North Hero hosts natural parks and boating on Lake Champlain
North Hero is a quaint island community in the middle of Vermont's picturesque Lake Champlain. Some buyers search in town for vacation homes or primary residences, as the location makes it a viable landing spot for commuters to Burlington and Saint Albans. Locals can access several expansive natural parks for hiking and camping or go boating and fishing on the lake. Despite its secluded atmosphere, North Hero hosts several local shops and restaurants for residents to explore.
Knight Island State Park by boat or Pelots Point Nature Area for hikes
Outdoor adventurers can journey to Knight Island State Park, off the eastern shore of North Hero. Knight Island is only accessible by personal boat or water taxi and is a popular destination for remote camping and hiking. Pelots Point Nature Area is a wildlife park to the northwest, with three miles of looping trails through ten ecological environments. Hikers can walk through a floodplain forest and spot nests for great blue herons or woodpeckers among the sugar maple trees. The popularity of boating has shaped the infrastructure around North Hero; many locals rent slips to dock their boats at North Hero Marina, while a drawbridge connects the islands of North Hero with Grand Isle to the south. "There's a drawbridge in use to this day in the area known as 'the Gut.' It's a great way to go from one side of the broad lake to the other for anglers or boaters," says Brian Armstrong, a lifelong Vermont resident, operating principal and owner at KW Vermont.
Spacious lots and lakefront cottages around town
Single-family homes range from $350,000 to $800,000, varying by square footage, lot size and location. The island is filled with spacious open-porch cottages along winding, rural roads. Waterfront homes on the banks of Lake Champlain are available and tend to be priced higher. Multi-acre lots, often zoned for shoreline residential use, are also available for anywhere from $60,000 to $200,000.
Local seafood restaurants and farm stores
Most businesses sit along U.S. Highway 2, like Harborside Harvest Market, a local grocery store offering deli sandwiches and fresh seafood. For dinner, there's the North Hero House, serving oysters and lobster rolls. There's also a schedule of live music on the restaurant's pier bar overlooking the lake. Hero's Welcome is a general store in town, selling goods from clothes and candy to wine and deli sandwiches.
North Hero Elementary at home, with school choice options
North Hero Elementary School gets a D-plus rating from Niche. Vermont's school choice program allows students to enroll at any public high school in the state, and a lottery system assigns students when schools are full. Just 20 miles away, there's also the C-rated Missisquoi Valley Union Middle/High School.
Montreal to the north, and Burlington just 45 minutes south
U.S. Highway 2 is the community's main road. It leads north to the Canadian border in 15 miles and to Montreal in 62 miles, which takes around an hour and a half. "Both North Hero and South Hero are strong bedroom communities to the greater Burlington area," says Armstrong. "North Hero is around 45 minutes from Burlington." Commuters can reach Burlington after a 34-mile drive south or Saint Albans in around 29 miles. Plattsburgh International Airport is a 20-mile drive east, and offers domestic flights.
Written By
Maxwell Olarinde
