11 Nicest Small Towns In Vermont
Vermont, a photographic, sparsely populated, single landlocked New England State situated in the nation’s northeastern corner, is truly a vacation paradise. Turning the spotlight on the forested hills, narrow fertile valleys, the campaniles of white wooden churches, covered bridges, the red-gold foliage-lined pathways in the fall, snowy panoramas in winter, and wildflower-covered alpine pastures in springtime, the Green Mountain State is a place unlike any other. Peppered throughout the state’s impressive 9,250 sq. mi. terrain are innumerable nicest towns tendering a perpetual fusion of stunning natural vistas, local traditions, and neighborliness.
Manchester
Manchester, one of Bennington County’s administrative centers, is located by the Batten Kill River, flanked to the east by the Green Mountains and to the west by the Taconic Mountains. Named for Robert Montagu, the 3rd Duke of Manchester, this onetime iron-mining town and presently a year-round holiday destination, especially for Connecticut and New York residents, lures excursionists with its emblematic white steeple churches. Hildene, the former summer home of Robert Todd Lincoln, the eldest son of President Lincoln and First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, boasts an extensive collection of fly fishing and fly fishing-related items. The 95-acre Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park offers a vast array of recreation amenities. Furthermore, the warm and spring seasons are suitable for hiking the moderately challenging Prospect Rock Trail, while skiing the neighboring Stratton and Bromley Mountains’ downhill slopes is a must during wintertime.
Waitsfield
Baptized after General Benjamin Wait, this scenic Washington County town is set along Vermont Route 100 at the kernel of Mad River Valley, betwixt the Northfield Mountains in the east and the principal range of the Green Mountains in the west. Captivating thousands of travelers with its eye-catching scenery, the Mad River Valley region is also well-known for the Mad River Glen ski area, whose terrain is considered to be the ‘most challenging’ on the entire Eastern Seaboard. Furthermore, check out the beautifully designed products displayed at the Madsonian Museum of Industrial Design, participate in guided farm tours at Hartshorn’s Organic Farm Stand & Maple Sugar House, and relish the locally inspired dishes served at the Madbush Falls Restaurant.
Montpelier
The least populous state capital in the nation, Montpelier, the government seat of Washington County, sits in the state’s north-central area next to the upper Winooski River. Montpelier’s unpretentious appearance superbly conceals the plenteous prolific activities that tourists get to experience here. Even though, the assorted historical landmarks such as the gilded-dome Greek Revival style Vermont State House and the Vermont History Museum - housing the collections of Vermont Historical Society in the Downtown’s Pavilion Building, are some of the main attractions of this town, the wealth of immaculate small green spaces like Hubbard Park, and North Branch River Park proffering myriad recreations are not to be overlooked. Plus, take note of the prize-winning artworks in the T.W. Wood Art Gallery and spectate a variety of plays and musicals performed at Lost Nation Theater.
Woodstock
Windsor County’s administrative capital, Woodstock, is placed along the south branch of the Ottauquechee River, roughly 250 miles away from the Big Apple and a three-hour drive from the Massachusetts capital. Popularly termed the ‘Green,’ the town’s quaint central square is surrounded by carefully restored houses in various architectural styles. When on a trip to Woodstock, do survey the different tourist magnets like the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park - that tells tales of conservation history and the dynamic nature of landscape preservation, the timber-framed Taftsville Covered Bridge spanning the Ottauquechee River in Woodstock’s Taftsville hamlet, and the Billings Farm & Museum - a fully operational dairy farm and an award winning outdoor history museum, which also serves as a venue for the annual two-day Harvest Celebration every October.
Shelburne
Titled as a tribute to William Petty Fitzmaurice, the 2nd Earl of Shelburne, this enchanting community in Chittenden County is situated by the shores of Lake Champlain, with its town center nearly 7 miles south of Downtown Burlington. Vacationgoers on a tour to Shelburne should admire the town’s attention-grabbing Green Mountain sights, luxuriant valleys, and the contiguous painstakingly maintained farms. Consonantly, stop by the Shelburne Museum exhibiting American folk art, Impressionist paintings, decorative arts, American paintings, textiles, and 17th-century to 20th-century artifacts; taste prudently-crafted Vermont wines & ciders at Shelburne Vineyards; and be a partaker in multiple water-based activities along Lake Champlain.
Grafton
Founded in 1754 as ‘Thomlinson’ and later rechristened after its homonymous town in Massachusetts, Grafton is an idyllic community in southern Vermont’s Windham County. The storied heritage of this celebrated stagecoach epicenter for transportation into the New York state capital, Albany, across the Green Mountains, is aptly mirrored by notable properties like the Windham Foundation-owned Grafton Inn (formerly the Old Tavern). Whilst in Grafton, browse MKT: Grafton - an antiquated general store, and Grafton Village Cheese Company producing award-winning hand-crafted cheddar cheese using first-rate raw milk from native farms; besides engaging oneself in diverse outdoor recreational activities in both summer and winter seasons at the Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center.
Peacham
Largely populated by settlers hailing from Connecticut and Massachusetts, Peacham is a picture-perfect town situated in Caledonia County of Northeast Vermont. The National Register-listed Peacham Corner Historic District covers a substantial part of Peacham’s historic village center and stretches further to the west, where architectural landmarks like Peacham Academy and the Congregational Church presently stand. Pay a visit to the historic Elkins Tavern, flaunting one of Vermont’s most unspoilt 18th-century interiors, and the Ashbel Goodenough Blacksmith Shop - among the very few enduring relics of Peacham’s industrial origins, apart from attending the Fall Foliage Day in early October every year.
Stowe
Dubbed “The Ski Capital of the East,” this spectacular Lamoille County town occupies an all-encompassing verdant valley bounded in the east by the Worcester Range and in the west by Vermont’s highest peak - Mount Mansfield and other Green Mountain summits. Wayfarers at this premier four-season resort destination need to pay attention to the town’s outstanding skiing and snowboarding facilities, aside from the over 116 trails on Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak, providing about 40 miles of skiable terrain at Stowe Mountain Resort. The archetypic Stowe Community Church - one of the country’s most photographed churches, the 5.3-mile-long paved Stowe Recreation Path stretching from the Downtown to the TopNotch Lodge, and the Vermont Ski & Snowboard Museum honoring the skiing and snowboarding legacy of the state, are some of the must-see sites of interest.
Weston
Hemmed in by the sylvan Green Mountain National Forest, Weston is a tranquil town in Windsor County, commended for its perfect blend of natural magnetism and historical origins. The National Register-listed Weston Village Historic District of this only 623-inhabitant community encompasses a handful of Victorian era properties such as the Old Mill/Mill Museum, containing early trade tools and equipment used for farming, blacksmithing, cheese making, etc., and The Playhouse - the Weston Theater Company’s original theater that showcases large-scale productions of the Company. Purchase traditional goods at the Vermont Country Store, and attend concerts and other fun-filled gatherings at the Weston Village Green.
Brattleboro
Brattleboro is a Windham County town in the Connecticut River Valley, sited at the meeting of the Connecticut River and its tributary, the West River, approx. 10 miles north of the state boundary with Massachusetts. As one of the most preferred vacation spots in the Green Mountain State, Brattleboro presents an exquisite amalgamation of down-home atmosphere and up-to-date conveniences, featuring museums like the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, gift shops like Penelope Wurr Retail Store, and restaurants like Peter Havens Restaurant in the Downtown Area. Additionally, partake in plentiful recreations at the Gibson-Aiken Center, explore the hiking trails during summer months at the Fort Dummer State Park, and attend the Annual New England Street Food Festival on September 6, 2025, at the Brattleboro Common.
Bennington
One of the two government seats of Bennington County, this 15,333-resident town is located by the Walloomsac River in the extreme southwest corner of the state, betwixt the Green Mountains and the Taconic Range. Christened in memory of the Colonial Governor of the Province of New Hampshire, Benning Wentworth, heritage buffs are allured by the conspicuous early 19th to mid-20th century structures, such as the 35-room Park-McCullough Historic Governor’s Mansion and the Old Bennington Post Office (currently Bennington Police Department) in the Downtown Bennington Historic District. Likewise, the Bennington Battle Monument - a 306-foot-tall limestone obelisk commemorating the American Revolutionary War’s Battle of Bennington, and the Bennington Museum housing an excellent collection of art and regional history, are not to be missed. Those wishing to engage in ample outdoor recreation must head directly to the Willow Park or the proximate Lake Shaftsbury State Park, while foodies must taste the traditional American-style tavern food at Kelli’s Tavern.
From the ski-friendly town of Stowe to the pristinely conserved colonial architecture in Woodstock, each tightly-knit settlement in the country’s 6th smallest and 2nd least populous State attracts tourists with its distinctive enchantments. These appealing towns in the Green Mountain State promise to take your breath away with their unspoiled environments, noteworthy points of interest, pleasing central business districts, farm-to-table gourmet delicacies, top-of-the-line craft breweries, vibrant festivities, and unlimited open-air activities.
