Burlington v South Burlington (Colchester, Williston: apartments, rentals, condos)

[Kalolina]

I am thinking of taking a job in Burlington, but know nothing about the city. Could someone please tell me alittle about it? I will be moving from HI, I have never been to VT. How horrible are the winters? Are people Liberal or conservative? Are there options for vegatarians? How is the music scene? Are there many young people (in 20s) (preferably those with tattoos) Also, have been looking online, and see many rentals in S. Burlington. Are they close? Is there a huge difference? Are there places such as Target, Walmart, Costco? How is the school system? Hmmm...lets see anything else.....is the town very dog friendly? Thanks for all the help

[AstarothCY]

The winters are severe, whether they are horrible is up to you. I have not yet been through my first but I am looking forward to it. People are mostly very liberal but there are a few conservatives around, nothing particularly wrong with a little diversity though. The place is almost certainly very vegetarian friendly but I couldn't say for sure because I am a meatatarian. The music scene is very vibrant and active with lots of local bands and a couple of nice venues where bigger bands play. This is a college town so there are tons of young people here, and I'm sure lots of them will have tattoos. S.Burlington is very close to Burlington, the towns are practically intertwined and there are regular buses you can take if you don't have a car. I couldn't comment on differences betwene the towns though. There is a Wal-mart in Williston which is about 20 minutes away on the bus, no target or costco but everything you could possibly need or want is there. There are 5 or 6 huge shopping malls in the Burlington area so if anything you will be spoiled for choice. No idea about schools and dogs.

[vter]

There is a Costco in Colchester. Only 2 malls. University Mall and Burlington Town Center. Lots of big boxes in Williston. I'll write more later....

[AstarothCY]

I guess I was erroneously referring to the clusters of box stores as malls. In any case, there are several locations where you can buy lots of stuff:

Burlington Town Center mall
University Mall (tons including Sears and JCPenney)
Williston stores (mainly Wal-mart, Best Buy, Staples)
Price Chopper, Shaws and TJMaxx south of Burlington
Essex Shopping Center (Big Lots, Mac's supermarket and a few smaller stores)
Essex Shops & Cinema
and apparently Colchester shops which I didn't know about because bizzarely no public transport goes there

Like I said, spoiled for choice.

[quickdraw]

The main difference is that there are almost no middle class families in Burlington and South Burlington is mostly middle class families. Burlington is made up of wealthy families and yuppies, single young people and college kids paying lots of money for small apartments, and lower-middle to lower class families living on the north end. The two places couldn't be have more of a different feel even though they are five minutes apart. Lots of folks in South Burlington would like a Burlington apartment but can't find/or afford one.

Plenty of libs and vegetarians both places. Lots of tatoos etc.

Music scene. For the biggest acts you need to go to Albany/Manchester NH/Montreal. Medium size bands comer to the Flynn every now and then. Bands on the rise and decline come to higher ground.

The lack of sun in Burlington could get to you from HI. It's one of the cloudiest places in the country.

[vter]

The New North End of Burlington is middle class. It's the "forgotten" Burlington IMO. Not easy to get to, not "visible" to those visiting. Very suburban feeling.
The others have chimed in on Burlington/South Burlington. They kinda blend together in a commercial sense. SB has lots of older suburban neighborhoods and lots of new higher end development. The airport is there, lots of retail. Lots of condos.
Lots of folks have dogs and there a few dog parks around. You'll see tattoos. The area is very veg friendly.
Can you come visit before you make a move?
OH, and Astorothcy....when I think mall I think the traditional enclosed kind. You're right...lots of shopping plazas around. Sadly no Target though!

[Kalolina]

Not sure I can visit first. Are there any bad areas to be aware of?

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by vter

The New North End of Burlington is middle class. It's the "forgotten" Burlington IMO. Not easy to get to, not "visible" to those visiting. Very suburban feeling.

Would this area have a movie theatre/complex? I may know what you are talking about. Around and past the DMV?

[Kalolina]

I read in another post something abt bugs, are there plenty bugs there?

[AstarothCY]

Yeah, but nothing really devastating. My windows have mesh screens so I never have any bugs in the house. I've been walking around a lot so I get maybe a couple mosquito bites a day but whatever, it's really not that big a deal.