10 Best Places to Retire in Vermont

If you can’t stand having your pancakes without maple syrup, then check out these 10 best places to retire in Vermont, the largest producer of maple syrup in the United States.

Located in the Eastern United States, Vermont is the second least populous state in the United States, with a population of 626,042 according to the 2015 Census. Vermont has a rich history, being one of the 4 states that were independent before joining the United States. The state also played an important role in the Underground Railroad, “network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century enslaved people in the United States in efforts to escape to Canada”. The region of Vermont was inhabited by Native Americans for thousands of years, the Abenaki and the Mohawk being the most known tribes.

The climate of Vermont is characterized by warm summer weather with high temperatures in August and harsh cold winters. Vermont is the 7th coldest state, and it’s often said that it’s “too cold to snow in Vermont”. If you are looking for more hot days, check out our list of 10 best places to retire in West Virginia.

Luckily, the weather is the only thing that can cause you problems, since Vermont is well known for its safety, as it has one of the lowest crime rates in the entire country. Safety, however, comes with the price, making Vermont 16% more expensive than the U.S. average.

To find out the 10 best places to retire in Vermont we took all the places with a population greater than 5,000 in the state according to Area Vibes. Using Sperling’s Best Places and U.S. Census, we checked the number of physicians per capita (100,000), crime rates, the number of residents aged 65 years and over, and the cost of living in each of these places. Each place earned points based on the factors and after summing up the scores, we obtained our list.

10. St. Albans

Retirement Score: 17
Cost of Living: 5% more expensive U.S. average
Physicians per Capita: 128
Crime Rates: 52
Residents Aged 65 and Over: 12%

St. Albans embraced the maple syrup tradition and is known as “Maple Syrup Capital of the World”. Every year, Vermont Maple Festival is held and accompanied by “exhibits, demonstrations, entertainment, a craft show, and more, all dedicated to maple syrup”.

9. Montpelier

Retirement Score: 18
Cost of Living: 15% more expensive U.S. average
Physicians per Capita: 250
Crime Rates: 50.3
Residents Aged 65 and Over: 15.3%

If you want to be close to all major happenings, then capital of Vermont is your best pick. You will have everything you need within the city limits, from parks to museum and art galleries. The only downside is a long and cold winter.

8. Middlebury

Retirement Score: 20
Cost of Living: 20% more expensive U.S. average
Physicians per Capita: 255
Crime Rates: 46.6
Residents Aged 65 and Over: 14%

Middlebury ranks 8th on our list of best places to retire in Vermont. It is a typical small American town, but there is always something happening here. The music is a special point of interest, with many music festivals, featuring both classic and modern music, held frequently.

7. Brattleboro

Retirement Score: 20
Cost of Living: 24% more expensive U.S. average
Physicians per Capita: 276
Crime Rates: 56.6
Residents Aged 65 and Over: 15.9%

If you don’t like the snow in November and April, maybe Brattleboro isn’t your place. However, if this is not a problem for you, you will be awarded a long and hot summer, that can be enjoyed in one of many Brattleboro’s parks and recreation sites.

6. Essex Junction

Retirement Score: 23
Cost of Living: 23% more expensive U.S. average
Physicians per Capita: 685
Crime Rates: 31.9
Residents Aged 65 and Over: 11.2%

“A village full of life and rich with cultural and educational programs and art exhibits” may be the best way to describe Essex Junction. If you don’t want to spend your retirement in the city, why not choose a village?

5. Barre

Retirement Score: 23
Cost of Living: 3% more expensive U.S. average
Physicians per Capita: 250
Crime Rates: 53.9
Residents Aged 65 and Over: 15.4%

Barre is a choice for those who want to retire in Vermont but are also cautious about their budget. With one of the lowest cost of living on our list of 10 best places to retire in Vermont, Barre presents a tempting location to spend your retirement days in a growing community. An interesting fact – Barre proclaimed itself as  “Granite Center of the World”.

4. South Burlington

Retirement Score: 28
Cost of Living: 21% more expensive U.S. average
Physicians per Capita: 685
Crime Rates: 43.6
Residents Aged 65 and Over: 16.1%

South Burlington is situated between Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains and presents a perfect opportunity for both nature and water recreation. If this isn’t enough, maybe the fact that the biggest mall in the state of Vermont is located in South Burlington will do the trick.

3. Rutland

Retirement Score: 28
Cost of Living: 5% more expensive U.S. average
Physicians per Capita: 217
Crime Rates: 48.9
Residents Aged 65 and Over: 17.2%

History and art enthusiasts will appreciate Rutland for its many museums, art galleries and historical landmarks.  Like most cities on the list, Rutland has warm and hot summers, but cold and snowy winters.

2. Bennington

Retirement Score: 32
Cost of Living: 5% more expensive U.S. average
Physicians per Capita: 323
Crime Rates: 47.3
Residents Aged 65 and Over: 20.4%

Bennington offers numerous possibilities and attractions for both its residents and visitors. In historic downtown, you will find great places to eat or shop. North of the downtown is city’s Willow Park, area for numerous activities with a golf course. For indoor entertainment, there is a Recreation Center with an indoor year-round swimming pool.

1. St. Johnsbury

Retirement Score: 35
Cost of Living: 4% cheaper U.S. average
Physicians per Capita: 157
Crime Rates: 33.1
Residents Aged 65 and Over: 18%

Our final entry on the list of 10 best places to retire in Vermont is not only the cheapest place but also one of the safest. St. Johnsbury is well known for its quality of life being named “Best Small Town” in National Geographic Adventure’s “Where to live and play” feature. One small disadvantage could be the fact that St. Johnsbury receives the most snowfall on average in the whole state.