Best counties to raise a family in Vermont
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Vermont using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.
#14. Essex County, Vermont
- Population: 5,972
- Median home value: $132,700 (83% own)
- Median rent: $773 (17% own)
- Median household income: $48,194
- Top public schools: Lunenburg Schools (grade C+), Concord Graded/Middle School (grade C minus), Canaan Schools (grade C minus)
- Top private schools: Guildhall (grade B+), Brighton (grade B minus), Norton (grade C+)
- Top places to live: grade D+
#13. Caledonia County, Vermont
- Population: 30,402
- Median home value: $176,200 (76% own)
- Median rent: $816 (24% own)
- Median household income: $55,159
- Top public schools: Burke Town School (grade B), Danville School (grade B minus), Waterford Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: St. Johnsbury Academy (grade A), Burke Mountain Academy (grade A), Lyndon Institute (grade B+)
- Top places to live: Waterford (grade B), Barnet (grade B minus), Lyndon (grade B minus)
#12. Franklin County, Vermont
- Population: 49,752
- Median home value: $231,700 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,082 (22% own)
- Median household income: $68,476
- Top public schools: Montgomery Center School (grade A), Franklin Central School (grade B+), Georgia Elementary/Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Soar Learning Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Georgia (grade B minus), Fairfield (grade B minus), St. Albans Town (grade B minus)
#11. Orange County, Vermont
- Population: 29,286
- Median home value: $203,300 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,048 (18% own)
- Median household income: $67,906
- Top public schools: Newton Elementary School (grade A), Brookfield School (grade A minus), Westshire Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Vermont Academy of Science & Technology (grade A minus), Thetford Academy (grade B+), Wellspring School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Williamstown (grade C), Strafford (grade A minus), Thetford (grade A minus)
#10. Rutland County, Vermont
- Population: 60,662
- Median home value: $177,400 (73% own)
- Median rent: $846 (27% own)
- Median household income: $59,751
- Top public schools: Killington Elementary School (grade A+), Barstow Memorial School (grade A), Mettawee Community School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Mount St. Joseph Academy (grade A minus), Killington Mountain School (grade A minus), Rutland Area Christian School (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: Mendon (grade B+), Rutland Town (grade B), Poultney (grade B)
#9. Orleans County, Vermont
- Population: 27,317
- Median home value: $173,600 (80% own)
- Median rent: $837 (20% own)
- Median household income: $58,037
- Top public schools: Irasburg Village School (grade A minus), Orleans Elementary School (grade A minus), Lake Region Union High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: United Christian Academy (grade A minus), St. Paul's Catholic School (grade unavailable), North American Hockey Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Derby (grade B), Newport (grade C+), Newport Town (grade C+)
#8. Lamoille County, Vermont
- Population: 25,920
- Median home value: $243,800 (73% own)
- Median rent: $994 (27% own)
- Median household income: $66,016
- Top public schools: Stowe Elementary School (grade A), Cambridge Elementary School (grade A minus), Peoples Academy (grade B)
- Top private schools: Bishop John A. Marshall School (grade unavailable), Mountain River School (grade unavailable), Wolcott Mennonite School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Elmore (grade A), Stowe (grade A), Morristown (grade B+)
#7. Bennington County, Vermont
- Population: 37,235
- Median home value: $218,400 (74% own)
- Median rent: $918 (26% own)
- Median household income: $63,448
- Top public schools: Sunderland Elementary School (grade B+), Stamford Elementary School (grade B), The Dorset School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Long Trail School (grade A), Burr and Burton Academy (grade A minus), Grace Christian School (grade B+)
- Top places to live: North Bennington (grade B+), Shaftsbury (grade B), Bennington (grade B minus)
#6. Grand Isle County, Vermont
- Population: 7,249
- Median home value: $301,900 (86% own)
- Median rent: $1,086 (14% own)
- Median household income: $85,154
- Top public schools: Folsom Educational & Community Center (grade B), Grand Isle Elementary School (grade C+), Alburgh Community Education Center (grade C+)
- Top private schools: South Hero (grade B+), Grand Isle (grade B+), North Hero (grade B)
- Top places to live: grade B
#5. Windham County, Vermont
- Population: 45,811
- Median home value: $222,200 (70% own)
- Median rent: $947 (30% own)
- Median household income: $59,195
- Top public schools: Wardsboro Central School (grade A), Halifax West School (grade A minus), Dover Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Putney School (grade A+), Stratton Mountain School (grade A+), Vermont Academy (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Dummerston (grade A minus), Rockingham (grade B+), Guilford (grade B+)
#4. Windsor County, Vermont
- Population: 57,593
- Median home value: $226,300 (77% own)
- Median rent: $985 (23% own)
- Median household income: $63,787
- Top public schools: Marion W. Cross School (grade A), Barnard Academy (grade A), White River School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Sharon Academy (grade A minus), Mid Vermont Christian School (grade B+), Upper Valley Waldorf School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Norwich (grade A+), Wilder (grade A minus), Weathersfield (grade B+)
#3. Washington County, Vermont
- Population: 59,609
- Median home value: $244,700 (71% own)
- Median rent: $986 (29% own)
- Median household income: $70,128
- Top public schools: Fayston Elementary School (grade A), Waitsfield Elementary School (grade A), Moretown Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Green Mountain Valley School (grade A+), Websterville Christian Academy (grade B+), Orchard Valley Waldorf School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Montpelier (grade A), Moretown (grade A), Waterbury (grade A minus)
#2. Addison County, Vermont
- Population: 37,306
- Median home value: $275,800 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,057 (24% own)
- Median household income: $77,978
- Top public schools: Weybridge Elementary School (grade A+), Ferrisburgh Central School (grade A), Middlebury Union Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Red Cedar School (grade unavailable), Champlain Valley Christian School (grade unavailable), Bridge School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Middlebury (grade A+), Cornwall (grade A), Ferrisburgh (grade A minus)
#1. Chittenden County, Vermont
- Population: 167,523
- Median home value: $331,300 (63% own)
- Median rent: $1,386 (37% own)
- Median household income: $81,957
- Top public schools: South Burlington High School (grade A), Orchard School (grade A), Mt. Mansfield Union High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Vermont Commons School (grade A+), Rice Memorial High School (grade A), Lake Champlain Waldorf School (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: South Burlington (grade A+), Shelburne (grade A), Five Sisters (grade A)
