Downtown Montpelier
Rows of storefronts and eateries line Main Street
Italianate-style arched windows accent the brick buildings that line Main Street, providing a glimpse into the window displays of the city’s many small-town shops and businesses. State Street and other roadways off Main feature even more shopping and dining options. Boutiques like Bailey Road and Althea’s Attic Boutique offer unique women’s clothing and accessories, while gift shops include Cool Jewels and Capitol Stationers Inc. Avid readers browse the shelves at Bear Pond Books or The Book Garden, and music lovers flip through the vinyl records at Buch Spieler Records. The City Center shopping strip consists of art galleries, offices and The Skinny Pancake, a comforting mainstay serving brunch and burgers. The city’s diverse dining scene also includes Hugo’s Bar & Grill and Oakes & Evelyn, a quaint Maine-style raw bar, though eateries range from Thai diners to dive bars. Folks may start their day with a cup of specialty coffee and a sweet treat from Bohemian Bakery or Capitol Grounds and round off the work week with a cocktail and live music at Charlie O’s. For groceries, Shaw’s stocks produce and pantry necessities, while Hunger Mountain Co-op carries fresh foods and specialty items from over 400 local vendors. The member-only market also features a café and deli at its location off Stone Cutters Way.
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Historic attractions in art, architecture and film
Apart from housing the state government, the grand Vermont State House also holds art collections, ranging from paintings to portraits, and historical exhibitions that further display and celebrate the state’s rich past. Free guided tours run daily. Next door, the Vermont Historical Society Museum also features a multimedia exhibit of Vermont’s history, with displays spanning from the state’s early farming days to its industrial era when the capital was a railroad transportation hub. There’s even a replica of the Liberty Bell.Capitol Theatre has been showing movies at its State Street location since 1980, while Savoy Theatre plays art-house films on its two screens in a historic building on Main Street. Across the street from Savory, The Lost Nation Theater in City Hall hosts a stacked calendar of performing arts shows, from plays and musicals to orchestra performances.
Trails and recreation at the sprawling Hubbard Park
Naturally, central Vermont’s verdant landscape provides residents with many opportunities for outdoor recreation. “The central park in Montpelier is Hubbard Park,” says local Realtor and Montpelier native Time Heney. “It’s a lovely, wooded park in the middle of town that exceeds 200 acres, with trails and picnic areas that people just love.” The historic 54-foot-tall Hubbard Tower ascends at the park’s highest point, serving as a stone observation deck. The tower provides an ideal vantage point for taking in the surrounding views of the Green Mountains. Summertime cookouts and picnics are held at the park’s many pavilions, hikers explore the lush surroundings on the 7 miles of paths, and when winter arrives, children swarm to the sledding slope.A handful of pocket parks, such as Guertin and Elm Court Parks, in the downtown district offer additional open green space for walking the dog or getting fresh air, while Blanchard Park offers a wooded respite amidst residential buildings. About a mile north of the neighborhood, Montpelier Recreation Area provides athletic fields and sporting facilities, such as tennis and basketball courts. The park’s baseball diamond is home to the Vermont Mountaineers, a collegiate summer baseball team part of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
Montpelier’s community gathers for its multiple events
Montpelier Alive, a downtown revitalization organization, is at the helm of Montpelier’s robust calendar of events, which fosters its vibrant community culture. “Montpelier Alive has a constant flow of events happening,” Heney says, noting monthly art walks and food celebrations as examples. Every Saturday morning, the grounds in front of the State House teem with local vendors at the weekly Capitol City Farmers Market. An Independence Day fest on July 3rd decks the city out in red, white and blue, while Montpelier Mayfest celebrates the capital with various family-friendly activities. One of the city’s largest and most popular events is the Taste of Montpelier Food Festival. The mid-September weekend-long event features an impressive roster of the area’s eateries, joined by other artisanal food and drink vendors, local artists and live music entertainment.Several other events take place at Hubbard Park, including Parkapalooza, a summer concert series held at the Tunings Forks Stage. Every Thursday evening in July and August, live music from local artists fills the air as kids catch fireflies and families lay out blankets. Almost all Montpelier Alive events are free of charge and open to the public.
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From quaint condos above the city’s stores to historic, stately Victorians
Most of the housing stock Downtown consists of the condos and apartments that comprise the top floors of downtown’s historic storefronts, typically with one- to three-bedroom units. Many other multi-family homes and townhouses dotted throughout the district are converted Foursquare and Victorian homes with colorful facades. Single-family homes Downtown range from modest workers' cottages to stately Cape-style and Foursquare builds. French Classical styles with distinct mansard roofs contrast with decorative front-gabled Victorian homes, which are peppered between multi-family buildings. While condos range from the low $200,000s to the mid $300,000s, single-family homes can list between $216,000 for a minimalistic cottage to $785,000 for a grander French Classical. Townhouses range from $320,000 to $650,000.
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Top-rated academics at Montpelier schools
The Montpelier Roxbury Public School District serves kids in the downtown district. Ranked the fifth-best in the state by Niche, the district earns top marks for academics and teachers. “Montpelier has a good reputation for schools because we’ve invested well in them,” Heney says. Schools include Union Elementary School and Main Street Middle School, which are both located Downtown. Students may continue to Montpelier High School. The school offers a Community-Based Learning program, which encourages students to forge learning experiences through work-based, community-based and service-based projects, such as volunteering and interning. All three schools garner A-minus grades from Niche.Navigating the city by foot, bus and car
Downtown’s small grid of sidewalk-framed streets allows for high walkability throughout the district and some of the neighboring communities. But most residents still rely on cars to get to surrounding cities. Main Street – or Route 12 – is Downtown’s main artery. It crosses the Winooski River and converges with Route 2, which links drivers to Interstate 89. From there, locals reach Burlington and the Burlington International Airport within a 40-mile drive. Some commuters also rely on the Capitol Shuttle, a free bus service that links the Statehouse to the Department of Labor and National Life Group buildings.
Written By
Christina von Claparede-Crola
Photography Contributed By
Matt Barrett
Video By
Taylor Noll
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Lori Holt
Lori Holt
BHHS Vermont Realty Group/Montpelier
(802) 821-8362
127 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Montpelier
$625,000 Price
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Tim Heney
Tim Heney
Heney Realtors - Element Real Estate (Montpelier)
(802) 613-0975
185 Total Sales
4 in Downtown Montpelier
$325K - $1.6M Price Range
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Kevin Casey
Kevin Casey
Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman / E. Montpelier
(802) 821-8792
94 Total Sales
3 in Downtown Montpelier
$325K - $1.6M Price Range
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Ray Mikus
Ray Mikus
Green Light Real Estate
(802) 613-0784
90 Total Sales
2 in Downtown Montpelier
$582K - $675K Price Range
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Lucy Ferrada
Lucy Ferrada
Heney Realtors - Element Real Estate (Montpelier)
(802) 613-0016
212 Total Sales
2 in Downtown Montpelier
$230K - $582K Price Range
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Janel Johnson
Janel Johnson
Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman / E. Montpelier
(802) 636-5498
215 Total Sales
2 in Downtown Montpelier
$215K - $230K Price Range
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Downtown Montpelier | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 3 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 3 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 2 | 4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 4 |
| Burglary | 4 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 4 |
| Larceny | 5 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Downtown Montpelier Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Downtown Montpelier, Montpelier sell after 47 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Downtown Montpelier, Montpelier over the last 12 months is $415,000.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$471,980
Median Sale Price
$415,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$415,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
12%
Last 12 months Home Sales
1
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$207
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
20
Number of Homes for Sale
0
Median Year Built
1900
Months of Supply
0.00
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,083
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,292
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
1,059
Median Age
43
Population under 18
20.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
21.9%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$61,525
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$89,184
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
97.7%
College Graduates
65.4%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
30.7%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
77.9%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
38''
Average Winter Low Temperature
7°F
Average Summer High Temperature
77°F
Annual Snowfall
93''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
59
/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
90
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
College Hill
Historic neighborhood walking distance to Downtown Montpelier
Northfield Street
Sparse suburban community feel just south of Downtown Montpelier
The Meadow
An established Montpelier neighborhood with access to parks and shopping
Murray Hill
A well-rounded HOA community outside Montpelier
Park West
Varied architecture and park access set this Montpelier neighborhood apart
Towne Hill
This Montpelier neighborhood boasts mountain views and proximity to trails
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