Charlotte is a scenic western Vermont community along Lake Champlain
In western Vermont, 12 miles south of Burlington, Charlotte is historically a dairy farming community that's now a quiet oasis with some of the state's most coveted real estate. It sits along the scenic Lake Champlain, and the town's five-acre zoning minimum maintains the area's rural character. Former resident and principal broker at LandVest Wade Weathers credits the town's demand to its high-quality school system and stunning natural scenery. "We'd wake up in the morning with the sun coming up over Camel's Hump, which is in the Green Mountains on the east side, and it sets over the Adirondacks on the west," he says. "It's got kind of a western feel with the long sunsets because the lake is out in front of you to the west. It's an active community with engaged people that live there. People that used to use this area as a second home now live here year-round, and that's been a big boost to our local economy."
Five-acre farms along Lake Champlain
"The majority of the town is a high-end bedroom community," Weathers says. "The town's zoning requirements allow for a minimum acreage of five acres, so you have to have a five-acre parcel. We have large lots with lots of privacy." Charlotte has large farmhouse, traditional and Cape Cod homes, typically with three to five bedrooms. The neighborhood's most expensive offerings are its waterfront properties along Lake Champlain. "We lived on the lake, and if you do, you've got this entire world out in front of you," Weathers says. "You can hop in your boat and go across the lake for dinner or to Westport, New York, where they have wonderful restaurants. It's a big lake, and you better have some good seamanship abilities because the waters get rough." Most recent sales prices in Charlotte fall between $500,000 and $2 million.
One of Vermont's top high schools
"There are excellent schools – that's one of the biggest features," Weathers says. "Shelburne, the next town north, and Charlotte share the same school system. It's a very high-quality school system because of the active nature of the families that live here." Students can attend preschool through eighth grade at Charlotte Central School, which gets an A-minus grade from Niche. Afterward, students can continue to the A-minus-rated Champlain Valley Union High School, which ranks on Niche as Vermont's third-best public high school.
Exploring Lake Champlain from Charlotte Town Beach
Charlotte sits along Lake Champlain, the sixth-largest lake in the country. "It's 120 miles long," Weathers says. "You can go from Lake Champlain to Montreal, New York City, the Great Lakes or down the Mississippi and do the Great Loop." Charlotte Town Beach is a waterfront park along Lake Champlain where residents can swim and enjoy scenic views. The park also has a playground, tennis and pickleball courts and picnic areas. Each summer, the park hosts community events, including Music at the Beach and its annual Town Beach Party. Residents with boats can dock them at Point Bay Marina, and William Woods Natural Area is a local forest with a 1-mile trail through oak, maple, hickory and ash trees.
Two village centers and a farm-to-table restaurant
Charlotte has east and west village centers, with the east having two corner stores and the west being a bit more developed. "It's a wonderful village center where everybody catches up on the goings on," Weathers says. "The library, town clerk's office and volunteer fire department are there. At the Old Brick Store, you can get pizzas at night, coffee and really good pastries in the morning and excellent lunches during the day. The senior center is a big deal - there are lots of activities that go on there for retired and older residents." A mile and a half down the road from the west village center, "Philo Ridge Farm is really wonderful," Weathers says. "They have a restaurant and store there, and they grow their own meats and vegetables. It's pretty high-quality stuff, and that's different than the typical rural things."
Getting to Burlington and taking the ferry to New York
U.S. Route 7 runs north-south through Charlotte, connecting it to Burlington, 12 miles north. "Healthcare's in Burlington, and the international airport is in Burlington, which is only 20 to 25 minutes away," Weathers says. To travel west of Charlotte, "There is a ferry that runs across Lake Champlain that gets you over to the Adirondacks and to Essex, New York," Weathers says. "That's very active in the summer. It leaves every half hour."
