A dialed-down vibe distinguishes West Rutland from its neighbor
Emerald-green mountains surround West Rutland, a small town in western Vermont. As the name suggests, the town lies west of Rutland, the seat of its namesake county. Home to around 2,000 residents, West Rutland is more populous than some surrounding towns but still dwarfed by its closest neighbor. “It’s a different vibe because we’re a lot smaller,” says Stan Jagodzinski, assistant bookkeeper and event coordinator for the Town of West Rutland. “Rutland is technically a city, and we’re just a town.” Marble quarries drew Irish and Polish settlers to the area in the late 1800s, but the industry has declined, and the modern economy depends mainly on Rutland. “That’s more of a sleepy area, but it’s easy to commute to Rutland,” says Lisa Friedman, broker and owner of Great American Dream Realty, who has 15 years of local experience.
Farmhouses surrounded by fields and forests in West Rutland
The Green Mountains and the Taconic Range are never far from view in West Rutland. “As you’re entering West Rutland, you feel like you’re coming into a cozy area because of the mountains,” says Jagodzinski, who grew up in town. Forests, shrubbery and meadows dotted with wildflowers stretch out in all directions. A few main thoroughfares, like Clarendon Avenue and Pleasant Street, feature paved sidewalks, but these disappear as the town center gives way to the countryside. In these rural areas, houses can be separated by half a mile or more. Lot sizes are large, with some homes occupying several acres. The median home price is around $270,000, roughly $10,000 less than Rutland. Ranch-style homes and traditional New England farmhouses start at $150,000 to $300,000, while larger builds on multiacre parcels fetch prices from $350,000 to $550,000. Properties near West Rutland Marsh might be at risk of flooding, especially during spring snowmelt and periods of heavy rainfall.
Hiking and exploring the countryside in West Rutland
The countryside surrounding West Rutland’s town center is ripe for hiking and exploring. “West Rutland Marsh is a beautiful place to go walking and birding,” Friedman says. The Whipple Hollow Trail, located within the marsh, offers mostly level terrain, with wooden boardwalks that traverse the wetland. West Rutland State Forest spans nearly 350 acres of popular deer-hunting ground in the Taconic Mountains. Near the town center, the West Rutland Recreation Department features a playground and a fenced dog park. Rutland Rugby Club welcomes players of all experience levels to foster enthusiasm for the sport. Nearby, The Carving Studio & Sculpture Center offers workshops and residencies to aspiring sculptors. Exhibitions showcase their handiwork, and select pieces are available for purchase. Killington Ski Resort, known as “The Beast of the East,” offers a wintry escape about 20 miles away.
West Rutland School serves students from pre-K through grade 12
West Rutland School receives a C from Niche and serves students from prekindergarten through 12th grade. However, Vermont’s school choice program allows students to apply to any public or private high school in the state. If they attend a private high school, such as the A-rated Long Trail School in Dorset, taxes will cover part of the cost, but families are expected to make up the difference.
U.S. Route 4 leads to services in Rutland
U.S. Route 4, the town’s primary thoroughfare, leads about 4 miles east to Rutland. In the larger city, residents will find Rutland Regional Medical Center and Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport, which offers flights to Boston three times a day. More flights are available from Burlington International Airport, about 65 miles away. The area is largely car-dependent, but Marble Valley Regional Transit District buses stop near Westway Mall on a route that travels through nearby Fair Haven and Poultney.
Groceries and Sweet Caroline’s at Westway Mall
Westway Mall is a small shopping center anchored by Price Chopper supermarket and Family Dollar. Sandwiched between the two is Sweet Caroline’s, a casual diner-style restaurant with a dedicated local following. Mary’s Café is another popular breakfast spot that also serves weekday lunch specials. Guests at The Tavern can shoot pool while sipping draft beer or their favorite cocktail. Another local institution is S.E. Smith, an animal feed store that stocks lawn and garden supplies.
Neighborhood block party on the town green in September
West Rutland hosts a few regular events that bring the community together. In spring, locals gather on the town hall green for a town-wide yard sale, and live bands provide the soundtrack for Food Truck Fridays throughout summer. During September’s annual town block party, Marble Street is closed to vehicle traffic as the town green comes alive with music, dancing, games, food vendors and a beer tent. The celebration caps off with an evening fireworks display.
St. Bridget and St. Stanislaus Kostkas keep cultural heritage alive
Dating to the mid-19th century, St. Bridget was Vermont’s first stone Roman Catholic Church. The church was initially built for Irish workers who came to the area to work in the railroad or marble industries, with a structure composed of marble taken from local quarries. St. Stanislaus Kostkas Church is a handsome brick building on Main Street that serves as a gathering place for the Polish community. “We have two churches under one parish because even as attendance goes down, we try to keep our cultures alive,” says Jagodzinski.
