Rural living and outdoor recreation in the town of Mount Holly
Nestled in the Green Mountains of southern Vermont, Mount Holly is a rural town that offers spacious living, natural attractions and small-town amenities. “Mount Holly, like its name suggests, is pretty far up in the hills. It’s got nice views, it’s quiet and it’s remote,” says Alison Cummings, a local Realtor and Principal Broker/Owner of Cummings & Co. Real Estate Services. “People who want to live a little more off the beaten path move to Mount Holly.” According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town covers 50 square miles of land and, as of 2020, has a population of nearly 1,400 residents.
Mount Holly is made up of several individual villages: Belmont is the town’s primary village, and others include Healdville, Hortonville and Tarbellville. Mount Holly borders the back of Okemo Mountain; the mountain’s front side was developed into a destination resort for skiing in the winter and mountain biking and hiking in the summer. Nine miles southeast of Mount Holly, the town of Ludlow abuts Okemo Mountain’s resort side. While proximity to the resort is undoubtedly one of Mount Holly’s highlights, the town is also relatively well-known for being the home of the Crowley Cheese Company, the country’s oldest operational cheese factory. Only 14 miles northwest is Rutland, an urban hub with a wide range of commercial businesses. “Despite being so rural, Mount Holly is actually in a pretty good location at the midway point between Rutland and Ludlow,” Cummings says. The town has an overall CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, the lowest possible index score and significantly lower than the national average overall score of 4.
Historic homes meet new construction
Single-family homes in Mount Holly cover a wide range of build years, housing styles, lot sizes and home prices. Some of Mount Holly’s houses date back to the early 1800s, while others were built as recently as 2024. Property acreage also varies greatly, but residents generally live on ample lots full of trees and foliage that offer an extra layer of privacy. Ranch homes, farmhouses, Craftsman-style cabins and colonial styles are typical across town. Most homes here are custom-built, and no two architectural designs look alike. The town’s median single-family sale price is $500,000, but turnkey properties can range anywhere from approximately $300,000 to over $900,000. Larger, renovated estates and high-acreage properties make up the higher end of that range. Those prices points add to the appeal of Mount Holly for many buyers, because the prices are typically lower for comparable homes on the other side of the mountain. “Compared to some home prices closer to the ski resorts, the price point of Mount Holly is a little more affordable. These homes are great for people who don’t mind being a little more rural and want to avoid paying top dollar,” Cummings says.
Hiking, skiing and biking at Okemo Mountain and state forests
Opportunities for year-round outdoor recreation surround Mount Holly residents. Hiking trails stretch across the town’s forests and hillsides, creating a vast trail network interspersed with scenic viewing areas and natural attractions. In the Okemo State Forest, residents can trek to attractions like Buttermilk Falls, a popular waterfall spot along Branch Brook. During the warmer months, many locals like to go fishing and enjoy waterfront recreation at the small lakes and rivers within Mount Holly and its immediate vicinity. As temperatures cool and snow begins to fall, skiers and snowboarders gear up and flock to Okemo Mountain’s powder-covered slopes. Cummings notes that snowmobiling is another popular winter sport in this area; snowmobiling is allowed in parts of the Okemo State Forest and surrounding mountain ranges. Indoor activities are available in the village of Belmont at the Mount Holly Community Center, which combines the local library and a multi-purpose event space.
Schools are overseen by the Two Rivers Supervisory Union
The Two Rivers Supervisory Union serves students in Mount Holly and is made up of two school districts: Ludlow Mount Holly Unified Union School District (LMHUUSD) and Green Mountain School District (GMUSD). Prekindergarten through sixth-grade students can head to Mount Holly School, which receives a C rating from Niche. Mount Holly School encourages students to get involved in the community through volunteer initiatives. The school also has physical education programs incorporating local recreation into the curriculum, like the winter sports skiing program at Okemo Mountain. Green Mountain Union High School serves students in grades seven through 12 and is also rated C. High school students can enroll in Advanced Placement courses and dual credit programs with local community colleges.
Local farms in Mount Holly, supermarkets in nearby Rutland
The “hub” of Mount Holly, as Cummings calls it, is situated around a quiet intersection at the center of Belmont, the town’s primary village. “In the hub there’s a nice little countryside general store that’s been undergoing some renovations, but residents are pretty eager to see it open up again,” Cummings says. “People can go to Rutland for heavier grocery trips, but a lot of basic things – like a gallon of milk – can be bought right there at the general store.” Established in 1843, the Belmont General Store has been a Mount Holly staple for nearly two centuries. This area of Belmont is also home to the town library, volunteer fire department station, post office, Village Baptist Church and Mount Holly Beer brewery. Local boutiques, galleries and family-owned eateries pack Ludlow’s Main Street, which runs up to the Okemo Mountain resort. Outside Belmont, the rest of Mount Holly is dotted with local farms, some selling their products on-site. At Plew Farm, residents can pick up a bottle of award-winning maple syrup and browse other crafted goods. Those looking for more comprehensive shopping opportunities can make a quick trip up to Rutland, home to national retailers, big-box stores, supermarkets and chain restaurants.
Driving through Rutland County
Mount Holly is almost entirely car-dependent, and the only major thoroughfare running through town is Vermont Route 103, a state highway connecting to Rutland, approximately 16 miles away. Rutland is home to an Amtrak train station along the Ethan Allen Express line, which commuters can take to major cities like Burlington and New York City. Mount Holly's only local public transit service is a single bus stop at the entrance to Sawyer Hill Road, which is part of a route between Rutland and Ludlow operated by the Marble Valley Regional Transit District. The closest commercial airport, Albany International Airport, is a 90-mile drive from Mount Holly and takes approximately 2 hours to reach. Sixteen miles from town, the Rutland Regional Medical Center is the nearest hospital with 24-hour emergency services.
