Burlington, VT Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Burlington, VT Crime

Is Burlington, VT safe in 2026?

Burlington earns an overall crime grade of B- city-wide, while its neighborhood-level analysis yields a Very Safe (A) city-wide safety rating — a meaningful distinction. Drilling into the neighborhood data tells the clearest story: 90% of Burlington's 10 analyzed neighborhoods received a Grade A, and not a single neighborhood scored a D or F. Nine out of ten neighborhoods fall into the safest tier, including top performers like UVM / Fletcher Allen Health Care (A+) and Hill Section (A+). The one outlier is Intervale, which holds a C+ — the only neighborhood below a B grade. For context, a C+ still represents moderate safety, not a danger zone. Residents and visitors exploring most of Burlington — from the Church Street corridor to the Hill Section's tree-lined streets — can do so with a high degree of confidence.

What is the crime rate in Burlington, VT?

Rather than raw numbers, Burlington's crime landscape is best understood through its grade distribution. 90% of analyzed neighborhoods earn an A-range grade, with zero neighborhoods receiving a B, D, or F. The grade breakdown is striking: 9 neighborhoods at Grade A (ranging from A+ down to A-), and just 1 neighborhood — Intervale — at Grade C+. Even the neighborhoods flagged as relatively higher-crime by local standards, such as Downtown Burlington (A-), Old North End (A-), and Riverside (A-), still sit comfortably in the A tier. Burlington's 25% poverty rate and 4.2% unemployment rate are worth monitoring as socioeconomic factors that can influence crime trends, but they have not pushed the city's safety grades into alarming territory as of 2026.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Burlington, VT?

The two safest neighborhoods in Burlington both carry Grade A+ ratings: UVM / Fletcher Allen Health Care (population 6,465; median income $59,078) and Hill Section (population 1,609; median income $109,930 — the highest of any analyzed neighborhood). Close behind with Grade A ratings are Five Avenues (median income $103,662), Five Sisters (median income $69,373), Birchcliff (median income $69,429), and Appletree Point (median income $78,553). Notably, the A+ and A neighborhoods skew toward higher household incomes, with Four of the six top-rated neighborhoods reporting median incomes above $69,000 — well above Burlington's city-wide median of $55,461. Rounding out the A tier are Riverside (A-), Old North End (A-), and Downtown Burlington (A-), meaning even the city's most urban and densely used areas maintain strong safety grades.

Which neighborhoods in Burlington have higher crime?

Burlington's higher-crime areas are relative — even the neighborhood with the lowest grade still earns a C+. Intervale is the only neighborhood outside the A tier, and with a population of 1,333 and a median household income of $46,534 (below the city median of $55,461), it reflects the pattern seen nationally where lower-income areas tend to see moderately higher crime activity. Among A-tier neighborhoods, Downtown Burlington (A-), Old North End (A-), and Riverside (A-) represent the comparatively busier end of Burlington's safety spectrum. Old North End, with a population of 9,072 and a median income of $39,558, is Burlington's most populous analyzed neighborhood and its lower income level correlates with its A- rather than A+ placement. Still, 100% of Burlington neighborhoods grade at C+ or better, which is a strong citywide indicator.

Is Burlington, VT a good place to live in 2026?

The data points toward yes — with some nuance. On the safety front, Burlington's numbers are compelling: 90% of neighborhoods earn Grade A, the city-wide safety rating is Very Safe (A), and no neighborhood scores below a C+. Quality-of-life indicators are mixed but workable: a median household income of $55,461, a median home value of $312,014, and a median rent of $1,279 place Burlington in a moderately affordable range for Vermont. The 4.2% unemployment rate is near the national average, though the 25% poverty rate is notably high for a city of Burlington's size (115,682 residents) and warrants attention. For families prioritizing safety, neighborhoods like Hill Section, UVM / Fletcher Allen Health Care, and Five Avenues offer A+ and A grades alongside median incomes well above the city average. Students, professionals, and long-term residents will find that Burlington's combination of high safety grades, Lake Champlain access, and a walkable downtown makes it a competitive option among New England mid-sized cities.

How does Burlington's crime compare to other Vermont cities?

Burlington's overall crime grade of B- reflects the reality that, as Vermont's largest city with a population of 115,682 and a population density of 1,596 people per square mile, it naturally sees more incidents than smaller Vermont towns. However, the neighborhood-level data tells a more reassuring story: with 9 out of 10 neighborhoods graded A and a city-wide safety rating of Very Safe (A), Burlington performs well for an urban center of its density. The B- overall grade accounts for city-wide aggregated data, while the A-range neighborhood grades reflect that crime is concentrated enough in specific pockets — primarily Intervale (C+) — that most residents experience a high-safety environment day to day. Vermont as a state consistently ranks among the safest in the nation, and Burlington's grades are broadly consistent with that reputation, adjusted for its role as the state's most urban hub.