With pristine landscapes, beautiful parks, organic food, friendly locals, and environmentally-friendly habits- Vermont is a great place to be.
The Green Mountain State allows citizens to live a healthy slow-paced life, taking each moment as it comes. The abundance of outdoor recreation has helped create opportunities, so finding a job here is not all that hard. Let’s look at the best places to live in Vermont:
Montpelier
The smallest capital city in America, Montpelier is a charming small town. It has a population of close to 8000. Being the state capital, the downtown gets busy. Despite being small, there is much to do.
The city has an unemployment rate that is much lower than the national average, and the job market has seen growth over the years. The average income of residents is also higher than the US average, as is the family median income.
Montpelier has kept a meticulous record of the state in its museums. Pay a visit to the Greek Revival Capitol building, or go to the Vermont History Museum and the Vermont Heritage Galleries which have award-winning exhibitions and historical articles that date back to the 1600s.
If you are one of those who start fidgeting if they stay at home for too long, fret not, there’s plenty of outdoors for you in Montpelier. Hubbard Park, a 185-acre park, is a nature preserve brimming with maple, oak, and beech trees. There are hiking, biking, and walking trails here that you can enjoy. In addition to that, there are two rivers in the small town; The Winooski River and the North Branch River. They have created room for water activities like rafting, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and swimming.
The Savoy Theater is frequented by the locals for its regular, amazing movies, documentaries, and foreign films. It also acts as a performance arts theater so there are several shows written by local and renowned playwrights. The dining scene is heavily dominated by farm-to-fork practices. Like the rest of Vermont, people are conscious of healthy eating, so restaurants offer delicious organic foods.
Many small cafes and restaurants in the city provide access to free wifi, as do many public service buildings. Internet speeds can reach up to 1000 Mbps, as provided by Xfinity and Spectrum- ideal for digital nomads and remote workers.
Essex
The second most populous town, Essex, is nestled between Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains.
Essex is one of the best places to live in Vermont for families. The neighborhoods are safe, the crime rate low, and it has one of the most excellent schooling systems in the country. The schools in the city are highly-respected and reliable. The low crime rate makes the locals love the city. What stands out is the school spirit, it is thoroughly contagious and inspiring.
Since it is a small town, it has a close-knit community. Everyone knows everyone, and they enjoy their traditions and festivals. There are brewing pubs, art galleries, a speedway and action center, hot-air balloon rides, salt caves, bars and lounges, quaint cafes, and of course, farm-to-fork adventures.
Essex is approximately a ten-minute drive from Burlington – the biggest city in Vermont. You can enjoy quick getaways to Burlington, and even choose to work there since the daily commute will not be a problem. The city operates buses and taxis that can take you there.
The tranquility of the town can be beneficial for remote workers. The top internet provider in the city is Xfinity, which offers a speed of 1000 Mbps- suitable for anyone working remotely. It helps that there are coworking spaces too, such as Essex Hub for Women and Business, Excelerate Essex, VCET, and more.
Norwich
With a population of only 3,300, this is a pretty small town. It can be one of the best places in Vermont to live if you are looking for peace, away from all the city hubbub.
The locals love their town, and it shows in everything they do. They are friendly and welcoming to newcomers. The general store here is somewhat of a meeting center. If you choose to move here, a quick introduction here will have you acquainted with everyone in town! Terrific, is it not? Making friends and getting to know everyone will be easy.
Even though the schools are few – which makes sense, since the population is only around 3000, they have a high rating. More than 50% of the population holds a master’s degree, so you will be neighbors with an educated bunch. The median household income in Norwich is higher than the national average, and the unemployment rate is low.
The median rents and housing prices may be lying on the expensive side, but you get good value for your money in this quaint little town. There is a rural feel, but it has city amenities. It is a safe town where the crime rate is low. There are cafes with aromatic baked goods and fine restaurants in the city downtown. You can visit the Montshire Museum of Science, go to the Norwich Farmer and Flea Market, or see the creative street art.
The outdoors is beautiful. With Hanover Adventure Tours, there is no limit to what you can do. You can go kayaking, paddle boarding, canoeing, e-biking, hiking, camping, and much more.
Though small, Norwich offers many things. The best of which is the peace that only a rural area can bring. It comes as no surprise that Norwich is on our list of the best places to live in Vermont.
Summary
Vermont is a scenic state, each city is rich with stunning landscapes and vistas. Not only is it lovely, but it has an affordable cost of living, good public schools, and a low crime rate. We have listed the best places to live in Vermont 2022, go over them and make your pick!
