Danville offers a small-town feel in the rural Kittredge Hills
Danville’s nickname Village in the Hills sums up the community well, with its picturesque location in the Kittredge Hills, a subsection of the Green Mountains. “It's a really nice small town that has some big-town services. It has a downtown with restaurants, stores and a couple of banks,” says Realtor Maurice Chaloux, who works with Parkway Realty Associates and has over three decades of experience in the area. Established in 1786, it gained a reputation for agriculture that has endured to the present, with multiple vegetable and dairy farms throughout its hills. The community’s CAP Index Crime Score is a 1 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4.
Outdoor activities at Joe's Pond and Lamoille Valley Rail Trail
On the west side of the area, Joe’s Pond provides hiking and biking trails with panoramic views of the Kittredge Hills that surround the water. “There are some nice spots in Danville with great views and a lake; there’s quite a summer population in that area,” Chaloux says. This recreation site also has swimming beaches, picnic tables, and bass and trout fishing. Near the pond, the Charles D. Brainerd Public Library is the smallest library in the state of Vermont. Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, on the south side of Danville, is the most extensive rail trail within New England, providing over 90 miles of biking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. “The rail trail goes through the area and crosses most of northern part of the state,” Chaloux says.
Attractions include the Danville Community Fair and the Great Vermont Corn Maze
“There’s great community spirit, sports and a lot of stuff to do together,” Chaloux says. The Danville Community Fair is held in early August. The activities include a parade, concerts and a kids zone with inflatables. “Danville is the only town around that has its own fair in the summer. They support the school a lot and the basketball team – people who don’t have kids come out and support it,” Chaloux says. On the north side of town, the Great Vermont Corn Maze can take hours to walk through. “That was one of the first corn mazes in the area and has been very successful,” Chaloux says.
Colonial Revivals, waterfront cottages, log cabins and ranch-style homes in Danville
On the south end of the region, downtown Danville is surrounded by streets of historical single-family homes, from Colonial Revivals to Victorians. Waterfront cottages that overlook Joe’s Pond are on the west side of Danville. Log cabins on multiacre lots with mountain views are sprinkled throughout the town. All of these generally range from $340,000 to $500,000. Ranch-style homes near downtown can range from $210,000 to $350,000, while undeveloped land ranges from $60,000 to $200,000. “Danville tends to be one of the towns that sells better in the area. There’s a lack of inventory, and real estate sells well,” Chaloux says.
Restaurants and shopping in downtown Danville
In the southern half of town, Hill Street serves as a downtown district, with many of the community’s local businesses. Restaurants range from Bentley's Bakery & Cafe, an intimate stop for breakfast, to Three Ponds, an American eatery in a former general store. On the east side of Danville, the Goodfellas gastropub is very popular, says Chaloux, and known for its burgers. The nearby Red Barn Brewing offers plenty of IPAs, live music and pizza. For essentials, Marty's 1st Stop is a convenience store near Hill Street, while The White Market provides a wider variety of groceries about 10 miles east of Danville.
Danville School serves all grade levels
Danville School serves prekindergarten through high school levels. With about 380 students, it has a student-teacher ratio of 8-to-1. It scores a C-plus rating on Niche. The school’s extracurriculars include a book Club, a chess Club and Future Farmers of America.
Transportation, including a 30-mile drive to Montpelier
Via U.S. Route 2, Danville is about 30 miles from Montpelier. The community is served by Rural Community Transportation buses for public transit. The closest major airport, Burlington International Airport, is about 65 miles away.
