Greensboro is home to lakes and attractions appealing to vacationers and homebuyers alike
The southernmost town in Orleans County, Greensboro is a long-time vacation destination. “In the late 1800s, professors from Yale and Princeton found their way up here, and there was quite an academic summer community,” says David Rowell, principal broker at Peter D. Watson Agency, who grew up in Greensboro. With views of Caspian Lake, the area’s Highland Lodge still caters to vacationers, as does the community’s 9-hole golf course and small country stores. Plus, nestled as it is in the Northeast Kingdom, the town of just over 800 residents has scenic views of the Vermont countryside, from forests to farmland. “Most people who move here have either spent time on the lake or have vacationed in the area,” Rowell says. “They want to recreate that feeling of when they were here.”
Caspian Lake and other outdoor escapes
Greensboro’s scenic natural areas showcase glacial lakes, lush forests and panoramic mountain views. Surrounded by quaint cottages, Caspian Lake is a tourist attraction in the area. Visitors can boat, sail or fish on the water or sunbathe on the public beach. The historic Highland Lodge overlooks Caspian Lake, offering scenic and relaxing accommodations in the main Colonial Revival building or small cabins. When vacationers aren’t relaxing by the shore, they can head to the 9-hole Mountain View Country Club, which meanders through the scenic landscape. Nearby Long Pond Natural Area spans over 760 acres, surrounding a nearly 100-acre pond that loons, ospreys, minks and otters call home. Visitors can paddle on the glassy water or hike through the picturesque pine forests near the shoreline. Just south of town, the over 250-acre Barr Hill Natural Area has self-guided loops with views of the Green Mountains and Caspian Lake.
Greensboro’s arts and culture, from the library to the circus
There are also many cultural institutions in Greensboro. The Greensboro Free Library has a monthly book club, as well as a large selection of literature, a maker space, meeting rooms and computers. The nearby Greensboro Historical Society was founded in 1977 and preserves the community’s heritage through research and displays. On Hardwick Street, the Highland Center for the Arts hosts events throughout the year, from theater performances to visual arts galleries. Circus Smirkus is an award-winning youth circus group founded in 1987. Every summer, it hosts Smirkus Camp on its 35-acre campus, complete with big top tents, dormitories, a barn for training and a farmhouse. Campers learn juggling, stilt-walking, acrobatics and more.
Homes near water and farmland
Most homes in Greensboro dot the rolling countryside, tucked between mature pine trees or among open fields. Others sit on dirt roads near the shores of Caspian Lake or another body of water. Wildflowers and dense brush sway along roadsides. Greensboro has many historic properties, and Colonial Revivals and small cottages are common. Prices can range from about $180,000 to $1.8 million, depending on a property’s size, age and condition, with lakefront properties topping that range. Homes set back in the woods start around $175,000 and go up to around $550,000; those with views of Caspian Lake start around $675,000. “Values have risen exponentially on the lake,” Rowell says. “There are a lot of second homes in Greensboro.” The median sale price for the area is $910,000, a figure that is more than 200% higher than the 2024 median.
Country stores supply essentials
A few country stores are spread throughout Greensboro. The Willey’s Store sells a little bit of everything: hardware and home supplies, food items, beer, wine and more. Nearby Smith’s Grocery serves pizzas and subs alongside various shelf-stable food items, while Wilson Farm Market is open from May to October, selling a range of local produce, meats, cheese, maple syrup, herbs and more. To relax with a drink, locals can head to Hill Farmstead Brewery, which sits on scenic property with mountain views. For a more traditional grocery store, there’s a Hannaford about 22 miles east in Morrisville and a Price Chopper about 30 miles southeast in St. Johnsbury.
Vermont's school choice program
The Orleans Southwest Union Elementary School District No. 94 serves Greensboro. Vermont’s school choice program allows students and parents to choose which school they will attend, public or private, in or out of state. Some options include the K-8 Irasburg Village School, which gets a C-minus from Niche, and Lake Region Union High School, which receives a B and hosts poetry slams throughout the year.
Getting around Greensboro
Greensboro is rural and car-dependent. Town Highway 1 is the area’s main thoroughfare and leads to neighboring communities. Backroads are the primary way to get around and many are unpaved. An entrance to U.S. Interstate 91 is about 20 miles east from Greenboro's center and leads north-south throughout New England. Due to the area’s seasonal residents and visitors, congestion increases significantly in the summer. “There’s more traffic,” Rowell says. “The population swells two or three times.” For air travel, Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport is about 65 miles west.
Written By
Adreanna DeMarino
