New Haven is a rural area with the utilities of a bigger city
New Haven is a Vermont town made up of mostly farmland, where life is quiet, and yards are large. Apart from a small village center and several solar farms, there’s not much development out here. However, the quaint college town of Middlebury is 10 minutes south, and Burlington is less than an hour north. “We are a rural town, but thanks to our central location on Route 7, most residents still have all the creature comforts like natural gas, high-speed internet and cable,” says John Roleau, the town’s selectboard chair. “We also have a big sense of community. It’s the kind of place where the fire department puts on pancake breakfasts and barbecues.”
Large yards and rustic homes at high-demand prices
The median home price in New Haven is $550,000. Smaller one-story homes can start as low as $320,000, and modern construction on private lots costs $800,000 to $1 million. “Buyers in the Burlington market are reaching as far south as New Haven to try and find more affordability,” says Ray Fortier, a Realtor with Keller Williams Vermont who has over 45 years of experience in the area. “So, there’s high demand and an inventory shortage, even more so than in Middlebury.”
Many of the homes in New Haven are farmhouses with several acres, dating back to the 1800s. It wasn’t until the 1990s that New Haven saw any significant new construction, and even then, homes were still built far apart. Most properties use private septic tanks and well water. Areas around the New Haven River or creeks have a slight risk of flooding.
Small classes at Beeman Elementary and high school technical courses
Beeman Elementary School is located within the town center and serves fewer than 100 students. It gets a B grade from Niche. Older kids move on to Mt. Abraham Union Middle/High School, which receives a C-plus rating. Students can also head into Middlebury to take technical courses at the Hannaford Career Center, including welding, automotive technology or agricultural sciences.
Summertime swimming and winter ski slopes
New Haven’s open woods are used for hunting, the dirt roads are friendly for horseback riders and rocky beaches line the New Haven River. “The river has some of the best trout fishing in the state,” Roleau says. When it gets cold, there are ski slopes less than an hour away in the Green Mountains, and summertime activity on Lake Champlain is a 20-minute trip. “My favorite part of living here is the seasons,” Roleau says. “It’ll be a sweltering 95 degrees and then the leaves start changing in the fall, and suddenly it’s 10 below freezing. In the spring, you can open your window and get that fresh Vermont air coming in.”
The community is focused around a small central village
New Haven's town center has an elementary school, a church, a central park and a public library. There’s also the Village Green Market, a general store and sandwich shop that has been the heart of the community for over 215 years. The New Haven Community Library has more than just books; it offers a summer food box giveaway and free produce from local farms. “Libraries can be really essential, because there aren’t as many places out here where people can get together or find support,” says library director Ruth Bernstein. The local organizations collaborate to plan small events at the Town Green, such as Spring Fling, Halloween and Winterfest.
Home of Vermont’s largest agricultural fair
New Haven hosts the largest agricultural fair in the state, the Addison County Fair & Field Days. This event celebrates all things rural, with five days of animal competitions, tractor pulls, demolition derbies and carnival rides. “When I was a kid, I just couldn't wait to go, and there was such a sense of excitement when I first saw the lights of the Ferris wheel,” Roleau says. “I still see that excitement in my kids.”
Nearby city amenities and commutes to Burlington
U.S. Route 7 is the largest thoroughfare running through New Haven and has the town’s only gas station, complete with a popular Dunkin’ Donuts. Route 7 runs north to Burlington in less than 30 miles. The trip takes about 45 minutes, and the major city has an international airport.
Less than 10 miles in any direction, residents can find grocery stores in Vergennes, Bristol and Middlebury. Middlebury is the largest nearby town, with a hospital and a walkable shopping district. “Between those three towns, you’ve got something happening every weekend,” Roleau says. “And Middlebury and Vergennes have an Amtrak station, so you can hop on the train to go to Burlington or all the way to New York.” The Tri-Town Shuttle offers public transportation to the three nearby towns and has a commuter bus to Burlington.
Written By
Catherine Lashley
