Old North End

Opinions about the Old North End are pretty polarized. The things that most everyone will agree on is that it's Burlington's oldest neighborhood, one of the cheapest neighborhoods in which to live in the downtown area, has one of the highest poverty/crime/drug rates of any area in Burlington, and is also one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse areas of Burlington (which, unfortunately, isn't saying much, as it's still pretty white).

Where the opinions divide is on the direction the O.N.E. is going in. Many feel that, as the area becomes more gentrified due to housing shortages/rent increases in nicer areas of the city, the area will gradually get safer and businesses in the area will thrive. Just as many point to the increase in home invasions, armed robberies and major drug busts as an indicator that it's going in the opposite direction. My opinion falls somewhere in between, and I think at this point, it could go either way.

If you're going to live in the O.N.E., I highly recommend living on the edges. Upper North Street/North Willard Street are fairly nice areas, whereas lower North and the streets that branch off of it are just ghetto drug dens.