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Traffic may very well move more quickly in Phoenix at rush hour.
There's traffic at rush hour here in Burlington, just like most places.
But I greatly value the fact that Burlington works so well for walking, and that it's human scale. Burlington seems to have been designed with people in mind, not merely for the automobile. People here walk a lot, bicycle a lot, and even ski right in town occasionally - there was a story recently in the daily paper here about a guy who xc skis to work on days when he doesn't run to work or bike. There's a whole suburban neighborhood with a lakefront bikepath which makes bicycle commuting pretty attractive. There's decent public transportation. There are well-used bike lanes, there's a wonderful bike path system, and people car pool.
You mentioned Phoenix, possumator. Do people walk and bike to work much in Phoenix?
I agree about the kids stepping blithely off curbs! We call them "the immortals"...
Home Depot has announced it's intention to build a store in an abandoned Ames between Montpelier and Barre. The battle lines have already been drawn and HD will have to pass thru alot of hoops to be able to build. I would think that it's 150 jobs and 3.8m payroll would be a boost to the local job scene.
The traffic congestion in Burlington is the main drawback for me. They have fixed up the busy section of Main St. that goes thru the college and new dorms by putting in several traffic lights and crosswalks so the college kids don't run across the road as much as they used to.
As someone mentioned the Circ Highway is a definate red herring. When I am north of Essex I use the section up there that is open and works well in getting back to Rt 2.
I have enjoyed spending time in Phoenix and Vegas over the years but could never live there no matter how much more the pay is or the low cost of housing. The hot weather, the pollution, the poor air quality, the water out of the tap is undrinkable and when you take a shower it stinks of sulfur. We hiked up the mountains that surround the Valley of the Sun and the air pollution was so bad you couldn't see anything below. Great mexican food tho.
Vegas is currently experiencing a big drop in housing values and the number of forclosures are thru the roof....no wonder housing is cheaper.
As you can see from the latest FBI Uniform Crime stats Vermont is a way more safer place to live then either Nevada or Arizona.
South Carolina - 765.5 per 100,000
Tennessee - 760.2 per 100,000
Nevada - 741.6 per 100,000
Florida - 712.0 per 100,000
Louisiana - 697.8 per 100,000
Alaska - 688.0 per 100,000
Delaware - 681.6 per 100,000
Maryland - 678.6 per 100,000
New Mexico - 643.2 per 100,000
Michigan - 562.4 per 100,000
Arkansas - 551.6 per 100,000
Missouri - 545.6 per 100,000
Illinois - 541.6 per 100,000
California - 532.5 per 100,000
Texas - 516.3 per 100,000
Arizona - 501.4 per 100,000
Oklahoma - 497.4 per 100,000
North Carolina - 475.6 per 100,000
Georgia - 471.0 per 100,000
Massachusetts - 447.0 per 100,000
Pennsylvania - 439.4 per 100,000
New York - 434.9 per 100,000
Alabama - 425.2 per 100,000
Kansas - 425.0 per 100,000
Colorado - 391.6 per 100,000
New Jersey - 351.6 per 100,000
Ohio - 350.3 per 100,000
Washington - 345.9 per 100,000
Indiana - 314.8 per 100,000
Minnesota - 312.0 per 100,000
Mississippi - 298.6 per 100,000
Wisconsin - 284.0 per 100,000
Iowa - 283.5 per 100,000
Virginia - 282.2 per 100,000
Nebraska - 281.8 per 100,000
Hawaii - 281.2 per 100,000
Connecticut - 280.6 per 100,000
Oregon - 280.3 per 100,000
West Virginia - 279.7 per 100,000
Kentucky - 263.0 per 100,000
Montana - 253.7 per 100,000
Idaho - 247.1 per 100,000
Wyoming - 239.6 per 100,000
Rhode Island - 227.5 per 100,000
Utah - 224.4 per 100,000
South Dakota - 171.4 per 100,000
New Hampshire - 138.7 per 100,000
Vermont - 136.6 per 100,000
North Dakota - 127.9 per 100,000
Maine - 115.5 per 100,000
Home Depot has announced it's intention to build a store in an abandoned Ames between Montpelier and Barre. The battle lines have already been drawn and HD will have to pass thru alot of hoops to be able to build. I would think that it's 150 jobs and 3.8m payroll would be a boost to the local job scene.
The traffic congestion in Burlington is the main drawback for me. They have fixed up the busy section of Main St. that goes thru the college and new dorms by putting in several traffic lights and crosswalks so the college kids don't run across the road as much as they used to.
As someone mentioned the Circ Highway is a definate red herring. When I am north of Essex I use the section up there that is open and works well in getting back to Rt 2.
I have enjoyed spending time in Phoenix and Vegas over the years but could never live there no matter how much more the pay is or the low cost of housing. The hot weather, the pollution, the poor air quality, the water out of the tap is undrinkable and when you take a shower it stinks of sulfur. We hiked up the mountains that surround the Valley of the Sun and the air pollution was so bad you couldn't see anything below. Great mexican food tho.
Vegas is currently experiencing a big drop in housing values and the number of forclosures are thru the roof....no wonder housing is cheaper.
As you can see from the latest FBI Uniform Crime stats Vermont is a way more safer place to live then either Nevada or Arizona.
South Carolina - 765.5 per 100,000
Tennessee - 760.2 per 100,000
Nevada - 741.6 per 100,000
Florida - 712.0 per 100,000
Louisiana - 697.8 per 100,000
Alaska - 688.0 per 100,000
Delaware - 681.6 per 100,000
Maryland - 678.6 per 100,000
New Mexico - 643.2 per 100,000
Michigan - 562.4 per 100,000
Arkansas - 551.6 per 100,000
Missouri - 545.6 per 100,000
Illinois - 541.6 per 100,000
California - 532.5 per 100,000
Texas - 516.3 per 100,000
Arizona - 501.4 per 100,000
Oklahoma - 497.4 per 100,000
North Carolina - 475.6 per 100,000
Georgia - 471.0 per 100,000
Massachusetts - 447.0 per 100,000
Pennsylvania - 439.4 per 100,000
New York - 434.9 per 100,000
Alabama - 425.2 per 100,000
Kansas - 425.0 per 100,000
Colorado - 391.6 per 100,000
New Jersey - 351.6 per 100,000
Ohio - 350.3 per 100,000
Washington - 345.9 per 100,000
Indiana - 314.8 per 100,000
Minnesota - 312.0 per 100,000
Mississippi - 298.6 per 100,000
Wisconsin - 284.0 per 100,000
Iowa - 283.5 per 100,000
Virginia - 282.2 per 100,000
Nebraska - 281.8 per 100,000
Hawaii - 281.2 per 100,000
Connecticut - 280.6 per 100,000
Oregon - 280.3 per 100,000
West Virginia - 279.7 per 100,000
Kentucky - 263.0 per 100,000
Montana - 253.7 per 100,000
Idaho - 247.1 per 100,000
Wyoming - 239.6 per 100,000
Rhode Island - 227.5 per 100,000
Utah - 224.4 per 100,000
South Dakota - 171.4 per 100,000
New Hampshire - 138.7 per 100,000
Vermont - 136.6 per 100,000
North Dakota - 127.9 per 100,000
Maine - 115.5 per 100,000
Burlington is a very dynamic, creative small city that attracts interesting people. Really, there aren't very many problems. Green space has been preserved in and around the city. There are great bike trails, parks and beaches. Burlington has a great first friday art walk. Live music and Lecture series are ever-present in the clubs,coffee shops, bars, and the Flynn theater and colleges.
Granted, traffic has become a local concern. However, traffic is very relative. Someone from Arlington, VA might not even really see traffic in Vermont, or scoff at the notion that traffic is a serious concern.
Housing has also been mentioned as being out-of-date, or extremely expensive. First of all, tearing down interesting 19th century architecture is the antithesis of what Burlington, VT represents. (If you want to tear down older, interesting buildings, please visit Utica, NY where they have no qualms in that regard). Every 19th century Mill or factory structure in Burlington is renovated and occupied or undergoing renovation. That is progressive and positive thinking and points to a solid economy.
Burlington has made great strides to introduce new, lower-cost, low-impact, high density housing into the city and suburbs. New condos and apartments are everywhere. Again, progressive thinking and a reduction in sprawl while stimulating growth. Sure, many of the original houses are old, but they are also valuable aesthetically and add character to the city neighborhoods. College housing (off-campus) can be somewhat dumpy, but college housing is always sub-par in almost every college town. City residents don't live in off-campus college oriented rentals.
To beat the traffic created by high density housing in a very geographically small and tight Burlington, VT I bought a condo near downtown and walk, ride my bike, or take the bus to work (the bus system here is excellent and easy to use). Every day I watch the angry faces in cars while I begin my energetic morning walk along beautiful Lake Champlain. The views of the Adirondacks and the Lake always get me energized.
Burlington has never felt crazy, or dangerous, or negative to me.......I know i can hop in my car and escape to the mountains within 1/2 an hour....sure, traffic might slow me down but it thins and disappears 10 miles from town. Burlington represents the best of two worlds, Urban and Rural. It has fantastic services for a small metro region, is never boring, and attracts interesting and progressive people. It also is within very close proximity to Nature and the largest Wilderness areas in the Northeast. In the summer Port Kent ferry allows quick transport to the massive Adirondack Park, and behind Burlington are the highly accessible Green Mountains and Long Trail. A little further are the White Mountains in New Hampshire. Did i mention Montreal?
Burlington is a very dynamic, creative small city that attracts interesting people. Really, there aren't very many problems. Green space has been preserved in and around the city. There are great bike trails, parks and beaches. Burlington has a great first friday art walk. Live music and Lecture series are ever-present in the clubs,coffee shops, bars, and the Flynn theater and colleges.
Granted, traffic has become a local concern. However, traffic is very relative. Someone from Arlington, VA might not even really see traffic in Vermont, or scoff at the notion that traffic is a serious concern.
Housing has also been mentioned as being out-of-date, or extremely expensive. First of all, tearing down interesting 19th century architecture is the antithesis of what Burlington, VT represents. (If you want to tear down older, interesting buildings, please visit Utica, NY where they have no qualms in that regard). Every 19th century Mill or factory structure in Burlington is renovated and occupied or undergoing renovation. That is progressive and positive thinking and points to a solid economy.
Burlington has made great strides to introduce new, lower-cost, low-impact, high density housing into the city and suburbs. New condos and apartments are everywhere. Again, progressive thinking and a reduction in sprawl while stimulating growth. Sure, many of the original houses are old, but they are also valuable aesthetically and add character to the city neighborhoods. College housing (off-campus) can be somewhat dumpy, but college housing is always sub-par in almost every college town. City residents don't live in off-campus college oriented rentals.
To beat the traffic created by high density housing in a very geographically small and tight Burlington, VT I bought a condo near downtown and walk, ride my bike, or take the bus to work (the bus system here is excellent and easy to use). Every day I watch the angry faces in cars while I begin my energetic morning walk along beautiful Lake Champlain. The views of the Adirondacks and the Lake always get me energized.
Burlington has never felt crazy, or dangerous, or negative to me.......I know i can hop in my car and escape to the mountains within 1/2 an hour....sure, traffic might slow me down but it thins and disappears 10 miles from town. Burlington represents the best of two worlds, Urban and Rural. It has fantastic services for a small metro region, is never boring, and attracts interesting and progressive people. It also is within very close proximity to Nature and the largest Wilderness areas in the Northeast. In the summer Port Kent ferry allows quick transport to the massive Adirondack Park, and behind Burlington are the highly accessible Green Mountains and Long Trail. A little further are the White Mountains in New Hampshire. Did i mention Montreal?
Sounds like a great place for a New York transplant. If Brattleboro doesn't work out, Burlington will be high on my list.
I very much agree that Burlington has quite a bit going for it as does the immediate region, especially when compared to many other locales, but as much as the glowing write up has true salient points it is also a bit high on calories from all the sugar coated frosting. There are some serious fiscal and economic realities that create major difficulties for folks up here and many information sources from housing to commerce would debunk some of the previous assertions. It's pretty important for those folks from "outside" researching the region to get as much fact based data to supplement the rest.
For 20,000,000 New Yorkers, Vermont doesn't seem unreasonably expensive. My taxes in Burlington are actually almost half of what they would be in Buffalo, Rochester or Syracuse, and my heating bill is substantially less than what i've paid while living in New York State the majority of my life.
However, New York does have many more employment opportunities and higher paying jobs. Its much bigger than Vermont. Thats why I moved to Vermont....to escape the Big-ness. That being said, however; if a person really likes Burlington but can't afford the real-estate market, an excellent alternative would be Ithaca, NY.
New York's Finger Lakes Region is really underrated and undeveloped. Houses are extremely affordable and New York (like Vermont) offers tax breaks (star program) to low income families. Ithaca is an amazing city and equal to Burlington in many ways. It's also slightly warmer in the winter.
My Husband and I are considering moving to Burlington. We've been thinking and talking about for the past year and now is the time for us to make a move. Can anyone gives us the inside scoop about the job market in Burlington or surrounding areas? Mainly technology, marketing/communications opps. Thanks!
The Question Should Be, "Is There Anything to Like About Burlington?"
The best thing to ever come out of Burlington is Interstate 89. The sad thing about the city (and the state) is that at one time the people were truly a proud group, the economy was booming and there was so much potential. However at the turn of the century (from 19th to 20th) this potential with many other things left. Many people will probably disagree with what I am going to say. This is your opinion. As the following is my opinion.
Burlington could be a great little town. However, Church St. has an over abundance of homeless people, drug users and pushers, and people pushing a socialist agenda. It's true. On any given day during the warmer months you will find people (mostly college students)with the hammer and sickle splayed on their bodies as they hand out pamphlets praising the socialist party's highpoints. This type of individual expression would never be tolerated in a truly socialist society.
Driving in downtown is a joke. I know that state rules allow pedestrians the right-of-way, but on busy days there are such problems getting past Church St. Also a lack of advanced green arrows create large back-ups during the peak hours of the day. With the growing population also comes a reduction in the amount of parking.
There is very little to no culture in the area. One is hard pressed to find any consistency in cultural events. People will say that there is a music scene here, and at times there is, especially at places like Nectars, Red Square or Higher Ground. But there is normally just one type of music. If you are looking for jazz, classical or blues, there is such a lack of events. And as far as big names in any type of music, you will never find them coming to Burlington. If you take away the bars at night, this town might as well roll up it's sidewalks, because there is not much to do once the sun goes down.
If you are looking for fashion, this is not the place to look. The standard Burlington uniform is very utilitarian. Fashion is very hard to find here. Out-of -towners bring it in. But, they are out-of-towners, so they take the fashion with them when they leave. The stores here are very cookie cutter, and those with a taste of fashion often have little to offer.
The airport is very nice, however it is rated as one of the most expensive airports in the country to fly in and out of. It ranks higher than JFK and San Diego!!! During busy periods the parking ramp will fill up without there being any extra parking within walking distance. This is especially bothersome during the Christmas season with all of the snow and the cold weather.
One of the words that often goes with Burlington is quaint. If people took time to read the definition of this word they would find it's synonyms are odd and strange. It can also mean marked with beauty and elegance. Burlington...odd and strange?...yes. Beautiful and elegant?...no. Nice place to visit?...yes. Nice place to live?...If your only choice is Bosnia, yes. Otherwise keep looking for other places to live.
Grysbas44...you make some good points, but, as you suspected, I'll disagree with a few of your comments as well.
1. Regarding Church Street - yes, there are some homeless folks, loitering teens, and agenda pushers out there, but they don't bother me. It's not "in your face" (well, sometimes the protestors LOL), but it is there.
2. Pedestrians - I couldnt agree more. Also, some of the busier intersection's signals could be timed better IMO like College/S. Winooski. But, you get this in any larger muncipality generally.
3. Culture - ....there are lots of choices when it comes to hearing rock music. Thats what I like. I'm not into jazz or classical, so can't comment there. Maybe there is not much demand for it up here? As far as national acts, they do come through town, just not extremely frequently. Thats what Montreal is for.
4. Fashion - LOL. Burlington is very LL BEAN, especially in winter. In the summer you'll see more of us dress up more often. We do have a Macy's ya know
5. Airport - Just curious, have you been lately? Parking has been improved, and the notion that the airfares are expensive is not really the truth anymore, thanks to JetBlue. Some of my recent airfares from Burlington - $270 r/t to the Carribean this past Dec, $250 r/t to Denver in Feb, and $250 r/t to Tampa in March.
6. I personally don't find Burlington quaint (when I think quaint, I think Woodstock), but to each their own. Not everyone is going to like Burlington. The only way to find out is to come and see for yourself.
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The Question Should Be, "Is There Anything to Like About Burlington?"
