In this article, we will explore some of the most liberal cities in Vermont, where progressive ideas and inclusive attitudes flourish.
If you’re looking to move to Vermont and want to know where the majority of Vermonters lean left, you’ve come to the right place.
Specifically, we wanted to know which cities have the highest number of liberal voters in the Green Mountain State.
To do so, we analyzed how the people in each city in Vermont with a population greater than 2,000 voted during the last presidential election. The cities with the highest percentage of voters who voted Democrat were named the most liberal cities in the state.
75.4% Democrat vote · #3 most liberal in Vermont
Located in
Chittenden County, Vermont
Burlington is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the seat of Chittenden County. It is located 45 miles south of the Canada-United States border and 94 miles south of Canada’s second most populous municipality, Montreal. The city’s population was 42,452 according to a 2015 U.S. census estimate. It is the least populous municipality in the United States to be the most populous incorporated area in a state.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
75.4% Democrat vote · #3 most liberal in Vermont
Located in
Chittenden County, Vermont
South Burlington is a city in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. It is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and home to the headquarters of Ben & Jerry’s and Vermont’s largest mall, the University Mall. It is also one in the principal municipalities of the Burlington, Vermont metropolitan area.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
75.4% Democrat vote · #3 most liberal in Vermont
Located in
Chittenden County, Vermont
Winooski is a city in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. Located on the Winooski River, as of the 2010 U.S. Census the municipal population was 7,267. The city is the most densely populated municipality in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is the smallest in area of Vermont’s nine incorporated cities. As part of the Burlington, Vermont metropolitan area, it is bordered by Burlington, Colchester, and South Burlington.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
75.4% Democrat vote · #3 most liberal in Vermont
Shelburne is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. Located along the shores of Lake Champlain, Shelburne is a suburb of Burlington, the largest city in the state of Vermont. Shelburne’s town center lies approximately 7 miles south of Burlington’s city’s center. The population of Shelburne was 7,144 at the 2010 census.
The main settlement of Shelburne in the center of town is a census-designated place, with a population of 592 at the 2010 census. The town is the wealthiest municipality in both Chittenden County and the Burlington, Vermont metropolitan area.
75.4% Democrat vote · #3 most liberal in Vermont
71.1% Democrat vote · #6 most liberal in Vermont
Located in
Washington County, Vermont
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
71.1% Democrat vote · #6 most liberal in Vermont
Located in
Washington County, Vermont
Montpelier is the capital city of the U.S. state of Vermont and the seat of Washington County. As the site of Vermont’s state government, it is the least populous state capital in the United States. The population was 7,855 at the 2010 census. However, the daytime population swells to about 21,000, due to the large number of jobs within city limits. The Vermont College of Fine Arts and New England Culinary Institute are located in the municipality. It was named for Montpellier, France.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
70.5% Democrat vote · #9 most liberal in Vermont
Brattleboro, originally Brattleborough, is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The most populous municipality abutting Vermont’s eastern border, Brattleboro is located about 10 miles north of the Massachusetts state line, at the confluence of Vermont’s West River and the Connecticut. In 2014, Brattleboro’s population was estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau to be 11,765.
70.5% Democrat vote · #9 most liberal in Vermont
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
70.5% Democrat vote · #9 most liberal in Vermont
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Vermont’s statewide median.
On the map
Mapping the liberal strongholds in Vermont
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the most liberal cities in Vermont for 2026
To find the most liberal places in Vermont, we used Saturday Night Science – the argument you’d make at a bar – to find the cities with the most liberals.
We started by making a list of every city in Vermont over 2,000 people based on the 2020-2024 American Community Survey. That left us with 28 cities and towns.
We then measured the voting record and MIT election data to determine which places lean the most leftward in their allegiances by:
- Percentage Of Votes For Democratic President In 2020
Because no voting data exists at the city level, we used county-level election results from the 2020 election. We assigned every city in a county the percentage of votes that went to the Democrats, effectively extending the county’s results to the city level. In cases where larger cities encompassed an entire county, the election outcomes accurately reflected the city’s political landscape.
The winner, Burlington, is “The Most liberal City in Vermont For 2026”. The most conservative place in Vermont was Newport.
We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the most liberal places to live in Vermont.
The full plate
Most Liberal Places In Vermont
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Population | % Liberal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Burlington | 44,675 | 75.4% |
| 3 | South Burlington | 20,756 | 75.4% |
| 3 | Winooski | 8,293 | 75.4% |
| 3 | Shelburne | 6,499 | 75.4% |
| 3 | Milton | 3,555 | 75.4% |
| 6 | Barre | 8,412 | 71.1% |
| 6 | Montpelier | 8,014 | 71.1% |
| 9 | Brattleboro | 7,657 | 70.5% |
| 9 | Bellows Falls | 2,891 | 70.5% |
| 9 | West Brattleboro | 2,749 | 70.5% |
| 11 | Morrisville | 2,664 | 68.7% |
| 13 | Windsor | 2,060 | 68.2% |
| 13 | Wilder | 3,087 | 68.2% |
| 13 | Springfield | 4,237 | 68.2% |
| 13 | White River Junction | 3,364 | 68.2% |
| 17 | Middlebury | 7,220 | 66.7% |
| 17 | Vergennes | 2,565 | 66.7% |
| 17 | Bristol | 2,142 | 66.7% |
| 19 | Bennington | 9,245 | 61.3% |
| 19 | Manchester Center | 2,037 | 61.3% |
| 21 | St. Johnsbury | 5,859 | 56.3% |
| 22 | Randolph | 2,007 | 56.1% |
| 24 | Rutland | 15,712 | 53.9% |
| 24 | Fair Haven | 2,537 | 53.9% |
| 24 | West Rutland | 2,125 | 53.9% |
| 26 | Swanton | 2,670 | 52.2% |
| 26 | St. Albans | 6,954 | 52.2% |
| 28 | Newport | 4,394 | 50.2% |
Source: county-level 2020 election results, U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024. 28 cities with more than 2,000 residents.
Summary
Summing Up The Liberal Snowflakes in Vermont
Well, there you have it, the places in Vermont that have the highest number of liberals per capita, with Burlington ranking as the least conservative in the entire state.
The most liberal cities in Vermont are Burlington, South Burlington, Winooski, Shelburne, Milton, Barre, Montpelier, Brattleboro, Bellows Falls, and West Brattleboro.
If you’re curious, here are the least liberal cities in Vermont. Not sold on Vermont? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
