Northwestern Vermont

Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle & Lamoille Counties
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Mountains and lakes, movers and shakers

Vermont’s northwest corner brings together businesses, residents, and tourists in a confluence of opportunity and high quality of life. 

Bordering Lake Champlain, New York, and Canada, the northwest corner of Vermont is also its most populous and diverse area. Vermont’s larger towns and cities— Essex, Essex Junction,South BurlingtonColchesterWinooski, and Williston—surround the state’s largest city, Burlington. Towns further to the north include MiltonSt. Albans, and Enosburg; to the east are CambridgeJohnson, and Morristown. To the south are ShelburneCharlotte (pronounced “shar-LOT”), and Hinesburg.  Chittenden County’s entrepreneur game is strong. Long regarded as an up-and-coming tech hub, Burlington is home to scores of start-up companies that leverage the close proximity to supporting organizations like Vermont Center for Emerging TechnologiesHula, the University of VermontChamplain College, and Vermont Tech. Leading tech companies like Global FoundriesDealer.comBenchmark Space Systems, and OnLogic share the landscape with smaller innovators like Packetized EnergyVermont Systemsand Beta Technologies Manufacturers of all kinds can be found in every town in the region, from Revision and Blodgett in Essex to Husky and Advanced Machine & Tool in Milton to Liquid Measurement Systems in Georgia and Superior Technical Ceramics in St. Albans. Food manufacturers like Butternut Mountain Farm (Morrisville)Food Science Corporation (Williston)Rhino Foods (Burlington)Ben & Jerry’s (St. Albans), and Franklin Foods (Enosburg) can be found throughout the region. And that’s not including the many breweries, distilleries, cideries in that area, like Citizen CiderZero GravityBlack FlannelLost Nation Brewing, 14th Star Brewing and more. Most of Vermont’s largest school systems can be found in this region, though small class sizes and high teacher to student ratios are the norm. Higher education institutions offer extensive opportunities for postsecondary 

education, research, and professional development to students, residents, and employers. 

Anchored by the University of Vermont and its Larner College of Medicineyou’ll also find Champlain College St. Michael’s College, and Vermont Tech in the Burlington area. Community College of Vermont has multiple locations throughout the northwest while Northern Vermont University at Johnson is a cultural and educational magnet in the Lamoille Valley region.  

Many large scale cultural, sports, and business events occur in the greater Burlington area with a variety of venues and lodging availableHardly a weekend goes by without an outdoor experience to be had at Burlington Waterfront ParkThe University of Vermont and Champlain College are both popular meeting and event sites. The Lake Champlain Chamber is the go-to resource for information on area amenities. The Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction hosts the annual Champlain Valley Fair—a Vermont summer tradition—as well as dozens of expos, festivals, concerts, and trade shows year round. Collins Perley Sports & Fitness Center in St. Albans is an indoor/outdoor sports and convention facility that draws from far beyond the region.  

The recreation opportunities in this region of Vermont are plentiful. Major ski destinations like Jay Peak and Smugglers Notch are nearby and there are hockey rinks throughout the region. With the majority of Lake Champlain’s 107mile length as a border, boating, fishing, and water sports are everywhere, as are many Vermont state parksKill Kare State Park in St. Albans—with its own 250+ acre Burton Islandand Grand Isle State Park in particular are outstanding places for camping, biking, nature watching, and family vacations close to home. Access to trails on both Camel’s Hump and Mount Mansfield—Vermont’s largest peaks—are close by. The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail—New England’s longest—connects northern Vermont’s most beautiful landscapes. 

Small Towns & Historic Charm

Northwestern Vermont by the Numbers

Population
Median Home Price
Median Household Income
Median Rent
Chittenden County
163,774
$297,900
$73,647
$1,252
Franklin County
49,402
$216,200
$65,485
$999
Grand Isle County
7,235
$274,800
$71,587
$997
Lamoille County
25,362
$225,600
$64,003
$956

Discover Northwestern Vermont 

The diverse and welcoming communities of the Lake Champlain and Lamoille valleys are calling.

Getting Around

Spend more time moving and less time sitting at traffic lights — some towns don’t even have any.

Burlington International Airport (BTV) makes this region of the state easily accessible, as well as via highway and ferry. Green Mountain Transit serves Chittenden County with multiple lines that connect to St Albans, Jeffersonville, Shelburne, Montpelier, Barre, Middlebury, and more. Green Mountain Transit also offers shuttle service throughout Lamoille, Franklin and Grand Isle Counties. Amtrak provides rail service to Essex and St. Albans to New York City, Boston, and Washington DC. Montreal is less than two hours away. 

Thinking about relocating to Northwestern Vermont?

Connect with a Think Vermont Relocation Representative who can answer your questions and help you find the information you need to make your move:

Real Estate by Region

Lists compiled from data published by Vermont Business Magazine.

NORTHWEST

Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle, and Lamoille Counties

NORTHEAST

Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans Counties

CENTRAL

Addison, Washington, and Orange Counties

SOUTHWEST

Bennington and Rutland Counties

SOUTHEAST

Windham and Windsor Counties