Best Neighborhoods in Montpelier, VT

25 neighborhoods ranked by safety, walkability, affordability, and quality of life — powered by real data from the US Census, FBI, EPA, and Walk Score.

Population: 8,0302026 Data

Best Neighborhoods in Montpelier, VT — Key Takeaways

The best neighborhood in Montpelier is Pownal Center CDP with a Kurby Score of 94/100. Montpelier has 25 neighborhoods ranked by quality of life data. The safest neighborhood is Middlebury CDP with a violent crime rate of 2.2 per 1,000 residents, 39% below the national average of 3.6. The most affordable is Springfield CDP with a median home value of $139,000.

Montpelier has a population of 8,030, a median household income of $76,143, an unemployment rate of 3.0%, and a poverty rate of 6.4%. The median home value citywide is $326,800, which is 16% above the national average of $281,900.

Data sourced from the US Census Bureau, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA AirNow, Walk Score, and FEMA. Last updated: March 2026.

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Top 3 Neighborhoods

Middlebury CDP

70/100

Kurby Score

$382,600

Crime: 2.2

Bennington CDP

80/100

Kurby Score

$177,700

Crime: 2.2

Brattleboro CDP

62/100

Kurby Score

$220,000

Crime: 2.2

Complete Rankings — 25 Neighborhoods

Best neighborhoods in Montpelier ranked by Kurby Score, with median home value, walk score, crime rate, poverty rate, and unemployment rate.
#	Neighborhood	Kurby Score	Median Home	Walk Score	Crime Rate	Poverty	Unemployment
	Middlebury CDP	70	$382,600	—	2.2 per 1K	13.9%	5.8%
	Bennington CDP	80	$177,700	—	2.2 per 1K	15.0%	4.8%
	Brattleboro CDP	62	$220,000	—	2.2 per 1K	26.1%	9.2%
4	White River Junction CDP	68	$255,600	0/100	2.2 per 1K	17.3%	4.6%
5	Shelburne CDP	76	$451,800	—	2.2 per 1K	6.3%	4.4%
6	Richmond CDP	71	$285,000	—	2.2 per 1K	4.6%	0.0%
7	Randolph CDP	75	$210,600	—	2.2 per 1K	11.3%	7.7%
8	Hartland CDP	85	N/A	—	2.2 per 1K	14.2%	6.4%
9	Manchester Center CDP	81	$313,200	—	2.2 per 1K	24.4%	3.4%
10	Waterbury CDP	63	$328,100	—	2.2 per 1K	19.9%	2.5%
11	West Brattleboro CDP	71	$210,900	—	2.2 per 1K	21.2%	4.9%
12	Huntington CDP	92	$274,600	—	2.2 per 1K	9.0%	2.4%
13	Richford CDP	77	$151,800	—	2.2 per 1K	22.8%	8.0%
14	Norwich CDP	79	$605,200	—	2.2 per 1K	12.0%	3.8%
15	Groton CDP	86	$164,300	—	2.2 per 1K	14.9%	10.7%
16	Fairfax CDP	55	$345,900	—	2.2 per 1K	23.2%	13.5%
17	South Barre CDP	89	$230,900	—	2.2 per 1K	5.1%	0.0%
18	Pownal Center CDP	94	$227,000	—	2.2 per 1K	2.5%	0.0%
19	Wilder CDP	86	$236,800	—	2.2 per 1K	5.3%	5.8%
20	Bradford CDP	85	$167,700	—	2.2 per 1K	13.0%	4.2%
21	St. Johnsbury CDP	77	$160,600	—	2.2 per 1K	18.9%	4.6%
22	Bristol CDP	80	$273,900	—	2.2 per 1K	12.4%	8.0%
23	Springfield CDP	78	$139,000	—	2.2 per 1K	17.4%	4.2%
24	Hardwick CDP	80	$151,500	—	2.2 per 1K	12.5%	1.6%
25	Brandon CDP	88	$202,000	—	2.2 per 1K	10.9%	1.3%

Rankings by Category

Top 5 neighborhoods in Montpelier for each quality-of-life metric.

Safest

Lowest violent crime rate

1
Middlebury CDP
2.2 per 1K
2
Bennington CDP
2.2 per 1K
3
Brattleboro CDP
2.2 per 1K
4
White River Junction CDP
2.2 per 1K
5
Shelburne CDP
2.2 per 1K

Most Affordable

Lowest median home value

1
Springfield CDP
$139,000
2
Hardwick CDP
$151,500
3
Richford CDP
$151,800
4
St. Johnsbury CDP
$160,600
5
Groton CDP
$164,300

Lowest Poverty

Lowest poverty rate

Lowest Unemployment

Lowest unemployment rate

Highest Income

Highest median household income

1
Norwich CDP
$138,750
2
Shelburne CDP
$102,213
3
Bradford CDP
$95,199
4
Hartland CDP
$93,566
5
Huntington CDP
$85,417

Best Air Quality

Lowest Air Quality Index

How We Rank Neighborhoods in Montpelier

Neighborhoods are ranked using the Kurby Score, a composite quality-of-life index that evaluates six weighted categories based on publicly available data:

Affordability: 25% weight
Walkability & Transit: 15% weight
Safety: 17% weight
Environment: 17% weight
Education: 13% weight
Economy: 13% weight

Each category incorporates multiple data points. For example, Safety uses both violent and property crime rates; Environment considers air quality (AQI), noise levels, climate risk, and flood zone status; Affordability factors in home price-to-income ratio, rent, and electricity costs.

Data Sources: US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), EPA AirNow, Walk Score, DOT National Transportation Noise Map, FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and EIA Electricity Data. All data is updated on a rolling basis as new government releases become available.

Lifestyle & Amenity Scores

Based on nearby amenities, noise levels, and quality of life factors

Parks0/100

Grocery0/100

Dining0/100

Nightlife0/100

Shopping0/100

Healthcare0/100

Daycare0/100

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the greenest neighborhoods in Montpelier?

The greenest neighborhoods in Montpelier by air quality are: Middlebury CDP, Bennington CDP, Brattleboro CDP, White River Junction CDP, Shelburne CDP. Rankings are based on EPA Air Quality Index data.

Which neighborhood in Montpelier has the best air quality?

Middlebury CDP has the best air quality with an AQI of 30. The national average AQI is 42. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.

What is the air quality like in Montpelier?

Montpelier has an average AQI of 30. The national average is 42. An AQI under 50 is considered "Good" by the EPA.

How are green neighborhoods ranked?

Neighborhoods are ranked primarily by EPA Air Quality Index (lower is better). We also consider walkability, safety, and affordability. A dedicated greenery/tree canopy score will be added when data becomes available.

Which green neighborhood in Montpelier has the lowest poverty rate?

Pownal Center CDP has the lowest poverty rate at 2.5% (national average: 12.4%).

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