Johnson is a small town with a rural feel in the Green Mountains
Johnson is a small town along the Lamoille River in the Green Mountains, giving residents great views and recreation options. The town is also home to a Vermont State University campus, and many of the town's 3,500 residents are connected to the university or Smugglers' Notch Resort. “You have people who fall in love with Vermont, and they buy a home in Johnson. A lot of people who work at the resort live in Johnson, and college students with parents who buy properties while students live there,” says Realtor Penny Mason-Anderson, who works with Pall Spera Company Realtors and has about two decades of experience in the region. The area’s CAP Index Crime Score is a 2 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4.
Long Trail State Forest, Lamoille Valley Rail Trail and more outdoor recreation
In the northwest part of the community, Long Trail State Forest provides trails through the Green Mountains. “There’s tons of hiking — a trail called Prospect Rock looks into the valley of Johnson,” Mason-Anderson says. For more hiking and biking, the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail spans 93 miles across northern Vermont. Dog’s Head Falls, a waterfall just south of downtown Johnson, is a scenic stop along this trail. The Old Mill Park also has access to the rail trail, plus a playground and ballfields. Smugglers' Notch Resort, located about 15 miles southwest of the town, is a well-known skiing destination.
Victorians, contemporary houses and ranch-style homes in Johnson
The middle of Johnson is the densest, with streets of single-family homes surrounding the retail hub on Lower Main Street. This village section has architecture that tends to be historical, with farmhouses ranging from $300,000 to $650,000. However, many homes outside this central village come with multiacre lots with panoramic mountain views. Contemporary homes on spacious lots range from $510,000 to $760,000, while ranch-style homes go for about $210,000 to $430,000. Undeveloped land ranges between $40,000 for 1 acre and $90,000 for 2 acres. “We were very desperate for inventory, and now it’s getting better. The prices are coming down,” Mason-Anderson says. She also says that homes near the river have had some issues with flooding.
Johnson Elementary, Lamoille Union Middle and Lamoille Union High
Johnson Elementary School has a C rating on Niche. Lamoille Union Middle School also has a C, while Lamoille Union High School scores a C-minus rating. All high school students must complete a capstone project based on research and then present it to their peers and teachers. Vermont State University has a campus of approximately 1,500 students located about a mile north of downtown Johnson. It offers liberal arts programs, including furniture design and climate change science.
Local shops and restaurants on Lower Main Street
Lower Main Street, a downtown shopping district, runs through the center of the community. Its restaurants include the casual breakfast spot Jenna's Coffee House-Two Sons Bakehouse and Marsala Salsa Restaurant and Bar, which serves cuisines from Italian to Mexican. The area also has many local stores, including Johnson Woolen Mills, founded in 1842. “They create woolen coats and pants for hunting and being outside,” Mason-Anderson says. Studio Store sells art supplies, while Butternut Mountain Farm Store is a gift shop. “It has maple syrup, maple candies and other Vermont products,” Mason-Anderson says. At Johnson General Store, patrons can find groceries and hot food options.
Events, including Lamoille County Field Days and Tuesday Night Live
Every summer the community hosts Lamoille County Field Days at its fairgrounds, located on the east side of town. The fair activities include craft displays, horse shows, arm wrestling and tractor pulls. The Tuesday Night Live summer concert series takes place at Old Mill Park and features live music and food trucks.
A 35-mile commute to Montpelier
Via state Route 12, Johnson is about 35 miles from Montpelier. The town is about 40 miles from Burlington via state Route 15. For bus services, Rural Community Transportation serves the community. For commercial flights, Burlington International Airport is about 65 miles away.
