Rural Vermont town brimming with community spirit
Though Cabot, Vermont, is most known as the birthplace of Cabot Cheese, the rolling farmlands and rural scenery that make up the town is also home to a close-knit community. “We’re a small community, but we are very welcoming and engaging,” says Jennifer Miner, a Cabot resident of almost 25 years and a current member of the Selectboard. “My favorite thing about Cabot is how much the community tries to serve one another — through volunteers, non-profits, the Selectboard. We have immense community spirit.” Anchored by a small town center, Cabot draws residents to its quaint stores and community spaces for the day before they retreat to the established homes that dot the natural setting. Additionally, the village offers proximity to Montpelier, the state capital, less than 20 miles south.
A range of countryside New England homes
Cabot provides a range of vernacular New-England-style homes, many tucked on larger lots that span the woodlands and rolling hills of central Vermont. Established homes may date back to the late 1800s, while more contemporary homes were built within the last decade. Farmhouses and countryside cottages are most common, featuring bright exteriors and charming details. Most single-family homes price between $120,000 to $750,000, though mobile homes and fixer-uppers can price as low as $50,000. Parcels of land are also for sale, offering opportunities for new construction.
One school to serve Cabot students
Due to Cabot’s remote, rural setting, only one school serves the town. Cabot School teaches prekindergartners through twelfth grades and is the only school in the Cabot School District. The school gets a C overall grade from Niche and emphasizes a personalized education, with a student-teacher ratio of 8 to 1. Cabot School students are part of the Caledonia Central Supervisory Union, which is made up of member schools and offers athletic and extracurricular programs that students may register for. Programs include dance, ice hockey, volleyball, football and more.
Cabot's recreation committee and trails network
Opportunities for recreation abound in Cabot; the town prides itself on an active Recreation Committee, which organizes rec sport programs and maintains associated fields in the town. Youth team sports are available for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade, including soccer and basketball. The committee also hosts a range of recreational events and adult programs. A collection of hiking trails snakes through Cabot’s terrain, creating the Cabot Trails Network. Over 15 miles of trails comprise the network, offering numerous starting points and destinations, such as scenic overlooks at quarries and ledges. In the winter, the Cabot skating rink is a popular attraction for public skating sessions.
Lively local stores, nearby shopping in Montpelier and St Johnsbury
A few locally owned establishments line Cabot’s Main Street. Cabot Village Store fulfills grocery and everyday necessities in its charming location. While Harry’s Hardware looks simply like a general store, the lively shop tells a different story. The half-hardware store and half-bar offers a unique and welcoming vibe and is a big community draw, Miner says. “The Den at Harry’s Hardware always has a lot of free music and entertainment,” she says, adding that people will come to enjoy a beer and a slice of pizza and listen to performers. “They have all different types of music, too. Sometimes it’s larger groups, sometimes it’s a solo, sometimes they’re fairly well-known, and sometimes they’re from the back hills.”
Additional shopping and dining, including big-box retailers, fast-food chains and other local eateries, are located in Montpelier and St Johnsbury, both less than 20 miles away. Montpelier’s quaint downtown district brims with history and character, and features a range of small-town shops, boutiques and unique eateries.
Major routes and other need-to-knows
Cabot’s Main Street, or State Route 215, bisects the town and serves as its main thoroughfare. The main artery connects to U.S. Highway 2, which links locals to Montpelier less than 20 miles south and to St. Johnsbury less than 20 miles east.
Cabot’s ambulance has been privately owned for 58 years, and the fire department is fully volunteer based, Mine says. The town also has its own post office and library, all conveniently located in Cabot’s town center.
Written By
Christina von Claparede-Crola
