2023 Best Places to Raise a Family in Vermont

• Town in Vermont

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  Rating 4 out of 5  12 reviews

Current Resident: Safe, good schools. Affluent and classy community. A tad persnickety, but such is rural New England. Not much of the typical city nightlife. Employment may be lacking depending on your profession. I love it here, though wish my children were growing up with a little more diversity.... Read 12 reviews

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• Population 3,584

• Town in Vermont

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  Rating 4.34 out of 5  32 reviews

Current Resident: I’ve lived in South Burlington for 15 out of the 19 years I’ve been on this earth other and I honestly love it despite having experienced cities and towns in multiple other states. It’s a small town there isn’t a whole lot around here but it’s a great place to grow up I would say, it’s very green as well trees are everywhere. There’s no shortage of hiking paths and scenic routes throughout the mountains of the state which is something I’ve grown to really admire, you can’t get that in most any other state and here in Vermont it’s literally everywhere. The town has definitely been modernized but in such a way that Mother Nature compliments it and I really admire that, the only complaint I would have is the amount of potholes in our roads. Other than that if you enjoy small town life, a friendly community, and nature I would say South Burlington is the town for you!... Read 32 reviews

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• Population 20,042

Current Resident: Shelburne is a friendly clean town. It's quiet and safe and has everything you need close by. There's a great museum with beautiful grounds, Shelburne farms which are fun for kids, and great place to learn hands-on experiences with animals. The restaurants are excellent, and the hiking trails are great for a workout.... Read 12 reviews

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• Population 7,682

• Town in Vermont

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  Rating 3.75 out of 5  20 reviews

Nearby Resident: A town of less than 8,000 residents with 3 independent bookstores, multiscreen Hollywood movie theatre, multi screen indie movie theatre, live professional actors guild theatre, lively night life with 5+ live music venues, Fine dining + affordable localvore dining, no fast food, top artisanal beer bar/restaurant on East coast, 3 fine artisanal bakeries, multiple aritsanal beer and spirits tasting breweries and wineries, localvore food coop, home made ice cream shop, excellent schools, independent and boutique shops, free live music on the green, free ice skating on the statehouse lawn, graduate level fine arts institution, mountain biking trails, friendly and engaged albiet northern New England taciturn neighborhoods, huge off leash public park, and they don't roll up the sidewalks after dark!... Read 20 reviews

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• Population 7,966

• Town in Vermont

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  Rating 2 out of 5  1 review

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• Population 1,073

• Town in Vermont

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  Rating 4.21 out of 5  19 reviews

Current Resident: Middlebury is a excellent place to raise a family! The schools are amazing! And it is very safe! They also have free public transit that gets you almost anywhere in the state if you want. The people are very healthy here! They have a nice food co-op place where you can get very good healthy local food. Middlebury ranks very high statistically, with being one of the best places in the country for families, as well as Vermont being statistically ranked the # 1 place in the country for safety, education, health care, families, and best place where kids have the best childhoods! Middlebury is wonderful place to live!... Read 19 reviews

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• Population 9,029

Visitor: What isn't to love? The school system is A+, the parks are lovely, and the shops and amenitites make life easy-peasy. Within a mile you can experience the more urban feel of all that the material world has to offer (big box stores and many grocery options), or head into the quant historic village of Williston and stroll along the bike path that winds around the town and through a beautiful park. Head out of the village and you can go into the country for a farmer's market and beautiful views of Mt. Mansfield and Camels' hump. It's the goldilocks of Vermont towns.... Read 10 reviews

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• Population 9,980

Nearby Resident: Jericho isn't too far away from the big towns and cities around, but it also is in a nice country area. Jericho has lots of old historical areas to visit which are really neat and unique to that town. It has some restaurants and a new market in town which has good choices of local food. Jericho is a very safe town little to no break ins around, and people are very friendly and family oriented. There are lots of events that also go on in the town too. Jericho has a very tight knit community if you need help people will be very willing to help you out. ... Read 4 reviews

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• Population 5,082

• Town in Vermont

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• Population 1,889

Current Resident: This is a beautiful, serene, safe place. People are generally polite and friendly. A lot of outdoor activities to do in all seasons. Close to Lake Champlain and easy access to Burlington, Middlebury and multiple ski resorts. Taxes are reasonable and schools are great. It’s clean and everywhere you go is another gorgeous view. Rural living with easy access to New England, New York and Canada. Best place I have ever lived.... Read 4 reviews

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• Population 3,900

Current Resident: Small town atmosphere with a great sense of community. Great schools. Close to everything Vermont. Outdoor activities,activities, restaurants. Concert and Entertainment events.Safe neighborhoods.... Read 30 reviews

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• Population 10,473

• Town in Vermont

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  Rating 3 out of 5  1 review

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• Population 1,604

• Neighborhood in Burlington, VT

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• Population 1,393

Current Resident: I've enjoyed growing up here! Small, but not too small; We have lots of small town traditions, but we have some of the benefits of a larger town (technically we are the 5th biggest city in VT I think!). Lots of good programs for kids and families.... Read 22 reviews

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• Population 21,851

• Town in Vermont

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  Rating 3 out of 5  1 review

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• Population 2,185

• Town in Vermont

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  Rating 3.6 out of 5  5 reviews

Current Resident: East Montpelier is one of the best places to live in Central Vermont. Living in East Montpelier gives you nearly all of the perks of living in Montpelier, but you also get a gorgeous country setting with more land, exposure to spectacular wildlife, and newer houses with updated features. Most homes are within minutes to shopping and restaurants in downtown Montpelier and/or Barre. East Montpelier also is home to two of my favorite places in Vermont - Bragg Farm (maple creemees) and Peck Farm (apple orchard). East Montpelier has some of the most spectacular views of the Green and White Mountains and has year-round trails for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. The residents in East Montpelier are super friendly and the desirable U-32 school district has a great reputation. If you are looking to live in the Montpelier area and want to get the most bang for your buck then East Montpelier is the place for you!... Read 5 reviews

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• Population 2,567

Current Resident: Lived in Underhill for the majority of my life. It's a nice small town. There's a state park, with camping spots and hiking trails. Also connected to the Long Trail.... Read 13 reviews

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• Population 3,142

Current Resident: My experience with Colchester, VT has been very good. The town has many amenities such as beaches, hiking trails and so much more. Colchester is a very active town and you will see people walking, riding bikes and running-alone or with their families-and is also super friendly. Everyone is more than willing to stop during a walk and strike up a conversation with anyone. It is like small town living with the amenities of a big city right next door!... Read 54 reviews

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• Population 17,547

• Town in Vermont

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  Rating 4.3 out of 5  10 reviews

Current Resident: Waterbury is a small suburb of Burlington, Vt. It has been a great place to grow up. We are located in between three major ski areas and the home to the Ben and Jerry's ice cream factory. In fact, I'm a tour guide there! We have world-renowned mountain biking trails and people come from all over the world to become "leaf-peepers" for a few days in the Fall. Waterbury is the kind of town that supports local schools, goes to sporting events to cheer each other on (even when their own children have graduated!) and is a safe, idyllic place to grow up and raise a family.... Read 10 reviews

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• Population 1,796

• Town in Vermont

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  Rating 4.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Current Resident: Very friendly small community. Everyone pretty much knows everyone and most likely are related somehow lol... Read 2 reviews

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• Population 2,655

• Neighborhood in Burlington, VT

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  Rating 4 out of 5  2 reviews

Niche User: Not much crime takes place in Burlington... Read 2 reviews

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• Population 4,646

• Town in Vermont

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• Population 3,375

• Neighborhood in Burlington, VT

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  Rating 3.42 out of 5  12 reviews

Current Resident: The ONE is arguably one of the most diverse sections of Burlington. It contributes great culture to Burlington with many stores and shops owned by refugees.... Read 12 reviews

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• Population 2,895

• Neighborhood in Burlington, VT

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  Rating 3.06 out of 5  18 reviews

Niche User: My experience living in Burlington, Vermont has been more than I could ever ask for. What I enjoy most about Burlington is the community as a whole. Everyone seems to care about each other and when you walk say downtown, so many people are there enjoying what Burlington has to offer. Whether it be holding the door open for someone, or a simple smile, the citizens of Burlington seem to care about the quality of life here. What I also love about Burlington is the land itself. The green mountains and Lake Champlain are two of many aspects of Burlington that contribute to its beauty. For the future, I can only see Burlington getting a healthier, cleaner, and even more comfortable/safe place to live.... Read 18 reviews

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• Population 7,262

• Neighborhood in Burlington, VT

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  Rating 3.69 out of 5  16 reviews

Niche User: As a college student, my experience of living in Burlington, Vermont has been a pleasant one. Downtown Burlington is always filled with life and excitement: there is always something interesting going on! If I could do it all over again, I would pursue a summer internship in the area so that I could live in Burlington during the summer as well. Vermont is beautiful all year round but there is nothing like spending a summer in Vermont. Burlington is a biking/long-boarding friendly town so I always feel safe when I take my board or bike out to do some shopping or cruise around town. The lake at the bottom of the hill (Lake Champlain) offers great views, a wonderful spot for relaxation, fishing and even swimming. In the future I see the housing infrastructure improving, as most of the homes in Burlington are old are due for reconstruction/refurbishing.... Read 16 reviews

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• Population 7,267