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 2026. 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 22 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 2026
- Randolph
- Middlebury
- Montpelier
- Shelburne
- Vergennes
- Bristol
- Bellows Falls
- Windsor
- Fair Haven
- Brattleboro
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 2026 is Randolph.
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 2026
/10
Population: 2,007
Median Income: $75,069
Average Home Price: $344,903
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 56
Closest Major City: Worcester
Households with kids: 17.8%
More on Randolph: Movers
/10
Population: 7,220
Median Income: $86,250
Average Home Price: $451,189
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 40
Closest Major City: Worcester
Households with kids: 17.4%
More on Middlebury: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 8,014
Median Income: $81,030
Average Home Price: $414,351
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 43
Closest Major City: Worcester
Households with kids: 23.4%
More on Montpelier: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 6,499
Median Income: $109,583
Average Home Price: $689,015
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 58
Closest Major City: Worcester
Households with kids: 33.4%
More on Shelburne: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
/10
Population: 2,142
Median Income: $73,064
Average Home Price: $389,880
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 39
Closest Major City: Worcester
Households with kids: 18.1%
More on Bristol: Crime | Movers
/10
/10
Population: 2,060
Median Income: $51,197
Average Home Price: $285,515
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 45
Closest Major City: Worcester
Households with kids: 19.2%
More on Windsor: Crime | Movers
/10
Population: 2,537
Median Income: $66,131
Average Home Price: $234,349
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 59
Closest Major City: Worcester
Households with kids: 20.6%
More on Fair Haven: Crime | Movers
/10
Population: 7,657
Median Income: $52,734
Average Home Price: $314,812
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 58
Closest Major City: Worcester
Households with kids: 24.6%
More on Brattleboro: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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 22 cities.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh 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 Randolph, Middlebury, Montpelier, Shelburne, Vergennes, Bristol, Bellows Falls, Windsor, Fair Haven, and Brattleboro.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles Vermont according to the data:
- St. Albans
- Newport
- Milton
For more Vermont reading, check out:
Best Places For Families In Vermont
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Randolph, VT | 2,007 | $75,069 | $344,903 | 47 |
| 2 | Middlebury, VT | 7,220 | $86,250 | $451,189 | 48 |
| 3 | Montpelier, VT | 8,014 | $81,030 | $414,351 | 64 |
| 4 | Shelburne, VT | 6,499 | $109,583 | $689,015 | 35 |
| 5 | Vergennes, VT | 2,565 | $76,587 | $357,848 | 60 |
| 6 | Bristol, VT | 2,142 | $73,064 | $389,880 | 48 |
| 7 | Bellows Falls, VT | 2,891 | $56,086 | $235,015 | 60 |
| 8 | Windsor, VT | 2,060 | $51,197 | $285,515 | 38 |
| 9 | Fair Haven, VT | 2,537 | $66,131 | $234,349 | 44 |
| 10 | Brattleboro, VT | 7,657 | $52,734 | $314,812 | 53 |