Regional Profiles

Farmlands wrap around historic downtowns in Addison County, nestled in central Vermont on the New York state border. The third largest Vermont county, Addison’s landscape is characterized by Otter Creek, Lake Dunmore, and the Green Mountain National Forest, its skyline scored by Mount Abraham and Lincoln Peak. Historic downtowns Middlebury, Bristol, and Vergennes, Vermont’s smallest city, are the county’s hubs.  

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Surrounding historic downtown Bennington, Bennington County is home to almost 36,000 people and is enveloped by the lush Green Mountain Forest, its skyline punctuated by the Taconic Mountain Range. Nestled in southern Vermont, Bennington is an ideal home for those seeking more space in a bustling historic downtown, and nearby Manchester is home to a plethora of shopping and dining options.

[/dipl_image_card_carousel_item][dipl_image_card_carousel_item title=”Chittenden County” image=”https://thinkvermont.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Burlington.jpg” content_custom_padding=”20px|5px|20px|5px|true|true” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Raleway|600|||||||” title_font_size=”18px” title_line_height=”1.3em” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Home to Vermont’s biggest city, Burlington, Chittenden County makes an ideal destination for those looking for urban life set among mountains with a lakefront view. Easily walkable and bikeable, Burlington is home to USA Today’s 2022 No. 1 public square in America. Nearby Essex, Williston, and Shelburne offer the convenience and amenities of city living with the picturesque views and close access to outdoor recreation that characterize life in Vermont. 

[/dipl_image_card_carousel_item][dipl_image_card_carousel_item title=”Franklin County ” image=”https://thinkvermont.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/StAlbans.jpg” content_custom_padding=”20px|5px|20px|5px|true|true” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Raleway|600|||||||” title_font_size=”18px” title_line_height=”1.3em” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Agriculture and lake life is at the heart of Franklin County. Boating, swimming, hiking, and biking abound on nearby Lake Champlain. One of Vermont’s northernmost cities, St. Albans borders the lake and is just over a 30-minute drive from both Burlington, Vt., and the Canadian border. A year-round pool and public parks make it attractive for families. 

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Sparsely populated Grand Isle, Vermont’s smallest county, is considered part of the greater Burlington area, offering rural life with urban access. Four of its five towns are situated entirely on islands. Isle La Motte is one of Vermont’s quirkiest areas, home to attractions like the state’s own fossil reef in a lakeside community that stewards the region’s history. 

[/dipl_image_card_carousel_item][dipl_image_card_carousel_item title=”Lamoille County” image=”https://thinkvermont.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/stowe.jpg” content_custom_padding=”20px|5px|20px|5px|true|true” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Raleway|600|||||||” title_font_size=”18px” title_line_height=”1.3em” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

Mount Mansfield’s rugged profile, Mount Elmore and its companion lake, and the stunning Smugglers Notch frame Lamoille County. Stowe is home to a 5-mile paved path that winds through the downtown, as well as scores of local shops, breweries, and restaurants. Nearby Johnson is home to one of the campuses of Vermont State University, and in Morristown, enjoy close access to the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail and a thriving Restaurant Row. Elmore’s one room schoolhouse is the last one to operate in the state.  

[/dipl_image_card_carousel_item][dipl_image_card_carousel_item title=”Orange County” image=”https://thinkvermont.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Randolph.jpg” content_custom_padding=”20px|5px|20px|5px|true|true” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Raleway|600|||||||” title_font_size=”18px” title_line_height=”1.3em” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

Downtown Randolph is full of historic railroad-era architecture and many Victorian-era homes, as well as working farms and a historic movie theater and performance venue. Explore 240 miles of mapped trails for hiking, biking, cross-country and backcountry skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing along the third branch of Vermont’s White River. The Vermont State University Randolph campus offers secondary education in the region, and the Tunbridge World’s Fair brings the community together each year.  

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Life in Rutland, Vermont is characterized by its close access to opportunity in an urban center that still feels like a small town, as well as the variety of recreational spaces amid Vermont’s natural beauty. With a population of about 15,800 people in 2020, Rutland is Vermont’s fifth most populous city. Killington and Pico mountains elevate Rutland’s skyline, with the city nestled in a wide valley between the Green Mountain and Taconic ranges. The Cold River and Otter Creek cut through surrounding Rutland County, Vermont’s second largest county by area. The county is also home to parts of two nationally protected natural areas, Green Mountain National Forest and White Rocks Natural Recreation Area.  

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The golden dome of the Vermont Statehouse presides over Vermont’s capital, the only one in the U.S. without a McDonald’s or Starbucks. Nestled where two rivers meet and sheltered by surrounding hillsides, discover ample recreation opportunities, independent shops, a rich history of stone quarrying that informs downtown Barre and Montpelier, and natural beauty in the capital region. Nearby, Waterbury has earned a reputation for being a foodie and outdoor recreation town. 

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In Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, small, tight-knit communities are strung together by scenic byways and back roads alongside lakes hewn by glaciers and the high spine of the Green Mountain range. The state’s most rural region, the Kingdom offers residents immediate access to outdoor recreation, a people-powered arts and culture scene, and ample opportunities for a fulfilling life/work balance in a place where both individuality and community are celebrated. Former governor George Aiken gave the Northeast Kingdom its name during a speech in Lyndonville in 1946.

[/dipl_image_card_carousel_item][dipl_image_card_carousel_item title=”Windham County ” image=”https://thinkvermont.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Brattleboro.jpg” content_custom_padding=”20px|5px|20px|5px|true|true” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Raleway|600|||||||” title_font_size=”18px” title_line_height=”1.3em” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

Windham County is a nexus for both Vermont life and access to Boston, MA and Manchester, NH. Brattleboro is located within 15 miles of the state lines of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Brattleboro is the largest town in Windham County and serves as an artistic, economic, and historic anchor for the region. The Round and Black mountains bring texture to the region’s skyline while the Connecticut River rushes through a downtown lined with storied architecture. 

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The Ottauquechee River and the Quechee Gorge, Vermont’s “Little Grand Canyon,” which drops to 165 scenic feet, characterize Windsor County near Woodstock, known for its picturesque beauty and classic New England charm. Mt. Tom, the trails at the Woodstock Inn, two national forests, and Vermont’s only national park round out the area’s outdoor offerings. 

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