home inventory, whether it
be residences from the 1890s or from the 1980s, starts to
open up in the mid-$200,000s.
Buyers will also find a good selection of
condominiums and town homes. Some are in relatively new developments;
others are conversions in 19th-century Victorians.
Prices start in the mid- to low-$100,000s and top out at
around $1 million.
Apartments are
plentiful, but most are rented to students. On average, one
bedroom units begin around $650 per month, and 2 bedroom units start at
about $850 per month. Burlington also has a manufactured
home community, and manufactured homes on private land are for
sale outside of town.
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Vermont
has one of the highest tax burdens in the U.S., and included in
this are
property taxes. These are calculated by dividing the
fair market value of a home by 100 and
multiplying that by the combined school and municipal tax rate
(for Burlington, this is 1.72). Thus, the owner of a
$250,000 residence pays approximately $4,300 a year in
property taxes. Owners of primary residences whose
household income is less than $97,000 may qualify for reduced school
and municipal taxes on their
home and up to 2 acres. Veterans
receive a tax exemption. Vermont is one of fourteen
states that taxes Social Security benefits.
This is an
interactive map. Click on the arrows in the upper left hand
corner to move the map to the East, West, North or South, and click
(more than once if necessary) on the +/- signs to zoom in
and out.
A New England lake culture, a
youthful trendiness and a bohemian atmosphere, thanks in
large part to the University, give Burlington its distinct
character. The city has also been recognized for its
smart growth initiatives, and with an economy based in health
care and education (and ice cream), it is weathering the Recession better than
some other New England towns. It boasts
an inviting waterfront
with fun shops, art galleries and
restaurants, and the downtown Church Street
Marketplace, complete with a white steeple Unitarian church at one end, is a
lively pedestrian mall that attracts
residents of all ages. For
greater shopping adventures, University
Mall, Vermont's largest indoor mall, is just down the
road. There are clean beaches, parks
and plenty of intercollegiate sports to keep most
residents happy. The Burlington Public Library
provides computer and internet classes, has a homebound delivery
program and presents a variety of workshops. And Montreal,
one of the world's most cosmopolitan cities, is
just 90 miles away.
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Vermont is a rugged, rural state, and since
Burlington sits between two mountain ranges (the Adirondacks and
the Green Mountains) and is next to 75 mile-long Lake Champlain and
the Winooski River, outdoor recreational opportunities
abound. The lake beckons to sailors,
boaters, snowmobilers, fishermen and women and is sometimes
called New England's West Coast.
Twenty miles to the east of Burlington is the Long
Trail, Vermont's section of the Appalachian Trail.
Eight nearby downhill ski areas, including Stowe and
Sugarbush, provide skiers and boarders with plenty of terrain,
and eight golf courses in
and around the city keep golfers swinging.
For those seeking a little culture, Burlington has a
thriving arts colony, jazz festivals, theater events and
concerts year-round (Nectars on Main Street is a great
place for live music). The Ethan Allen
Homestead Museum, the historic home of Vermont's
founder, is open for tours. The Lake Champlain
Maritime Festival celebrates boat building.
The Festival of Fools is a curated street theater
event. And, of course, the Great Pumpkin Regatta
each October features the good citizens of Burlington
paddling across Lake Champlain in giant, hollowed out
pumpkins. |
In the autumn, when the sugar
maples turn from green to red, a breathtaking blanket of color
quietly descends across Burlington and the rest of Vermont, and there
is no better place to be. Winding country roads, deep woods, road-side
apple cider stands, rustic antique markets and quaint covered bridges
all contribute to Vermont's peaceful beauty and rural charm. And
nothing beats a stack of hot pancakes covered in Vermont maple
syrup on a cold winter morning.
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For
being a youthful place, senior
services in Burlington are quite good. SCORE
(Service Center of Retired Executives) and RSVP (Retired
Senior Volunteer Program) are both active here and help
place retirees in a variety of volunteer positions.
The Champlain Senior Center provides many
services, including blood pressure checks, grief support, home safety checks and
a variety of classes (nutrition, line dancing,
painting, poetry and more). The Senior
Helpline offers assistance and support to
retirees.
Seniors may also take classes as non-degree students through the University of
Vermont's Division of Continuing Education. |
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Chittenden County Transportation Authority
(CCTA) provides local bus transportation throughout town,
to the airport and to surrounding communities.
People age 60 and better ride for $.60 one way.
Monthly passes are available. There is also a
free shuttle between downtown, the University and the
waterfront. Crime rates meet the national average so
being out and about on public transportation is a relatively
safe endeavor.
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Fletcher Allen Hospital (403 beds), in
alliance with the University of Vermont's College of
Medicine, is the primary
medical facility and is a teaching hospital. It
accepts both Medicare and Medicaid and operates three sites in
Burlington, the largest being at the University of Vermont
campus. In 2010, FAH won the Coronary Intervention
Excellence Award, and in 2009, it was recognized as a Top
100 cardiovascular hospital by Thomson Reuters, Inc.
Northern Vermont has four distinct
seasons. Summers are short and cool with
temperatures in the 70s and low 80s. Winters
are damp, cloudy and snowy (up to 20 inches in some
months) with temperatures primarily in the teens and 20s. The
wind off of the lake can make it feel even colder.
Spring is known as "Mud Season," and autumn is, of course, the best season
and may be worth the cold, gray winter days. Burlington has some
drawbacks. For some people, the
youth culture may be too much, as may be the left-leaning
politics (Burlington even had a Socialist mayor during the
1980s). Despite its high cost of living,
or perhaps because of it, the poverty rate is above the
national average. Taxes are high, and the city is
losing
population, roughly 4% during the last decade.
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For many retirees, however, Burlington, with its
scenic location, abundant outdoor recreation and funky ambiance,
is perfect, offering a mellow lifestyle in a small, easygoing
New England city.
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Great Retirement Spots Newsletter is
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if you have questions or comments. Burlington
Vermont Homes in Burlington Vermont Real Estate and
Retirement
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