Small-town community with charming businesses and natural beauty
Nineteen miles northwest of Barre, Waterbury is a small Vermont town with a rustic, farm-to-table dining scene and serene parks with deep-rooted greenery. "I would call it welcoming," says Joan Sabin, a Realtor with BHHS Vermont Realty Group, with over 32 years of experience. "Seems like we're attracting a lot of younger people who are into mountain biking and all the sports," Sabin says. With housing from the 18th century through today, almost every single-family home is unique, adding to the town's historic, charming character. The town is also known for being home to Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. "There are quite a few jobs in Waterbury," Sabin says. "It's a desirable location."
Major employers and Waterbury traditions
Waterbury is home to several big-name employers, including Cabot Creamery, Bridgeside Books and Ben & Jerry's. "Waterbury is where their first [ice cream] factory was built," Sabin says. "When Ben and Jerry owned it, you would get like six pints of ice cream when you paid your taxes." Today, Ben & Jerry's factory is a popular tourist destination with guided tours, and Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard features tombstones with limericks in remembrance of fallen flavors. Many residents also work from home or commute to larger cities, like Burlington or Montpelier, for work,
The Waterbury Rotary Club sponsors community events at Rusty Parker Memorial Park throughout the year, keeping Waterbury tight-knit. In the summer, the Concerts in the Park series features local artists. "The music is free," Sabin says. "There are usually a lot of kids up front dancing. Bring your own chairs and bring a picnic." In July, NQID (Not Quite Independence Day) is a fun tradition with food and fireworks on the weekend before July Fourth. In September, the Hunt for Sunzilla, the Monster Sunflower, is another highlight, where farmers and gardeners compete to see who has grown the tallest sunflower.
Downtown homes with character and large country estates
Waterbury's homes are diverse, dating from the 18th century to today. "The market moves fast, and we have no inventory," Sabin says. In downtown Waterbury, early 20th-century bungalows and Craftsman homes are set closely along sidewalk-lined streets, each with its own size, color and features such as covered porches or witch's hat roofs. There are also a handful of late 20th-century condos and townhomes with minimal, horizontal siding. On the outskirts of town, historic 18th-century farmhouses and 21st-century custom estates on multi-acre, wooded lots are typical. The median home price in Waterbury is about $550,000, compared to $450,000 in neighboring Duxbury and $950,000 in Stowe. "Price is a factor," Sabin says. "You're not going to find anything in Stowe under a half-million."
Academic and athletic opportunities at Harwood Union High
Duxbury is part of the Harwood Unified Union School District, which serves about 1,800 students. Niche rates all of the district's schools B or better. Through the Vermont Dual Enrollment program, juniors and seniors at the B-plus-rated Harwood Union High may take two free college courses at any Vermont college. The school also has a successful athletics department, with the boys' soccer and hockey teams winning state championships in 2024 and 2025, respectively. "There's a lot of community support for [high school sports]," Sabin says.
Trails, parks and green spaces
Downtown, there's a public swimming pool, a playground and courts for tennis and pickleball. Bike trails surround the town, but the 7-mile Perry Hill Mountain Bike Loop is a favorite for its scenic route through mature maple and birch trees. Near the trailhead, there's a dog park and The Ice Center, which is open for skating and local hockey games. There's also the 90-acre Waterbury State Park, where folks boat and fish for smallmouth bass and brown trout on Waterbury Reservoir. "That's open all summer," Sabin says. "Swimming, picnic tables, barbecue grills, kayaks to rent — that's the place to be in the summer, in my opinion."
Dining in downtown Waterbury
Downtown Waterbury is a small, walkable district packed with locally owned businesses, including breweries, bakeries and restaurants for every occasion. Park Row Cafe serves casual brunch fare, like fluffy blueberry pancakes and homemade French toast, while Black Cap Coffee is the spot for a quick latte or freshly baked pastry. "It's a big coffee shop with very nice, decadent coffees and a bakery," Sabin says. Prohibition Pig has dinner and drinks covered with homestyle BBQ fare, and a brewery on site. Hen of the Wood is popular on date nights, offering New American fine dining in a rustic-chic setting. Village Market of Waterbury is stocked with locally sourced and organic groceries. "That's where I shop," Sabin says. "It's very small — you can get in and out." There are more local businesses along Vermont Route 100, including the Cabot Creamery Store and a Ben & Jerry's shop by their factories.
Getting around Waterbury
U.S. Route 2 and Interstate 89 pass through Waterbury, granting easy access to larger communities like Barre, Burlington and Montpelier. Green Mountain Transit buses stop in town, and there's also the Waterbury-Stowe station with train service to major metros like Washington, D.C. and New York City. "We do have a very nice train station," Sabin says. Central Vermont Medical Center is 16 miles away, and Burlington International Airport is 24 miles away.
Snowy winters in Vermont
Waterbury experiences all four seasons. Summers are warm and humid, and winters are cold and snowy, with 93 inches of snow annually. Frequent snowfall means school delays/closures and travel disruptions are common, especially in February, when snow is heaviest. Due to nearby bodies of water, Waterbury is at moderate to severe risk of flooding.
