Vermont gets plenty of love for its foliage and ski slopes, but one county keeps topping the charts for livability — and it doubles as a cracking travel base. Chittenden County, home to Burlington and around 170,000 residents, just ranked first on Niche's list of Best Counties to Live in Vermont, scoring high on schools, healthcare, outdoor activities and crime rates well below the national average. The catch? It's pricey, with median home values running more than $100,000 above the US norm. For visitors, though, that just means a well-kept, well-fed corner of New England.
The county packs remarkable variety into 350,000 acres between Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains. Burlington, the state's biggest city and home to the University of Vermont, brings indie shops, a lively arts scene in its South End, and classic college-town energy. A short hop away, Winooski — all 1.5 square miles of it — punches above its weight for food, with standouts like Somali-inspired Kismayo Kitchen and the neighbourhood favourite May Day. Nearby South Burlington even ranked fourth on WalletHub's happiest-cities list.
Outdoor options run year-round. Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak, sits an hour from Burlington with serious hiking and autumn views. Winter brings skiing at Bolton Valley and the charmingly local Cochran's Ski Area, while Lake Champlain covers the warm months with beaches and fishing charters. Food pilgrims can also visit Ben & Jerry's headquarters in South Burlington, or its Waterbury factory just east of the county.
Getting there is easier than the map suggests. Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport sits right in the county, and in autumn the Amtrak Vermonter rolls through — arguably the nicest way to watch New England turn. Lodging spans chain hotels and cosy B&Bs through to mountain escapes topping $700 a night. If you want warm weather, aim for mid-to-late July; summer in these parts is short but sweet.
Whether you're scoping a relocation or just want a compact New England trip with cities, mountains and lake all within an hour of each other, Chittenden County delivers.
