8 Charming Vermont Communities To Retire Around Burlington
Vermont boasts being one of the best states to live in 2024 and is known as a safe state for retirees with a low crime rate. Vermont can also claim above-average air quality, access to nature through expansive national parks, and higher-quality healthcare. While one drawback of retiring in Vermont includes taxable social security income and higher-than-average housing costs, for retirees looking for quality, safe, small-town living with various amenities, look no further than the beautiful Burlington area.
Burlington
Burlington has one of the lowest median home costs in the region at $380,000 and is close to seven other remarkable Vermont towns popular with retirees. The town sits on the shores of Lake Champlain and is home to the University of Vermont. The university offers ongoing adult educational opportunities as well as potential employment. Lake Champlain welcomes retirees interested in lake activities like swimming, boating, or kayaking.
Burlington has accessible world-class healthcare facilities with unique support organizations for retirees, including Age Well and the Champlain Valley Agency for Aging. Agencies provide support, transportation, meal programs, and offer social activities. Social activities include dining out at local eateries like the Penny Cluse Cafe or Hen of the Wood, amongst others, within the Church Street Marketplace downtown. Other activities include attending movies or playing sports like pickleball.
Chester
Chester is a two-hour drive from Burlington, with a median house cost of $400,000. The small downtown area is surrounded by wilderness. The town center includes a wide variety of small family-owned businesses, many offering valuable and intriguing antiques, including the Stone House Antique Center and Vermont Picker Antiques. During the summer and fall, get a walk in and find new treasures at the Stone Village Farmers Market.
Retirees wanting to get out into nature can hike or bike the Lost Mine Hiking Trail within town. Another option for a hike or bike is the Green Mountain Flyer Scenic Trail, which starts at the town depot and ends at Bellows Falls. Golf lovers enjoy the local Tater Hill Golf Course. Chester is located ten miles from I-91, making it quick and easy to take the highway and see additional towns or sites in southern Vermont. Chester also hosts a yearly local craft fair near the end of September. In the winter, retirees can snowshoe, take sleigh rides, or take a snowmobile out and tour the countryside.
Montpelier
One advantage of Montpelier is it’s only 41 minutes from Burlington. The median housing cost is only slightly higher at $476,000. Retirees choosing Montpelier enjoy time in nature in this small town near the Winooski River. The cultural scene is a strength with the nationally recognized Savoy Arts Cinema. Exceptional health care is located nearby at the Central Vermont Medical Center. Montpelier provides retirees with an active senior center and access to yearly cultural events, including the annual Green Mountain Film Festival, Winterfest, and free concert series in the summer.
Retirees looking to get into the outdoors find 36 well-maintained walking paths at Hubbard Park and North Branch Nature Center. Montpelier has culinary options from around the world. Find Mediterranean dishes at Kismet or crepes at The Skinny Pancake. Healthcare, food, cultural events, and walking paths for exercise make Montpelier a popular retirement town.
Stowe
Stowe is the perfect resort-style retirement location for retirees with a healthy housing budget and a median home price in the upper $800,000s. The popular town of Stowe is located at the base of Mount Mansfield and is a 45-minute drive from Burlington. Retirees in Stowe love the mountain resort town and are typically avid skiers, snowboarders, or winter enthusiasts. Besides snow activities, there’s plenty to do, including hiking, visiting the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum, or taking in the art at the Bryant Fine Art Gallery. Retirees can try their hand at dogsledding with Eden Ethical.
Retirees enjoy the resort town’s dining options, including the Black Cap Coffee and Bakery or the Cork Restaurant and Wine Shop. During the summers, stroll the Gardens of Stowe or take part in the Race to the Top of Vermont by bike. Retirees can enjoy multiple yearly music festivals, including Music in the Meadow in July and August or the Stowe Jazz Festival near the end of August. The nearest healthcare facilities are in Burlington.
Waitsfield
Waitsfield is a typical Vermont retirement mecca for seniors who can afford a median house price of around $600,000. Waitsfield is a 50-minute drive from Burlington. Waitsfield, like Stowe, is an active resort-style town with two ski resorts: Mad River Glen Ski Area and Sugarbush Ski Resort. Active retirees can also hike, hunt, or fish all in town. For art lovers, there’s an annual Vermont Festival of the Arts in August.
Healthcare is easily accessible in town or nearby Burlington. There’s also a seasonal Farmer’s Market and multiple walking paths. Take a hike and experience the Waitsfield Covered Bridge; nothing says Vermont like a well-maintained historic covered bridge. Enjoy the quiet in this town, which is intermingled with a variety of activities for seniors. Check out the Mad River Senior Center for volunteer opportunities and a wide variety of social programs. Stay active mentally and physically in beautiful Waitsfield.
Middlebury
Middlebury is 52 minutes from Burlington and has a slightly higher median housing cost of $409,000. Located in the heart of the Green Mountains, Middlebury includes splendid views of the nearby Adirondack Mountains. It’s the perfect retirement destination for seniors who love the outdoors and the mountain scenery.
Middlebury’s vast trail network surrounds the town, including the Trail Around Middlebury and the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail. For tennis players, get all the tennis you want at the Middlebury Indoor Tennis Center. Golfers will enjoy hitting rounds at the 18-hole course at Ralph Myhre. Retirees can also find quality healthcare at the Porter Medical Center and participate in Vermont’s Age Well program.
Downtown Middlebury is a historic small town with dining and shopping options, including Two Brothers Tavern and the Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op. Check out the Edgewater Gallery for art showings year-round, or take in the history at the Henry Sheldon Museum. There’s always something going on for seniors retiring in Middlebury.
Essex Junction
Retirees able to manage a $466,000 median home price often choose Essex Junction, just 21 minutes outside Burlington. Seniors in Essex Junction enjoy the high-quality healthcare in Burlington and the surrounding natural areas within the Green Mountains, Lake Champlain, and the Winooski River. Essex Junction also offers retirees walking trails, tennis courts, baseball fields, and multiple golf courses within a 20-mile radius. Essex includes a full-service senior center offering senior programs, activities, and transportation to local events.
Retirees seeking a solid cultural scene attend the yearly Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex. The exposition features music concerts, vendors, and food festivals celebrating the area’s cuisine. There are also plenty of quality dining options in town, including The Firebird Cafe and The Mad Taco. Embrace Essex, get outside, and enjoy the outdoors year-round!
Vergennes
Retirees looking for the peace and quiet of a small town in Vermont often choose Vergennes. Vergennes is only a 39-minute drive from the healthcare amenities in Burlington, but it is not as populated. Vergennes runs along Otter Creek and is close to Lake Champlain. The small community provides a cozy downtown with a cluster of local shops and restaurants like the Northern Daughters Gallery, Malabar, the Black Sheep Bistro, and 3 Squares Cafe.
Living a quiet life costs a bit more, with a median housing cost of around $600,000 for Vergennes. Enjoy all the area offers around Burlington without the crowds and an easy drive home to quiet and cozy Vergennes. It may be worth the price for seniors with a healthy housing budget in retirement.
While on the pricier side, those with a healthy retirement budget may find the right town for enjoying their golden years in Vermont. For a small northeastern state, multiple towns offer a safer-than-average life, an active lifestyle, and top-of-the-line healthcare centers. From beautiful Stowe to quaint Essex Junction, retirees can have it all in these towns, all within a short, 2-hour drive or less to Burlington.
