Got kids? Need a safe, affordable place with good jobs and competitive salaries so that you can take care of all of your family? Vermont has you and your family covered!
And lucky for you, HomeSnacks has created the ultimate guide for families to navigate the best places to raise a family in Vermont for 2025. How did we do it? We consulted the US Census on places in The Green Mountain State with more than 2,000 residents. We looked at several factors: crime, education, family friendly activities, and the percent of households that currently have children. We ended up with 20 family friendly cities.
Vermont is the second least populous state in the country. So, using our top ten most family friendly places in Vermont list should be very helpful for finding the perfect place to live on any budget. There are family friendly places like Burlington, on Lake Champlain, that provide safe neighborhoods and suburban living. There are quaint, affluent places like Winooski that look like they jumped off of a postcard. And places like Hardwick, provide solitude and that good ‘ol New England state livin’.
In all family friendly seriousness, Vermont has some of the best schools in the country. Blue Ribbon elementary schools, gold star high schools with focus in STEM and the Arts, and colleges like Middlebury College in Middlebury and the University of Vermont in Burlington have been delivering the next generation to work at major Vermont companies like Ben & Jerry’s and Burton Snowboards.
So, if you’re looking for safe cities and neighborhoods, amazing schools, large green spaces, good food, and just overall good family friendly fun, take a look below.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Cities To Raise A Family In Vermont For 2025
Now, don’t count yourselves out of the mix, parents and caretakers. There are plenty of available jobs in Vermont: the state has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. And with a $58,000/year household median income to work with, there’s plenty of money to keep your family happy, healthy, and having fun.
What’s the most family friendly spot in Vermont? Without further adieu, the most family friendly place to live in Vermont for 2025 is Middlebury.
And if you care about your family living where crime is low, schools are awesome, and a healthy lifestyle is key, take a look at the list below.
More reading about Vermont and the best places for families in the country:
- Best Places To Live In Vermont
- Cheapest Places To Live In Vermont
- Best Cities To Raise A Family In America
- Best States To Raise A Family In America
The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In Vermont For 2025
/10
Population: 7,145
Median Income: $74,900
Average Home Price: $388,100
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 43
Closest Major City: Worcester
Households with kids: 20.8%
More on Middlebury: Data
/10
Population: 8,038
Median Income: $79,175
Average Home Price: $349,200
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 55
Closest Major City: Worcester
Households with kids: 23.1%
More on Montpelier: Data
/10
Population: 2,571
Median Income: $85,417
Average Home Price: $263,500
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 62
Closest Major City: Worcester
Households with kids: 27.4%
More on Vergennes: Data
/10
Population: 6,292
Median Income: $106,187
Average Home Price: $496,700
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 48
Closest Major City: Worcester
Households with kids: 33.3%
More on Shelburne: Data
/10
Population: 2,851
Median Income: $54,836
Average Home Price: $176,000
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 42
Closest Major City: Worcester
Households with kids: 24.8%
More on Bellows Falls: Data
/10
Population: 2,005
Median Income: $71,372
Average Home Price: $298,200
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 61
Closest Major City: Worcester
Households with kids: 18.7%
More on Bristol: Data
/10
Population: 2,732
Median Income: $71,307
Average Home Price: $210,000
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 33
Closest Major City: Worcester
Households with kids: 34.1%
More on Swanton: Data
/10
Population: 7,793
Median Income: $46,972
Average Home Price: $239,500
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 48
Closest Major City: Worcester
Households with kids: 25.0%
More on Brattleboro: Data
/10
Population: 2,435
Median Income: $65,898
Average Home Price: $163,000
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 40
Closest Major City: Worcester
Households with kids: 20.3%
More on Fair Haven: Data
/10
Population: 20,488
Median Income: $97,229
Average Home Price: $399,600
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 32
Closest Major City: Worcester
Households with kids: 25.7%
More on South Burlington: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in Vermont anyways?
To give you the places in Vermont that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of Vermont, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 2,000 people. For Vermont, that meant a total of 20 cities.
We updated this article for 2025. This is our tenth time ranking the best cities for families in Vermont.
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In Vermont
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in Vermont ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in Vermont are Middlebury, Montpelier, Vergennes, Shelburne, Bellows Falls, Bristol, Swanton, Brattleboro, Fair Haven, and South Burlington.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles Vermont according to the data:
- St. Albans
- Newport
- St. Johnsbury
For more Vermont reading, check out:
Best Places For Families In Vermont
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middlebury, VT | 7,145 | $74,900 | $388,100 | 48 |
| 2 | Montpelier, VT | 8,038 | $79,175 | $349,200 | 53 |
| 3 | Vergennes, VT | 2,571 | $85,417 | $263,500 | 58 |
| 4 | Shelburne, VT | 6,292 | $106,187 | $496,700 | 44 |
| 5 | Bellows Falls, VT | 2,851 | $54,836 | $176,000 | 43 |
| 6 | Bristol, VT | 2,005 | $71,372 | $298,200 | 53 |
| 7 | Swanton, VT | 2,732 | $71,307 | $210,000 | 59 |
| 8 | Brattleboro, VT | 7,793 | $46,972 | $239,500 | 52 |
| 9 | Fair Haven, VT | 2,435 | $65,898 | $163,000 | 50 |
| 10 | South Burlington, VT | 20,488 | $97,229 | $399,600 | 31 |