State Guide

Best Places to Live in Vermont

The most affordable, safest, and highest-income cities across 179 Vermont cities — ranked from official data.

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Choosing where to live in Vermont comes down to a few trade-offs — cost of living, safety, income, and schools. The rankings below pull those out from U.S. Census, FBI, and NCES data so you can see the standouts at a glance, then drill into any city or put two side by side.

Most Affordable Cities in Vermont

Lowest cost of living index (100 = U.S. average · lower is cheaper).

#City Cost of Living Population
1 Burlington 100 44,646
2 South Burlington 100 20,241
3 Essex Junction 100 10,646
4 Winooski 100 8,122
5 St. Albans 100 6,891
6 Shelburne 100 6,195
7 Milton 100 3,712
8 Swanton 100 2,428
9 Richford 100 1,636
10 Enosburg Falls 100 1,554

Safest Cities in Vermont

Lowest crime index (100 = U.S. average · lower is safer). Limited to cities with complete FBI reporting.

#City Crime Index Population
1 Bristol 12 1,956
2 Swanton 31 2,428
3 Vergennes 32 2,561
4 Stowe 33 721
5 Shelburne 35 6,195
6 Hinesburg 35 790
7 Windsor 36 2,138
8 Springfield 41 3,946
9 Milton 42 3,712
10 Fair Haven 44 2,422

Highest-Income Cities in Vermont

Highest median household income (US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates).

#City Median Income Population
1 Stratton Mountain $179,375 57
2 Bolton $176,250 37
3 Old Bennington $146,250 161
4 Dorset $141,304 374
5 Norwich $138,750 839
6 Westford $135,750 203
7 Bolton Valley $114,375 165
8 South Lincoln $108,750 153
9 Grafton $105,625 87
10 Hanksville $102,500 33

Best School Districts in Vermont

Highest school-quality grade (student-teacher ratio, adult attainment, and graduation data where available).

#City School Grade Population
1 Winooski A+ 8,122
2 Quechee A+ 340
3 Coventry A+ 14
4 Saxtons River A+ 633
5 Chester A+ 1,097
6 Wilmington A+ 385
7 Brattleboro A+ 7,543
8 Westford A+ 203
9 Burlington A+ 44,646
10 Waterbury A+ 1,686

Popular Vermont City Comparisons

Head-to-head breakdowns of the state's largest cities.

Burlington vs South Burlington Burlington vs Rutland Burlington vs Essex Junction Burlington vs Bennington Burlington vs Barre Burlington vs Winooski Burlington vs Montpelier South Burlington vs Rutland South Burlington vs Essex Junction South Burlington vs Bennington South Burlington vs Barre South Burlington vs Winooski

All Cities in Vermont

Click any city for the full profile. Data from U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-Year Estimates).

City Population Median Income Median Home Median Rent Unemployment Crime Index
Burlington 44,646 $64,931 $383,300 $1,540 4.7% 157
South Burlington 20,241 $90,410 $383,300 $1,685 5.4% 121
Rutland 15,819 $53,304 $169,700 $856 6.1% 147
Essex Junction 10,646 $92,589 $353,800 $1,473 2.5% 69
Bennington 8,753 $51,221 $177,700 $990 4.8% 108
Barre 8,488 $53,798 $185,100 $955 7.2% 158
Winooski 8,122 $69,783 $327,600 $1,516 1.9% 104
Montpelier 8,030 $76,143 $326,800 $1,155 3.0% 89
Brattleboro 7,543 $42,776 $220,000 $1,036 9.2% 179
Middlebury 6,913 $76,420 $382,600 $1,336 5.8% 48
St. Albans 6,891 $49,736 $224,900 $1,143 2.2% 393
Shelburne 6,195 $102,213 $451,800 $1,322 4.4% 35
St. Johnsbury 5,963 $48,542 $160,600 $883 4.6% 84
Newport 4,431 $53,026 $167,900 $863 9.6% 138
Northfield 4,390 $65,926 $224,700 $883 2.0% 11
Springfield 3,946 $48,476 $139,000 $902 4.2% 41
Milton 3,712 $81,526 $272,700 $1,513 16.0% 42
Wilder 3,634 $70,758 $236,800 $1,277 5.8% 13
Bellows Falls 2,824 $52,813 $164,600 $1,032 3.0% 62
West Brattleboro 2,817 $40,446 $210,900 $933 4.9% 58
White River Junction 2,766 $66,979 $255,600 $1,047 4.6% 13
Morrisville 2,576 $63,339 $228,700 $1,129 6.4% 19
Vergennes 2,561 $72,171 $239,400 $1,034 2.0% 32
Swanton 2,428 $73,365 $194,900 $933 8.2% 31
Fair Haven 2,422 $67,300 $161,900 $818 3.5% 44
West Rutland 2,222 $47,381 $176,500 $949 1.5% 47
Windsor 2,138 $47,545 $161,900 $988 3.8% 36
Randolph 2,010 $58,333 $210,600 $1,044 7.7% 6
Bristol 1,956 $65,536 $273,900 $1,128 8.0% 12
Brandon 1,858 $54,700 $202,000 $1,061 1.3% 56
Manchester Center 1,835 $73,333 $313,200 $904 3.4% 54
Arlington 1,781 $70,938 $205,600 $1,073 5.8% 54
Waterbury 1,686 $55,655 $328,100 $1,171 2.5% 36
Proctor 1,652 $64,722 $174,700 $1,044 2.6% 47
Richford 1,636 $52,679 $151,800 $1,087 8.0% 74
Enosburg Falls 1,554 $46,250 $190,100 $864 7.1% 74
Williamstown 1,508 $90,156 $186,700 $1,703 1.2% 8
North Bennington 1,420 $62,125 $251,400 $1,423 6.0% 54
South Barre 1,362 $75,042 $230,900 $1,264 0.0% 36
Johnson 1,347 $49,016 — $960 10.1% 19
Bradford 1,272 $95,199 $167,700 $959 4.2% 10
Poultney 1,250 $67,868 $169,200 $848 5.5% 47
Hardwick 1,247 $57,798 $151,500 $817 1.6% 64
Jericho 1,166 $97,174 $363,600 — 0.0% 69
Lyndonville 1,143 $54,688 $168,300 $967 2.8% 137
East Barre 1,136 — $248,000 — 11.2% 36
Chester 1,097 $63,919 $268,800 $1,003 2.2% 12
Woodstock 1,033 $85,536 $605,800 $1,106 0.0% 54
Orleans 983 $63,304 $136,100 $760 3.2% 34
Castleton 905 — $269,600 — 6.9% 47
Fairfax 880 $53,869 $345,900 $1,023 13.5% 74
Norwich 839 $138,750 $605,200 $950 3.8% 13
Derby Center 802 $57,188 $208,100 $1,018 2.9% 34
Hinesburg 790 $62,888 $352,500 $1,247 4.1% 35
Wallingford 786 $91,111 $246,600 $952 0.0% 47
Castleton Four Corners 780 $41,932 $145,500 — 3.9% 47
Island Pond 759 $44,559 $117,000 $785 0.0% —
Jeffersonville 739 $64,306 $281,000 $1,157 8.5% 19
Stowe 721 $84,333 — $1,427 11.3% 33
Ludlow 711 $48,413 $238,500 $960 3.5% 13
Manchester 703 $33,750 $450,800 $491 0.0% 60
Barton 700 $29,375 $126,000 $784 15.5% 34
Derby Line 692 $64,018 $167,500 $850 3.0% 34
Richmond 689 $59,960 $285,000 $1,644 0.0% 69
Bethel 666 $63,182 $236,200 $1,148 6.7% 13
Underhill Flats 650 $72,465 $287,400 $1,176 0.0% 69
Saxtons River 633 — $205,600 $1,092 2.9% 58
Hartland 625 $93,566 — — 6.4% 13
Westminster 600 $94,792 $277,700 $972 0.7% 58
Huntington 589 $85,417 $274,600 — 2.4% 69
North Troy 584 $60,000 $121,600 $769 9.8% 34
Pittsford 583 $37,760 $142,600 — 9.0% 47
Groton 576 $54,769 $164,300 $381 10.7% 33
Pownal 556 $63,125 — — 16.8% 54
Stamford 533 $78,750 $247,400 $900 6.7% 54
Pownal Center 519 $76,250 $227,000 — 0.0% 54
Graniteville 487 $34,026 $139,200 $1,081 4.8% 36
Chelsea 486 $42,969 $146,900 $850 7.4% 8
East Middlebury 483 $92,241 $233,500 — 0.0% 15
Hartford Village 479 — — $865 0.0% 67
South Royalton 475 $44,423 $147,400 $1,275 0.0% 13
Killington Village 468 $57,981 $275,000 $863 6.5% 16
Danville 450 $64,167 $244,200 — 0.0% 33
North Springfield 447 $64,177 $160,200 — 0.0% 13
St. George 445 $85,313 $290,600 $1,154 1.4% 69
Alburgh 443 $60,357 $159,300 $1,469 2.7% —
Bakersfield 443 $85,446 $215,600 — 11.5% 74
Hyde Park 433 $81,429 $241,400 $1,319 3.6% 19
Plainfield 430 $41,758 $210,000 $1,084 0.0% 36
Ascutney 429 $44,417 $180,300 — 0.0% 13
Newbury 429 $58,750 $252,100 $1,063 1.6% 8
South Shaftsbury 427 $56,738 $200,600 — 0.0% 54
North Clarendon 424 $50,192 $138,000 $606 0.0% 47
Marshfield 418 $74,375 $158,300 $1,125 3.6% 36
North Hartland 416 $80,104 $274,000 $1,268 0.0% 13
West Woodstock 397 $53,125 — $2,056 0.0% 13
North Hyde Park 395 $58,669 $176,800 — 0.0% 19
North Pownal 390 $85,417 $165,400 — 26.1% 54
Wilmington 385 $92,794 $265,300 $886 0.0% 37
Dorset 374 $141,304 $387,500 — 0.0% 54
Wells 369 $80,875 $168,600 $1,208 0.0% 47
Putney 360 $55,833 $238,500 $815 2.3% 58
Proctorsville 359 $74,167 $270,000 $1,019 1.9% 13
Lunenburg 342 $45,469 $133,500 $983 21.1% —
Quechee 340 $50,547 $293,300 — 9.8% 13
Wells River 326 $36,500 $154,700 $746 7.8% 8
Pawlet 303 $43,438 $230,000 $1,395 5.6% 47
West Pawlet 301 — $118,300 $858 5.1% 47
Rochester 296 $41,250 $209,500 $1,083 2.8% 13
Lyndon Center 295 — — — 11.7% 33
Canaan 286 $58,188 $113,900 $1,038 12.2% —
Readsboro 284 $44,559 — $335 0.0% 54
Cabot 272 $53,958 $164,300 — 9.2% 36
Greensboro Bend 265 $83,281 $228,800 — 0.0% 34
Highgate Center 263 $88,194 $192,500 — 0.0% 74
Waterbury Center 261 — — — 0.0% 36
Lincoln 259 $54,286 $279,000 $769 8.9% 15
East Poultney 255 $68,846 $218,800 — 0.0% 47
East Dorset 253 — — — 0.0% 54
Websterville 249 $70,313 $175,300 — 0.0% 36
Benson 232 $31,607 $170,800 $950 6.4% 47
Jacksonville 232 — $211,700 $963 20.5% 58
Waitsfield 228 $33,558 $402,800 $818 0.0% 36
Algiers 226 $65,750 — $1,148 0.0% 58
Peacham 224 — $209,100 $831 10.0% 33
Glover 223 $38,750 $153,100 $818 13.3% 34
West Charlotte 223 — $411,700 — 0.0% 69
Harmonyville 218 $85,125 $263,600 — 0.0% 58
Gilman 214 $50,625 $87,700 $1,143 0.0% —
South Londonderry 214 $59,911 — — 0.0% 58
Lowell 210 $62,813 $104,200 — 14.7% 34
Cavendish 208 — $211,500 $1,596 12.4% 13
Westford 203 $135,750 $280,300 — 11.4% 69
Albany 201 $88,125 $123,100 — 0.0% 34
Newport Center 199 — $130,600 $1,004 7.1% 34
Cambridge 198 $50,714 $225,000 $1,179 5.6% 19
Sheffield 194 $60,750 $108,900 $1,604 0.0% 33
Irasburg 189 $66,250 $137,500 $924 0.0% 34
Concord 181 $52,188 $135,800 $1,067 0.0% —
Danby 178 $63,750 $205,000 $879 5.7% 47
West Burke 175 $24,750 $205,000 $843 11.7% 33
Wolcott 171 $65,313 $150,000 $958 0.0% 19
Townshend 170 $37,250 $205,600 $1,017 11.4% 58
New Haven 168 $97,656 $305,300 $1,297 6.4% 15
Bolton Valley 165 $114,375 $225,000 $1,708 0.0% 69
South Hero 162 $93,804 $381,800 — 0.0% —
East Charlotte 161 — — — 4.7% 69
Old Bennington 161 $146,250 $367,600 — 1.2% 54
Chittenden 156 $87,411 $217,200 $871 0.0% 47
Sutton 155 $78,500 $232,100 — 0.0% 33
Middletown Springs 153 $66,071 $196,900 $1,125 0.0% 47
South Lincoln 153 $108,750 $303,100 — 1.8% 15
Troy 137 $83,810 $144,200 — 0.0% 34
Newfane 135 — $320,000 $1,109 0.0% 58
Barnet 131 $36,667 $185,400 — 0.0% 33
North Westminster 131 $66,386 $134,900 — 54.8% 58
Fairlee 119 $57,625 $266,700 $988 4.9% 8
Huntington Center 118 $89,031 $328,600 $955 0.0% 69
Lyndon 116 $42,743 $162,500 — 30.0% 33
Worcester 115 $71,250 $187,500 $1,042 39.3% 36
East Burke 110 $80,298 $334,600 — 0.0% 33
Whitingham 109 — $180,400 — 0.0% 58
Greensboro 102 $85,000 $443,300 — 0.0% 34
Beecher Falls 101 $30,469 $112,500 — 15.2% 24
Wardsboro 98 $77,625 $241,700 — 11.3% 58
Grafton 87 $105,625 $551,500 — 0.0% 58
Jamaica 68 — — — 23.5% 58
Londonderry 68 $29,250 $141,800 — 0.0% 58
East Montpelier 63 — — — 0.0% 36
Stratton Mountain 57 $179,375 $987,500 — 0.0% 54
West Dummerston 57 — $170,300 — 0.0% 58
Underhill Center 56 — — — 0.0% 69
Weston 39 — — — 0.0% 13
Chimney Hill 38 — — — 0.0% 58
Bolton 37 $176,250 $362,500 — 31.0% 69
Hanksville 33 $102,500 $287,500 — 0.0% 69
South Woodstock 24 — — — 0.0% 13
Coventry 14 — — — 0.0% 34
Highgate Springs 3 — — — 0.0% 74

Frequently Asked Questions

Burlington, VT is among the most affordable cities in Vermont, with a cost of living index of 100 (US average = 100) and a median home value of $383,300. See the full ranking above.
Bristol, VT ranks among the safest cities in Vermont, with a crime index of 12 (100 = U.S. average, lower is safer). Crime data from the FBI UCR Program.
Stratton Mountain, VT has one of the highest median household incomes in Vermont at $179,375 per year. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

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