A country lifestyle with abundant recreation in Lowell
Located along Vermont Route 100 in the heart of the Green Mountains, Lowell offers a quiet way of life surrounded by nature. “It’s a very rural community, about an hour from Burlington. It’s convenient to Jay Peak and the ski resort, so a lot of people work there,” says Daniel Maclure, a broker with Century 21 Farm & Forest, who has been in real estate since 1984. “There’s a lot of hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and fishing. There are a number of nice, beautiful lakes around.” Home to just under 900 people, Lowell offers countryside living with mountain views on all sides. Route 100 makes it easy to get to larger cities for shopping and dining, while the many trails and recreation areas nearby offer access to all the Northeast Kingdom offers.
Countryside homes and early 1900s dwellings in rural Vermont
Lowell primarily features ranch-style homes and farmhouses, built in the 1970s and ‘80s, and older homes from the early 1900s. "It’s a farm community. We don’t have any McMansions or anything like that,” Maclure says. The village center is at the intersection of Route 100 and Hazen Notch Road, and the houses here are often close together. The older properties include Victorian and Craftsman styles. In the community's more rural areas, homes get farther apart, often on lots of 10 acres or more. Houses typically cost between $160,000 and $390,000.
Hiking, skiing and fishing in the Northeast Kingdom
The Green Mountains offer plenty of recreation around Lowell. Jay Peak Resort has year-round adventure, with downhill ski slopes and 12 miles of backcountry skiing trails. Jay Peak is a popular summer hike, offering 360-degree views of the Northeast Kingdom. The mountain is located on the Long Trail, a 272-mile hiking path that spans the entire state, from the Massachusetts line to Quebec. The trail has multiple access points close to Lowell, including the undeveloped Hazen’s Notch State Park and Eden’s Crossing. Lake Eden Recreation Area has room for swimming, boating and fishing.
Lowell has limited shopping and dining, with more options in nearby cities
The few businesses in the area include the Lowell General Store, which sells groceries, hardware and gas. Cajun’s Snack Bar is a seasonal restaurant serving fried crawfish, alligator and other Cajun dishes. Residents have to make a significant drive for any other shop or restaurant. “There’s a place called Morristown that isn’t too far away that has shopping. It has a bank, hardware store, and stuff like that. It’s about half an hour,” Maclure says. “You can also head north to Newport, which is about half an hour.” Morristown has grocery stores like Hannaford and Price Chopper, plus a Tractor Supply Co. Newport has a Shaw’s grocery store and a Walmart. The East Side Restaurant & Pub is a waterfront eatery on Lake Memphremagog, known for its seafood and Sunday brunch buffet.
North Country schools offer several programs for students
Lowell Graded School serves the community and receives a B-plus from Niche. North Country Union Junior High School gets a C-plus, while North Country Union High School earns a C-minus. The junior high and high schools are each about 20 miles away. The high school has several special programs, including STEM and arts academies. It also offers opportunities like early college, dual enrollment courses and a JROTC program.
Vermont highways lead to nearby cities
Route 100 leads about 20 miles northeast to Newport. Burlington is about 64 miles southwest of Lowell via Vermont Route 15 and Interstate 89. Route 58 leads east to Interstate 91. The closest Canadian border crossing is just over 15 miles north.
Written By
Matthew Atkins
