Burlington was recently ranked the fourth safest city in the United States by WalletHub, but opinions among residents tell a more complex story. Long-time Burlingtonians have observed changes in the Queen City, questioning whether it’s as safe as it once was.
In a recent school survey, an overwhelming majority of participants saw homelessness or poverty and substance abuse as Burlington safety concerns.
“There’s so much drug use and homelessness,” Adrienne Stanley ’27 said.
This disconnect raises questions: is the city’s perceived decline in safety a matter of personal perception, or is WalletHub overlooking important factors?
WalletHub’s ranking is based on various criteria, including mass shootings, thefts, and natural disaster risks. However, the metrics do not account for rates of verbal harassment or overdoses, issues that directly impact the lived experiences of Burlington’s residents.
“What we are seeing is the same thing that is happening across the country,” Melo Grant, a city councilor and chair of the public safety committee, said.
For many, the pandemic and recent inflation have exacerbated financial pressures nationwide, and Burlington is no exception. The city has seen a record number of over 300 unhoused individuals, a statistic that has left some residents feeling uneasy about their safety.
“I think Burlington is safe,” Zola Wager ’28 said. “But walking home alone and being a girl doesn’t always feel safe.”
This sentiment was shared by Fiona Case ’27 and others interviewed.
Grant explained that personal perception plays a significant role in how safe people feel.
“Sometimes people say that perception is reality. If you don’t feel safe, then you don’t feel safe, and that’s real for you,” Grant said.
What one person perceives as dangerous might be considered normal to someone else. A city’s struggles can appear more stark to those accustomed to stability than to residents of areas with higher crime rates. Burlington’s usual sense of safety and its picturesque environment can make issues like homelessness and drug use feel particularly jarring.
In this context, Burlington may seem less safe because of the contrast between its current challenges and its traditionally tranquil reputation.
While the city faces its share of societal problems, Burlington remains one of the safest places in the country – at least statistically.
