State rankings

Best Counties to Live in Vermont

Compare counties in Vermont by overall score, affordability, economy, schools, safety, taxes, and peace & quiet. Rankings are public-data estimates for comparison and research.

Category highlights

Quick entry points for common county search priorities.

National rankings

Best overall

Washington County

Overall score 68.8

Most affordable

Orange County

Affordability 58.6

Best schools

Chittenden County

Schools 97.7

Safest

Washington County

Safety 99.9

Lowest taxes

Lamoille County

Taxes 28.4

Best peace & quiet

Addison County

Peace & Quiet 85.6

All Vermont counties

Showing 14 counties ranked by the default generated overall score.

RankCountyOverallEconomyAfford.SchoolsSafetyTaxesPeace & QuietTypical homeIncome
1Washington County
FIPS 50023
68.879.54292.499.97.982.4$390,836$83,449
2Orange County
FIPS 50017
66.37958.661.796.48.783.9$325,123$82,232
3Franklin County
FIPS 50011
66.174.547.873.998.61981.6$366,552$81,313
4Addison County
FIPS 50001
65.882.141.995.668.511.785.6$429,581$89,639
5Caledonia County
FIPS 50005
64.873.453.365.699.59.882.4$294,635$69,970
6Grand Isle County
FIPS 50013
64.681.437.7828720.167.4$449,029$97,396
7Windsor County
FIPS 50027
64.374.428.392.399.712.379.7$415,906$77,594
8Orleans County
FIPS 50019
63.763.751.474.198.814.676.1$287,959$70,103
9Rutland County
FIPS 50021
62.769.245.170.399.810.680.1$308,205$68,616
10Windham County
FIPS 50025
62.67032.286.699.59.677$369,559$72,217
11Lamoille County
FIPS 50015
61.874.816.588.295.928.481.7$493,398$74,908
12Chittenden County
FIPS 50007
60.183.128.897.750.513.273.2$511,927$96,759
13Bennington County
FIPS 50003
57.169.235.252.399.215.681.6$368,440$73,325
14Essex County
FIPS 50009
56.254.355.145.796.614.575.5$233,281$59,294