[JusticeForAllAmericans]

Hello everyone, I'm Barbara and I'm about to start a job in diversity outreach at UVM. Due to COVID I am beginning my position remotely from the Seattle area, where I attended graduate school. I hope once we have a handle on COVID, no matter what that looks like, I can finally move to Vermont full stop.


To talk about what I'm looking for: small home or apartment relatively close to campus (1 hr tops). I wouldn't say I'm a hipster, but I'm VERY liberal and open to being surrounded by alternative lifestyles. Any tips on what to look for or more importantly, avoid?

[vter]

1 hour can get you pretty far out of Burlington...but keep in mind winter commuting. Given what you've posted I would suggest trying to stay right in Burlington itself. The South End is a fun artsy, hipster type neighborhood-my favorite in town. Winooski would be another option too. Housing is tight normally, but it is extra tight right now thanks to COVID. People wanting to escape urban areas appear to be snapping up properties and rentals in droves.
Congrats on your new job!

[JusticeForAllAmericans]

Thanks vter! I picked 1 hour because I don't want to limit myself too much. I grew up in MT and went undergrad in Madison, so a little snow and cold don't scare me. I was thinking because ATM it's just me, a small apartment in town is ideal. I have an adventurous palate, so do you have a sense of the foodie scene?

[EckyX]

An hour outside Burlington can put you effectively in the middle of national forest or cow pastures. In fact, you can end up in these areas just 30 minutes outside of Burlington. The farther you are from the "city", the more inexpensive things become, but you'll also find internet connections get slower and more spotty. Remember, the "city" here has only 44,000 people.

Some areas I like, and think might fit you:
-South end of Burlington
-Shelburne
-Colchester / Mallet's Bay
-Parts of Essex
-Parts of South Burlington

A little farther out, I think Westford and Underhill are both nice. You can have a sense of having no neighbors in these areas, but you'll probably also be living on a dirt road, with your water coming from a well. "Apartments" are likely to be suites on the back of someone's house. There really aren't any apartment buildings much of anywhere. You might find the Bolton Valley to be interesting, or the isles, but I'm not all that charmed by the islands.

Re: food, you'll find in downtown Burlington you can find a little bit of everything. I particularly enjoy Zabby and Elf's, Pingala Cafe, and a lot of the Vietnamese restaurants. Much outside of Burlington though and you're looking at the stray Chinese restaurant and Pizza joint.

Re: snow and cold, be aware that we sometimes get 30" inches of snow in a 24 hour period. It has never stopped me from getting to work, but I expect it's a bit snowier and probably colder than the western half of MT. Burlington is considerably milder than farther up in the mountains, and at least According to weatherspark and Wikipedia's weather data, compared with Missoula, Burlington gets a little more than twice as much snow and is the equivalent of being ~200 miles farther north. Average lows in winter are closer to those of Calgary.

Some examples of a single night's worth of snow:

[Riley.]

Avoid Franklin County. Leans conservative. Not a whole lot of "alternative lifestyles" (if you are specifically looking to live in that milieu). I agree that staying close to UVM, even within a 30 min commute, will suit your needs. Snowfall is nothing like Seattle (I've lived there, too...well Mountlake Terrace) and has to be factored in.
Good luck.

[MassVt]

I grew up in Burlington, although I haven't lived there since the 1980s. You're better off staying within the city limits, although housing has become quite pricey, considering the small size of Burlington. However, if you lived in Madison, you'll like Burlington--it's just on a smaller scale. You can be in exurban/rural areas in about 30-45 minutes.

[JusticeForAllAmericans]

Eckyx: I grew up near the the Dakotas. Would I be on my own maintaining a well? I'm NOT handy. Those snow pics don't scare me, I'll just need a good snowblower. I know Burlington wears it as badge of honor that they're the ONLY capital without a McDonald's.

Riley: Yeah Seattle got TONS of rain, if it had been snow...UGH!

Riley: I'm: heterosexual, white, cis, and able-bodied, atheist, BUT I am a STRONG ally of anyone who isn't

MassVt: that's great to hear!! When I was an undergraduate, I participated in MANY protests of various kinds.

[vter]

Montpelier is the capital of Vermont But...Burlington also does not have a McDonald's within City limits...there are plenty in the suburbs though.

[JusticeForAllAmericans]

OMG vter! My geography teacher would be SO disappointed!

[JusticeForAllAmericans]

Sorry I'm JUST coming back guys! Semester started and I got busy!! Think I found nice 1br in Burlington.