8 Best Towns In Vermont For Retirees

You haven't seen Vermont until you've seen Vermont when fall is at its peak. The Green Mountain State will present a scene that is overwhelming in its scope and heart-stopping in its intensity. The color show is a spectacle that words cannot accurately capture. Vermont is dotted with towns that give access to nature at its most resplendent. From the misty rivers of St. Johnsbury to the verdant valleys around Castleton, it is just hard to find a Vermont town without color or character. If you plan to retire in this special state, you will find several beautiful spots that offer quick access to high-quality healthcare facilities, a warm local community, and outdoor adventure right at your doorstep. Starting with Hartford, discover the 8 best towns in Vermont for retirees.

Montpelier

Although home to just about 8,000 residents, Montpelier is Vermont’s state capital. Residents enjoy a robust social and cultural scene mixed with small-town charm. The Winooski River flows through the town and gives the area a rustic look and appeal. Residents enjoy jogging along the scenic Winooski River Walk, hitting up the trails that transverse Hubbard Park, and getting refreshing dips at the nearby Wrightsville Reservoir. In May 2025, the median price of homes sold in Montpelier was $367,500, a quite reasonable price point, especially considering you are in the capital. Central Vermont Medical Center is in nearby Barre and provides high-quality 24/7 emergency care to the central Vermont community. The smallest state capital in the United States, with its beautiful green mountains, deserves a spot among the best towns to retire in Vermont.

Hartford

Hartford is a quaint town with countryside charm and an enticing, small-town ambiance. It is at the intersection of Interstates 89 and 91, which makes it score big on accessibility, and in the Upper Valley region, which spans both Vermont and New Hampshire. Outdoor lovers have ready access to the White River, where one can float or fish, and the Connecticut River, New England’s longest. Hanover, New Hampshire, just 10 minutes away, hosts the iconic Dartmouth College. The college was founded in 1769 and is one of a handful of Colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution. For dog lovers, Hartford has the Watson Upper Valley Dog Park, a nice, well-maintained space for a furry companion to stretch and socialize. According to data from realtor.com, the median listing home price in Hartford was $454,500 in April 2025, well below the statewide average. In terms of healthcare access, Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital in neighboring Lebanon has been recognized for the America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Outpatient Prostate Care Award.

Castleton

According to Safewise, the online safety data site, Castleton is Vermont’s safest town. Even if it lacked other desirable features, that alone would position it as a place of interest. Castleton is quiet and picturesque and surrounded by a rich, pastoral landscape where farming thrives. That means a retiree here will have plenty of fresh food to enjoy, especially at places such as Castleton Village Farmers' Market and Brown's Orchard & Farmstand. The latter has been a staple of the town since 1910. On a different note, the Castleton campus of Vermont State University, one of the town’s defining landmarks, makes the area suitable for those keen on an academically stimulating environment. Of course, the college also brightens up the town’s social and cultural tone. If worried about healthcare access, the award-winning Rutland Regional Medical Center is only about 15 minutes down the road. The median listing home price in Castleton was $499,900 in April 2025, about on par with the statewide figure.

Bristol

Bristol is a safe, laid-back community in an area with great outdoor recreational opportunities, including swimming, hiking, and skiing. There is a lot to keep a retiree busy in summer, such as the annual Pocock ROCKS Music Festival & Street Fair; the Harvest Festival, now in its 26th year; and the Vermont Gran Fondo, which styles itself as the toughest fondo (or long-distance cycling endurance challenge) in the Northeast. The dog-friendly Sycamore Park is a beautiful space with lots of lovely short trails and pockets of open fields. You also have access to the New Haven River, which flows along the town’s southern rim, and Winona Lake, on the opposite side. The median listing home price in Bristol was $410,000 in April, 2025, about $85,000 lower than the state median. Keep in mind that the highly rated Porter Medical Center is just down the road in Middlebury.

Berlin

Berlin is a safe, quiet community conveniently positioned between Barre and Montpelier. Montpelier is the state capital and boasts boatloads of cultural attractions, while Barre, the self-styled Granite Capital of the World, hosts the Central Vermont Medical Center, renowned for its National Life Cancer Treatment Center. The best part is that each of these towns is just about 5 miles down the road. Berlin also scores big on affordability. Houses in the area fetch a median listing price of $405,000, an unbeatable price point, especially considering you have access to two of the principal towns in the Barre-Montpelier micropolitan area. Outdoor attractions in the area include Berlin Pond, Boyer State Forest (it is a biker’s dream), and Irish Hill, a pristine spot with lovely woods.

Waterbury

Waterbury is a small, vibrant community in the heart of Vermont's Green Mountains. If you want to be skiing into your sunset years, few towns in Vermont fit as perfectly as Waterbury. You have ready access to three awesome ski resorts within a thirty-minute drive, including Stowe Mountain Resort, whose first lift opened in 1937 and which is often rated among the top ski resorts in the Eastern United States. The 67-year-old Sugarbush Resort and Bolton Valley Resort, which boasts the highest base elevation of any ski area in Vermont, are the other two skiing venues a retiree can get to on a whim. With water as part of its name, anyone would expect the area to be a water lover’s paradise. Fortunately, Waterbury is true to its name and provides access to the Winooski River, Waterbury Reservoir, and several brooks and creeks. The median listing home price in Waterbury was $424,500 in April 2025. Copley Hospital, the 2025 recipient of the Outstanding Patient Experience Award, is 19 miles down the road.

Brattleboro

If you are in a pinch financially, you can find Brattleboro to be a quick and beautiful solution. Brattleboro is enticingly budget-friendly, considering that houses in the area fetch a median listing price of just $330,000. Compared to the state median, you can save up to $170,000 for a house in Brattleboro versus elsewhere in the state. But not just that, you have the highly rated Brattleboro Memorial Hospital at your doorstep, a long-running establishment with a history that goes back to 1904. You also have the Pisgah State Park, with its miles of scenic trails; Fort Dummer State Park, with its clean, secluded sites for camping; and the under-appreciated Brattleboro Country Club, a challenging layout with the best fairways for miles.

St. Johnsbury

Featured in Yankee Magazine's "2024 Best Places to Live in New England," St. Johnsbury easily qualifies to be among the best places to retire in Vermont. Picture a nice, cultured town with a social life that is enticingly upbeat. Talking of culture, the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, housed in a beautiful building on Main Street, keeps about 100 framed masterpieces. Dog Mountain, 150 acres of sparkling waterfalls, beautiful wildflowers, and snow-covered landscapes, is an unspoiled haven with wonderful carvings and postcard views. The Passumpsic River, a Connecticut River tributary, flows through town. The best part is that you don’t even have to break the bank. The median listing price is a highly affordable $275,000. Also, the award-winning Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital is right in town.

The Takeaway

There are several reasons people love Vermont. These include its fiery leaves, peaceful landscapes, and high culture. You will want to spend your sunset years in Vermont, especially if you love the outdoors. The Green Mountain State boasts an unparalleled outdoor beauty, a feature that only Maine can challenge amongst the New England states. The trick is to pick a town that is close to a good hospital and, of course, one that suits your wallet.