Best Places to Retire in Vermont: 5 Best Cities for Retirees

The Northeast Can Be a Great Place to Retire for Seniors

Sometimes, all you want as a retiree is to find a nice, quiet place that offers easy living and complete comfort. As we noted last month when we featured the 5 best cities for retirees in Maine, the northeast offers plenty of peace and quiet! That’s why, today, we’re zeroing in on the 5 best places to retire in Vermont.

At Nursing Home Reviews, it’s our mission to help you make the most out of your golden years. Whether you’re still independent, or you’re living in a long-term senior facility, we offer tips, tricks, and guides to make your senior years some of the best of your life. One of these guides is our “Best Places to Retire” series. Read on to learn more about the 5 best places to retire in Vermont.

5: Shelburne

If you’re looking for a place to settle down and just enjoy life, Shelburne is your destination. What makes Shelburne one of the best places to live in Vermont for retirees is the fact that, well, there’s not really much going on! It’s a small town with few attractions, but it’s high on scenery – you’re right on the shore of Lake Champlain – and it’s not overwhelmingly large. You’ll be one of under 7,000 residents here.

Shelburne is low on actual attractions, though the Shelburne museum and Teddy Bear Factory are worth checking out, but you’re close to the big city of Burlington if you need a little nightlife. You’ll also find that you have access to plenty of hospitals and other healthcare providers here. The only downside? Finding a place to rent or buy can be rather expensive. The cost to buy a house averages around $679,583, while the monthly price of rent sits around $1,335.

4: Vergennes

If you’re looking to retire to Vermont, odds are high that you’re not looking for big city thrills. You’re likely looking for smaller bucolic towns that deliver plenty of peace and quiet. Look no further than Vergennes as one of the best places to retire in Vermont.

Those who love to get plenty of exercise and fresh air will find Vergennes to be a paradise. There are plenty of lovely parks and trails for walking, hiking, jogging, and biking in the area, including Vergennes Falls Park and Buck Mountain. You’re also close to a number of excellent hospitals and healthcare providers, and you’re not far from bigger cities in Middlebury and Colchester if you want to explore a more metropolitan scene.

One major concern when you’re looking for a place to retire should be the cost of living in the area. Compared to Shelburne, the cost of living in Vergennes is quite manageable, which gives it a slightly better rank when looking for the best cities to retire in Vermont. The average cost to buy a home here is around $325,000, and the cost of renting a place is around $966. Still a little steep, but more manageable!

3: Bennington

The next stop on our list of the best places to retire in Vermont is the lovely little town of Bennington. Much like Vergennes and Shelburne, Bennington is a quaint little area. The primary difference is that you’ll find more activities in the area than our previous selections.

Outside of the local Senior Center, which offers a plethora of activities for seniors, there are numerous opportunities for you to keep active. You’ll find plenty of the following in and around the Bennington area:

• Walking and hiking trails
• Golf courses
• Tennis courts
• Shopping plazas
• Ski areas

To keep your health and wellness in check, or in case of an emergency, you’re within driving distance of a number of excellent hospitals and healthcare providers. The most prominent healthcare provider and hospital in the area is the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center. This top-rated hospital is also a parent provider supporting 25 other urgent and primary care offices in the area.

Cost of living in Bennington is extremely manageable, which makes moving here a prime reason to retire to Vermont. The average cost of buying a home is just south of $200,000, and the cost to rent a place here is $866 on average. You’ll fare very well in Bennington if you’re looking for a peaceful (and inexpensive) place to live.

2: Rutland

To be honest, it’s tough not to find one of the best places to retire in the United States in Vermont. With plenty of gorgeous scenery and calm waterfront property, you can’t go wrong with choosing to move anywhere in this gem of the Atlantic Northeast. Rutland is a prime example of this.

Rutland is a little bigger than some of the other choices on our list, which means you’ll have no trouble finding plenty to do. Whether you take up one of many senior-focused activities in the community, or you choose to give yourself a challenge at the Green Mountain Rock Climbing Center, activity in this area is plentiful for those who love to be active. You’ll also find it quite easy to relax at one of numerous fine eateries or breweries in the area.

If you find yourself in need of medical attention, no matter how urgent, numerous urgent and primary care providers are located in the area to help. You’re also within driving distance of a large regional hospital in the Rutland Regional Medical Center.

The cost of living and finding a home in Rutland is a little higher than some areas on our list, but still quite manageable. The average cost of buying a home in Rutland falls around $239,415, while the cost of renting sits at around $800.

1: Montpelier

Last, but not least, on our list of the best places to retire in Vermont is the city of Montpelier. Vermont’s capital city offers the best of city and country living in a compact, but thriving, city full of friendly faces. You’ll find plenty of opportunity to relax, and you’ll also find it hard to be bored here.

The top city on our list of the best places to retire in Vermont offers a wide variety of activities for seniors at all activity levels. In one weekend alone, you can visit:

• The Vermont State House
• Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks
• T.W. Wood Gallery and Arts Center
• Fairbanks Planetarium and Museum
• North Branch Vineyards

You’ll also find an abundance of beautiful walking and hiking trails that allow you to immerse yourself in the beautiful scenery that Montpelier has to offer.

As Montpelier is a larger city, you’ll find yourself close to numerous hospitals and healthcare providers, including:

• The Central Vermont Medical Center
• Montpelier Health Center
• Copley Hospital

Given that Montpelier is a bigger city than the rest of the picks on our list, it’s to be expected that cost of living would be a little higher. Though it can seem rather steep, the cost of living and buying a home here actually isn’t too bad. The median average cost of buying a home in Montpelier is around $365,000, while the cost to rent a place to live is around $1,060.

Find a Place That Best Suits Your Lifestyle

As always, the list that we’ve compiled is by no means a comprehensive or exhaustive listing of great places to retire. At Nursing Home Reviews, it is our mission to help you find a great place to spend your golden years by offering suggestions based on our own research and discovery. The areas we’ve found are certainly some of the best places to retire in Vermont, but you may find a different city or town that suits your needs.

While the cost of living is manageable, you may be looking to shed the responsibilities of being a homeowner once you’ve decided to retire. You’ll find plenty of great retirement and senior living options just by looking at our site. Sign up for free today to begin discovering retirement and senior living communities in your dream location.