Neighborhoods near Otter Valley Union High School in Brandon, VT

On the outskirts of Middlebury, Cornwall occupies a section of Vermont close to the state line with New York. Lined with a few main roads serving as arteries to the surrounding area, Cornwall is flanked by small, established town parks in Middlebury to the east and by expansive protected natural areas around the rest of the community. “There’s an

As residents drive down U.S. Route 7 into the small town of Salisbury, they’ll pass by grazing animals and quaint farm stands set before the picturesque Green Mountains. “It’s a very pretty, rural town. There is an agricultural community there, and it also has a very popular recreation area,” says Nancy Foster, longtime resident of Addison County

About 13 miles from Middlebury, the small community of Shoreham consists of open fields, apple orchards and a Main Street with a few town offices and churches. “The outer parts of Middlebury provide that classic Vermont countryside charm,” says Mark Duchaine, a real estate broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, who has sold in the area since

A glance north or south down Rochester’s central street reveals distant mountain peaks rising over Italianate buildings and cottage homes. Rugged landscapes and conserved forests lie just beyond the Vermont community’s compact town center. “We’re located in the heart of the mountains, smack dab in the middle of the state,” says Julie Smith,

Chittenden is a small Rutland County town located in the rural hillsides of central Vermont. In terms of geographic size, Chittenden is the largest town in the state. However, despite covering an area of roughly 74 square miles, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that hardly more than 1,200 residents were living in the town as of 2020. Most of the

With serene surroundings and scenic vistas of the Green Mountain National Forest, Ripton has a rich history of attracting long-term residents, seasonal vacationers and writers looking to awaken their creativity. One of its most well-known residents was Robert Frost, a world-famous poet who spent the last 24 years of his life living in Ripton and

Set in the foothills of the Green Mountains, Leicester is a small, rural town of about 1,000 residents. Due to its location, much of the western Vermont hamlet offers mountain views and wooded privacy amid maple, birch and pine trees. “Leicester is right at the intersection of Green Mountain National Forest and Lake Dunmore, both popular summer

Countless small towns dot the mountains of western Vermont, but Castleton distinguishes itself with two key features: Lake Bomoseen — the largest freshwater lake in Vermont — and Vermont State University Castleton, which enrolls nearly 2,000 students. Some New England college towns take it easy when students head home for the summer, but the opposite is true for Castleton. “It’s a small community to begin with, so it’s hard to say for sure, but I’d say the population probably grows by 20 percent in the summer,” says Chris Fucci, president of real estate consulting firm Chris Fucci Associates. Residents of the lakeside community are 15 miles from Rutland, the closest city, and about 5 miles from the New York border. Lake Bomoseen spills across 2,400 acres on the western side of town, with private residences lining its shore. Public access to the lake is available at Crystal Beach, a small park with picnic pavilions, a playground and a

Sudbury’s quiet corner of western Vermont is packed with opportunities to live by and play on the water. Many of the homes in this community of about 500 are lined along the 419-acre Lake Hortonia and are a short drive from other water spots, like Burr Pond. It’s a signature feature of an area known for its tranquility but also close to amenities

Orwell is on the banks of Lake Champlain, whose waters straddle the border between Vermont and New York. The town is exceptionally rural, and best known as the home of Mount Independence, a significant Revolutionary War site. Days out on the lake, snowshoeing in winter, church dinners in town and views of pastureland shape life here. "Everyone

Hubbardton is a remote rural town in western Vermont, roughly 10 miles from the New York state border. The Taconic Mountains dominate the landscape, along with forests, lakes and ponds. The northern branch of Lake Bomoseen, one of the state’s largest, stretches alongside the town’s main thoroughfare. “It’s definitely a place to sit by the lake and

Benson is a small town of about 1,000 people among the rolling hills, meandering streams and farmland of Rutland County. Separated from New York state by Lake Champlain, this part of Vermont is known for its agricultural heritage, as cows and horses graze in open fields next to a mountainous backdrop. “It’s all very rural with dirt roads and lots

Life moves slowly in Pittsford, and that's what residents of the longstanding town prefer. Situated between the rocky ridgelines of the Taconic and Green mountains, the area is known for a lifestyle that centers around the outdoors, from hunting to fishing a hiking. Local history also plays a role here, between historic homes and annual events

Bordering the Green Mountain National Forest, Brandon offers a slow pace of life and small-town living in Rutland County. This rural community has a walkable center surrounded by forests and farms. “It’s the main town in the area, halfway between Middlebury and Rutland,” says Marty Feldman, the owner of Rowe Real Estate who lives and works in

In the foothills of Vermont’s Green Mountains, Rutland is the small-but-growing seat of Rutland County. “If you like the outdoor, arts or food lifestyles, Rutland is a great place to live. I like to call it a lifestyle location,” says Rutland Mayor Mike Doenges. Although the original township was settled before the American Revolution, Rutland’s

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

The Marble Bridge stretches across Otter Creek, anchoring Proctor’s village center and reminding residents of its marble-rich history. The community began as a bustling company town anchored by the Vermont Marble Company, and while it's since become a quiet town of less than 2,000 people, it maintains a sense of historic charm in its marble