Small-town living near Burlington, Mount Mansfield and highly rated schools
About 20 miles east of Burlington, Underhill is a small, rural town in Chittenden County with year-round access to outdoor recreation. Daily life is peaceful in this community of about 3,000 residents, where local farms produce maple syrup, berries and flowers. “Underhill has a really small-town feel,” says Amber Foote, a Blue Spruce Realty broker who grew up in Underhill. “It’s like a true village with its own general store.” Underhill has an overall CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, the lowest possible score.
The town’s outdoorsy appeal lies in its rural privacy and views of both the Green Mountains and Mount Mansfield. There’s something to do in every season in Underhill, from hiking through the woods to skiing at Stowe Mountain Resort. “You can ski, hike, mountain bike, snowboard – and there’s a good school system,” Foote says. “I went to school there and didn’t realize how awesome it was. But people really want to be in Underhill for the schools.” Homeowners are also drawn to the town for its proximity to Vermont’s largest city. “The commute is what makes it so popular: It’s a 30-minute commute to Burlington and GlobalFoundries,” Foote says, referring to the semiconductor manufacturer and major employer in the region.
Hiking and skiing around Chittenden County
Underhill offers outdoor recreation for all seasons. Underhill Town Pond & Park has picnic tables, tennis courts and a pond for swimming in the summer and ice skating in the winter. When it snows, Casey’s Hill is the go-to spot for sledding. Anglers can head to Moore Park to fish in Browns River, which flows through town. Mills Riverside Park is a scenic, dog-friendly recreation area along Browns River with nature trails and a large, covered pavilion.
Nearby Mount Mansfield State Forest spans 44,444 acres and has four state parks, including Underhill State Park. “Underhill State Park is a major local access point to the many trails up the mountain,” Foote says. The public land surrounding Mount Mansfield is a hub for hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The state forest is also home to two popular ski destinations: Stowe Mountain Resort, which accepts both Stowe-specific lift tickets and the multi-resort Epic Pass for access to its 116 trails of all difficulty levels, and Smugglers’ Notch Resort, which offers 78 trails and a variety of children’s programs, from ski lessons to summer camps. People can go ice climbing, rock climbing and bouldering at Smugglers’ Notch State Park.
Single-family homes with forest and mountain views in Underhill
In terms of land area, Underhill is mostly forest, where brightly covered leaves blanket the mountains every fall. Aptly named Underhill sits at the base of Mount Mansfield, the highest mountain in the state, which peaks at 4,393 feet. Homes pointing eastward face Mount Mansfield, while properties pointing westward look toward Lake Champlain and the distant Adirondacks. Farmhouses and ranch-style homes typically sit on several acres, ensuring privacy and space for large gardens. The median single-family home price here is $690,000, though prices can range from $240,000 to $1 million. “There are a lot of nice, old houses,” Foote says. “Some buyers are willing to pay in the millions for an epic view. Less expensive homes might have mold or a basement with a crumbling stack stone foundation.”
Highly regarded public schools are rated A-minus on Niche
The Mount Mansfield Unified School District, rated A-minus on Niche, serves the area. Students may attend Underhill Central School, Browns River Middle School and Mount Mansfield Union High. All are rated A-minus. The high school encourages students to explore careers by shadowing jobs, interning and volunteering.
Homegrown products sold at local businesses in Underhill
There are a few small, local markets in the area, like Jericho Market, which is known for its organic and locally made products. “They have six different organic and beef products from six different farms,” Foote says. “It’s just a joy, like Trader Joe’s, except local.”
Poorhouse Pies is a beloved local pie shop in a log cabin-style building. “They have raspberry rhubarb pie, mushroom quiche, meat pies, hand pies – I walk away with way more than I should,” Foote says. “You tap and pay, so you don’t need to interact with anyone. But you can peek in the windows to see people working on the pies.”
In the summer, Mills Riverside Park hosts a Thursday farmers’ market, where more locally produced goods are sold. The Old Fashioned Harvest Market brings hayrides, food, music and family-friendly entertainment to the town every September.
Driving 20 miles to Burlington
Underhill is a car-dependent area, and there are no public transit options in the town. To get to Burlington, drivers can take State Route 15, which goes through the community, or they can connect with Interstate 89. Burlington International Airport is about 15 miles west, as is the nearest hospital, University of Vermont Medical Center.
Effects of climate change in Underhill
Winters in Underhill are typically cold, icy and snowy. But over the past 50 years, global warming has increased average temperatures across the state, causing shorter winters. Global warming also tends to bring more precipitation, and in terms of natural disasters in Vermont, flooding is the most likely. Effects of global warming have put strain on the region’s fruit-bearing trees and maple syrup industry, and medical professionals say that it may increase Lyme disease cases. In an effort to combat the effects of global warming, Underhill has created a Climate Action Plan, and community members may join the Climate Change Task Force.
