Filters
Filters

Living in Vergennes, Vermont

Vermont’s smallest city, where historic downtown streets, Otter Creek, and a strong local community shape daily life.

ABOUT Vergennes

Vergennes is located in Addison County along Otter Creek, positioned between Lake Champlain, Middlebury, and Burlington. Despite its size, it holds a unique distinction as Vermont’s first and smallest city. The city developed around Otter Creek Falls, where water power supported early mills, shipbuilding, and industry, including work tied to the War of 1812. Today, Vergennes centers around a compact downtown with historic brick buildings, locally owned shops, and restaurants. It functions as a small, self-contained community while still connected to the broader Addison County region.

Vergennes At a Glance

These key statistics offer a helpful overview of what living in Vergennes looks like today.

2.6K

Population

25 Min

Average Commute Time

$85K

Median Household Income

$463K

Medium Home Price

Start Your Buying Journey

WHY PEOPLE CHOOSE VERGENNES

Defined downtown setting

  • One of the few true downtown centers in Addison County
  • Historic buildings, shops, and restaurants in a compact area


Central location

  • Close to Middlebury, Lake Champlain, and Burlington
  • Positioned along key regional routes


Distinct character

  • Vermont’s smallest city with a long industrial and maritime history
  • Strong local identity and community involvement

OTTER CREEK FALLS

In Vergennes, Otter Creek Falls runs directly through the center of the city, shaping both its history and daily experience. The falls once powered mills and industry and continue to define the landscape today.

Rather than sitting outside town, the falls are integrated into it—visible from streets, bridges, and nearby walkways—making them part of everyday life rather than a destination. The falls are often lit at night, creating a dramatic and recognizable visual that reinforces their role as a central feature of the city.

Jane Doe - Burlington, VT

DAILY LIFE IN Vergennes

Residents work locally or commute to Middlebury, Burlington, or other Addison County towns. The city’s location allows for access to multiple job centers within a reasonable drive.

Daily life is centered around Main Street and nearby blocks, where local restaurants, cafés, and shops provide consistent activity. Community events and seasonal gatherings are common.

Outdoor access is nearby and varied, with Otter Creek, Lake Champlain, and surrounding farmland and trails all within a short drive.

 

 

RECREATION & OUTDOOR ACCESS

  • Otter Creek for kayaking, fishing, and scenic views
  • Nearby Lake Champlain for boating, swimming, and recreation
  • Vergennes Falls Park and surrounding green spaces
  • Short drives to trail systems and rural roads throughout Addison County

Outdoor activity is accessible without dominating daily life, offering flexibility depending on how residents choose to spend their time.

Things to Do

Vergennes offers a mix of local activity centered around its compact downtown, where shops, restaurants, and historic buildings create a steady day-to-day rhythm. Residents spend time at places like the Vergennes Opera House for performances, the Bixby Memorial Library, and local festivals and seasonal events that bring the community together.

Dining is part of that routine rather than a separate destination. Spots like 3 Squares Café, Park Squeeze, Black Sheep Bistro, and Shacksbury Cider are all located within a small area, making it easy to move between coffee, meals, and local gathering places.

The focus is less on large attractions and more on places people return to regularly, all within a walkable, connected downtown setting.

Featured Vergennes Homes

Ready to make the move? Here are some recently listed homes in Vergennes to check out.

View All Properties

FAQs about Vergennes, Vermont

Where is Vergennes, Vermont?

Vergennes is located in Addison County along Otter Creek, positioned between Middlebury and Lake Champlain. Its location puts it within easy reach of both inland towns and the lake, while still functioning as a small, self-contained city.

Vergennes is known as Vermont’s smallest city and for its historic downtown centered around Otter Creek Falls. The falls were central to the city’s early industry, powering mills and shaping its development, and they remain a defining feature of the landscape today.

Vergennes is best suited for those who want a defined downtown setting with local businesses, restaurants, and community activity, without giving up access to rural surroundings and nearby water. It appeals to people looking for a smaller, connected environment rather than a larger, more spread-out town.

Vergennes is about 35–40 minutes from Burlington by car, making it a reasonable option for commuting or accessing a larger job and retail center.

Vergennes functions as a small city with a compact downtown, but it is surrounded by farmland and rural towns. Within a few minutes’ drive, the setting shifts from a defined street grid to open land and working farms.

Yes. Activities center around the downtown area, including local shops, restaurants, the Opera House, and community events, along with nearby outdoor access on Otter Creek and Lake Champlain. The city offers consistent activity without relying on large attractions.

Life In Addison County

About Addison County

Franklin County is Vermont’s northern treasure. Located in the northwest corner of the state, it is rich in agricultural heritage, historic traditions, down-to-earth people and natural beauty. Driving through Franklin County you will surely notice the rolling countryside. This quaint region of Vermont allows people to feel at ease, safe, and peaceful. The friendly residents and farming environment truly represent and celebrate Vermont’s heritage.

Franklin County offers a blend of outdoor adventure, small-town charm, and active community life in northern Vermont. With easy access to trails, recreation areas, and cultural venues, the county supports a lifestyle that balances natural beauty with year-round activities for residents of all ages.

Featured Recreation & Cultural Highlights

  • OTTER CREEK A defining feature of Addison County, Otter Creek runs north through the region, shaping towns like Middlebury and Vergennes. It offers opportunities for paddling, fishing, and scenic access while remaining closely tied to the county’s history and development.
  • LAKE CHAMPLAIN SHORELINE Towns such as Ferrisburgh, Addison, and Shoreham provide access to Lake Champlain, with boating, fishing, and shoreline recreation throughout the warmer months, along with views of the Adirondack Mountains to the west.
  • GREEN MOUNTAIN ACCESS Eastern towns like Bristol, Lincoln, and Ripton provide access to the Green Mountains, including hiking trails, forest land, and higher elevation terrain that defines the eastern edge of the county.
  • FARMLAND & LOCAL FOOD NETWORK Addison County is one of Vermont’s most active agricultural regions, with working farms, farm stands, and local food production built into daily life across the Champlain Valley.
  • MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE & DOWNTOWN Located in the county seat, Middlebury College anchors one of the region’s most active centers for culture, education, and events, alongside a downtown with shops, restaurants, and historic buildings.
Discover Addison County

Keep Exploring

Middlebury

Bristol

Charlotte

Burlington Boathouse on Lake Champlain

Burlington

Mad River Valley

Champlain Ferry in Grand Isle Vermont

Grand Isle County

Chittenden County

Franklin County

Explore More Vermont Communitiies

Let's Get starteD

Tell us a bit about what you’re looking for, and a member of our team will be in touch to help you take the next step.

Name(Required)
(802) 863-1500
Facebook Instagram Youtube Linkedin

Greater Burlington

346 Shelburne Rd.,
Burlington, VT

Montpelier Area

2641 US-2,
East Montpelier, VT

Addison County

268 Main Street,
Vergennes, VT

Franklin County

120 N. Main Street,
St Albans City, VT

Mad River Valley

4366 Main Street, Suite 4,
Waitsfield, VT

Copyright 2026 PrimeMLS, Inc. All rights reserved. This information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. The data relating to real estate displayed on this site comes in part from the IDX Program of PrimeMLS. The information being provided is for consumers’ personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Data last updated 04/26/2026.

© 2026 Hickok & Boardman, Inc. All rights reserved. Coldwell Banker® and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Hickok & Boardman, Inc fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. Any services or products provided by independently owned and operated franchisees are not provided by, affliated with or related to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC nor any of its affiliated companies.

Compare Properties

Compare
You can only compare 4 properties, any new property added will replace the first one from the comparison.