What are the most popular Vermont towns to relocate to?

South Burlington, Burlington, and Stowe see the most out-of-state interest, but I also place a lot of buyers in Shelburne, Williston, and Waterbury for that mix of village character and quick I-89 access. If you want a smaller price tag, Milton, St. Albans, and Rutland tend to surprise people.

Which Vermont towns have the most affordable home prices?

Rutland, St. Johnsbury, Newport, Springfield, and Barre City consistently offer Vermont's most attainable single-family inventory. Hardwick and Lyndon round it out in the Northeast Kingdom. These towns trade Burlington-area convenience for real downtowns and more square footage per dollar.

Where should I look in Vermont if I commute to Burlington?

South Burlington, Winooski, Colchester, and Williston are inside 15 minutes. Shelburne, Essex Junction, and Milton sit in the 15–25 minute range. If you want acreage or lower price points, Hinesburg, Charlotte, Georgia, and Fairfax keep the drive under 30 minutes.

How do I research Vermont school districts?

Start at the Vermont Agency of Education site (education.vermont.gov) for district maps, enrollment, and report data. Then visit the individual district website — most publish their school board agendas, budget, and assessment results. Finally, schedule an in-person visit; principals in towns like Middlebury and Hartford expect calls from relocating buyers and will walk you through the building.

What is the Northeast Kingdom and what's the real estate market like there?

The Northeast Kingdom is Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties — the rural, lake-and-mountain northeast corner of the state. Prices in St. Johnsbury, Lyndon, Barton, and Newport remain well below the Burlington area, with strong recreational access (Burke Mountain, Kingdom Trails, Lake Memphremagog) but longer commutes and thinner job markets.

Which Vermont towns are closest to skiing?

Stowe, Warren, and Waitsfield put you minutes from the lifts at Stowe Mountain Resort, Sugarbush, and Mad River Glen. Killington and Cambridge (for Smugglers' Notch) are the other two true ski-village options. Lyndon is the quieter pick for Burke Mountain and Kingdom Trails.

Are Vermont property taxes high, and how does the income-sensitivity adjustment work?

Vermont property taxes are above the national average, but the state offers an income-sensitivity adjustment on the homestead (residential) education tax. If you make under the threshold and your home is your primary residence, you file Form HS-122 and the state credits part of your school tax bill. Out-of-state second-home buyers pay the non-homestead rate and do not qualify.

What should out-of-state buyers know about purchasing in Vermont?

Vermont uses an attorney-managed closing process — your lawyer pulls title and runs settlement, not a title company. Septic and water systems on rural properties (most of Addison, Orange, and Caledonia counties) need real diligence. And winters are real: factor heating type, plowing, and roof pitch into every offer.

Communities

Vermont Towns & Communities by County

A buyer's directory of every town I work in — filter by county, lifestyle, commute, and price.

Vermont real estate isn't one market — it's eleven. Relocating to Vermont means choosing a region first: the Champlain Valley around Burlington, the Mad River Valley between Sugarbush and Mad River Glen, the Upper Valley facing Hanover and Dartmouth, or the Northeast Kingdom for big land and small downtowns. This directory covers towns across all 11 counties I serve — Addison, Caledonia, Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, and Windsor — with the vibe, commute, and price-band filters buyers actually use. I'm Jacob Barnes, a Vermont native and licensed Realtor with EXP Realty (VT License #082.0134640), and I built this page to save you a few weekends of research.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Vermont Towns

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Vermont Towns & Communities by County

Browse by what matters to you

Closest to Skiing

Lyndon

Jericho

Underhill

Cambridge

Hyde Park

Morristown

Stowe

Castleton

Killington

Rutland

Waitsfield

Warren

Waterbury

Chester

Windsor

Woodstock

Lakefront Living

Ferrisburgh

Vergennes

Danville

Burlington

Charlotte

Colchester

Milton

Shelburne

Georgia

St. Albans

Swanton

Grand Isle

North Hero

South Hero

Barton

Derby

Glover

Newport

Castleton

Walkable Village Towns

Bristol

Middlebury

Vergennes

Danville

Hardwick

St. Johnsbury

Burlington

Essex Junction

Hinesburg

Richmond

Shelburne

South Burlington

Winooski

St. Albans

Hyde Park

Johnson

Morristown

Stowe

Bradford

Chelsea

Norwich

Randolph

Barton

Newport

Brandon

Rutland

Barre City

Montpelier

Northfield