The 11 Best Places To Live In Vermont

Vermont is known as the Green Mountain State. If you have visited, you know that the natural beauty is unparalleled and unlike anything other states have to offer. No matter what time of year you’re in Vermont, there are unique activities to do and landscapes to see. Many people visit and are inspired to consider moving to this beautiful state. If that’s something you’re considering, it’s important to visit a few times and make sure that you love Vermont – summer and winter – and that you get a feel for the state outside of the tourist attractions.

If you have decided to move to Vermont, it’s time to narrow it down to a specific town. As with every state, different towns have different benefits at different times of the year and some are better for tourism than for day-to-day living. Here are the best places to live in Vermont.

What Makes Vermont A Good Place To Live?

Vermont is a beautiful place and many people are deciding to live there. People tend to move to Vermont for the outdoors-centered environment, as well as the low population levels and easygoing way of life. If you enjoy skiing, mountain biking, and canoeing, then it could be the perfect state for you.

While most of Vermont has that small-town appeal, it’s still fairly close to many large cities in the northeast, which can help to give you the best of both worlds. Vermont is known to have high property tax rates, so keep that in mind when deciding on your house hunting budget.

The cost of living can be very high, especially compared to the wages of many jobs available to residents who aren’t working remotely. Vermont would not be a good fit for you if you do not like winter weather, since the state has a long and cold winter, which can turn into a muddy spring.

11 Best Cities To Live In Vermont

There are a lot of rural areas in Vermont, but there are a few cities to choose from. These are not very large cities, but they are more metropolitan than the rest of the state.

1. Norwich

Norwich is a wealthy town located across the Connecticut River from Hanover, New Hampshire. It is a hilly and wooded area and has a quintessential New England aesthetic. Because of these factors, it is a big commuter town for Hanover. This gives the area a high cost of living and higher average home price compared to many of the other cities in Vermont. If you have a large budget, it is a great spot to consider.

Does Norwich, Vermont sound like the perfect place for you? Be sure to check out the Norwich Housing Market Report and Norwich home listings.

• Population: 3,401
• Median household income: $90,104
• Median home price: $578,700
• Median monthly rental price: $1,193

Data source: WorldPopulationReview, BestPlaces

2. Burlington

Burlington, Vermont is the most populous city in Vermont and is home to the University of Vermont. Burlington has an airport, the state’s largest hospital, and many amenities that come with a small city. Burlington has a little more diversity than the average Vermont city. While Burlington does have many of these bigger city amenities, it still has a smaller town feel compared to the big cities of most states.

Burlington is located on the shore of Lake Champlain and has picturesque views and easy access to many outdoor activities. If you’re looking for a city in Vermont that has the beautiful geography but also modern city amenities, Burlington might be the perfect choice.

Does Burlington sound like the perfect place for you? Be sure to check out the Burlington Housing Market Report and Burlington home listings.

• Population: 44,781
• Median household income: $55,461
• Median home price: $412,500
• Median monthly rental price: $1,279

Data source: census.gov

3. Montpelier

Montpelier is the capital of Vermont and is located in the center of the state. Despite being the capital, it still feels like a quaint and charming small town. There is great skiing, hiking, and canoeing nearby. If you’re looking for a cozy zip code surrounded by breathtaking nature, then Montpelier might be the best place for you.

Does Montpelier sound like the perfect place for you? Be sure to check out the Montpelier Housing Market Report and Montpelier home listings.

• Population: 8,026
• Median household income: $65,668
• Median home price: $375,000
• Median monthly rental price: $1,060

Data source: census.gov

4. Barre

Barre is a smaller town that has a lower cost of living than many other cities in the state. It is more of a blue collar or working-class city, well-known for its granite industry. Outside of the small downtown, there are a ton of beautiful outdoor nature-based activities. If you are looking for a more casual, close-knit community feel with a lower cost of living, Barre might be right for you.

Does Barre sound like the perfect place for you? Be sure to check out the Barre Housing Market Report and Barre home listings.

• Population: 8,457
• Median household income: $42,958
• Median home price: $259,500
• Median monthly rental price: $775

Data source: census.gov

5. Charlotte

Charlotte is an upper-class town with a high cost of living. It is a more rural town, but is close to Burlington, which has many amenities and services. Charlotte itself is on the water and popular with sailors and people with boats, so if that is a big hobby for you, it’s a benefit other places in Vermont don’t have. If you have a large budget and want to have a high end, village feel on the water, you should check out Charlotte.

Does Charlotte sound like the perfect place for you? Be sure to check out the Charlotte Housing Market Report and Charlotte home listings.

• Population: 3,817
• Median household income: $106,614
• Median home price: $867,500
• Median monthly rental price: $2,182

Data source: census.gov, apartmenthomeliving

6. Stowe

Stowe is known as the ski capital of the East Coast. As you could imagine, a high cost of living and large number of seasonal tourists comes along with that. You will have to contend with tourism bringing in visitors and driving up prices in the winter, but if you love skiing in the winter and mountain biking in the summer, and dream of living in a resort town, Stowe might be perfect for you.

Does Stowe sound like the perfect place for you? Be sure to check out the Stowe Housing Market Report and Stowe home listings.

• Population: 5,288
• Median household income: $70,577
• Median home price: $800,000
• Median monthly rental price: $1,075

Data source: census.gov

7. Shelburne

Shelburne is another suburb of Burlington. It is a family-focused, suburban town with farms and a teddy bear factory. It has a higher cost of living than much of Vermont, but it could be a great alternative to living in Burlington proper if you prefer to be near, but outside of, the city and like that suburban feel. If you have kids and need a little bit of a bigger home and don’t want to raise them in a city, this could be a choice for you.

Does Shelburne sound like the perfect place for you? Be sure to check out the Shelburne Housing Market Report and Shelburne home listings.

• Population: 7,803
• Median household income: $91,953
• Median home price: $330,000
• Median monthly rental price: $1,371

Data source: census.gov

8. Woodstock

Woodstock is a picture-perfect small town near the New Hampshire border. It has a lovely well maintained downtown area that is very walkable and attracts a lot of tourists. This storybook town has one of the higher costs of living in Vermont and the real estate is priced accordingly, but it will certainly be charming for nights out.

Does Woodstock sound like the perfect place for you? Be sure to check out the Woodstock Housing Market Report and Woodstock home listings.

• Population: 2,933
• Median household income: $84,831
• Median home price: $1,395,000
• Median monthly rental price: $1,110

Data source: census.gov, apartmentguide

9. Jericho

Jericho is a suburb about 20 minutes outside of Burlington. It’s considered a more affordable and rural alternative to living in downtown Burlington. If you prefer a suburban area with a family-focus and want to keep your budget a little lower than some of the other options, Jericho could be a great result.

Does Jericho sound like the perfect place for you? Be sure to check out the Jericho Housing Market Report and Jericho home listings.

• Population: 5,080
• Median household income: $97,743
• Median home price: $299,900
• Median monthly rental price: $1,077

Data source: census.gov

10. Williston

Williston is another suburb of Burlington. It used to be a small farm town, but has expanded and now has a large shopping area in addition to other typical suburban spots. If you’re looking for a family-friendly suburb of Burlington with many of the conveniences of day-to-day living, Williston is another great option.

Does Williston sound like the perfect place for you? Be sure to check out the Williston Housing Market Report and Williston home listings.

• Population: 10,094
• Median household income: $86,915
• Median home price: $455,000
• Median monthly rental price: $1,522

Data source: census.gov

11. Middlebury

Middlebury is home to Middlebury University, a liberal arts college. It is a more rural area, with a lot of the big city amenities about an hour away in Burlington. Most of Middlebury is centered around the college, including available jobs if you’re looking for one of those. Also, because of the university, Middlebury is a bit more diverse than the average Vermont town.

Does Middlebury sound like the perfect place for you? Be sure to check out the Middlebury Housing Market Report and Middlebury home listings.

• Population: 7,304
• Median household income: $61,765
• Median home price: $372,500
• Median monthly rental price: $1,007

Data source: census.gov

The Bottom Line

Vermont is a beautiful place to live if you love nature and outdoor activities and don’t mind winter weather. There is a big variance in cost of living across the state, so it’s important to research the area that would be the best fit for you and your budget.

Ready to move? You can start the mortgage approval process today with Rocket Mortgage^®.