RANK #259 / 1001 NAT · POP 60,425
1YR FORECAST: +1.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +32%
Rutland County, Vermont, is often recognized for its access to outdoor recreation, particularly the Killington and Pico ski resorts, which offer extensive winter sports and year-round mountain activities. Located in western Vermont, the county is framed by the Green Mountains to the east and the Taconic Mountains to the west. Rutland City, the county seat, features a historic downtown district with a restored 1912 Paramount Theatre and public art installations. Commuting within the county is facilitated by "The Bus," the largest non-urban public transportation system in Vermont, offering routes connecting various towns and services. The community offers a blend of country roads, quaint villages, and historic centers.
Life in Rutland County appeals to a mix of young professionals and retirees, with a notable emphasis on outdoor activities and a strong sense of community. Educational options include K-12 schools within districts like Rutland City Public Schools and Greater Rutland County Supervisory Union, alongside higher education institutions such as Vermont State University-Castleton. The local economy, historically rooted in marble mining and rail transport, has diversified. Recent economic developments focus on attracting new residents and businesses, with efforts in workforce training and support for startups. There is also investment in expanding affordable housing and improving infrastructure to support manufacturing and business growth.
Rutland County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +4.1% YoY, population -0.1%, wages +4.4%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.9x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Rutland City Housing Initiative (1,000 new units goal)
City of Rutland, Housing Trust of Rutland County, Cornerstone Housing Partners
|
$250M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 74/100, Rutland County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $68,616 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in VT.
Housing in Rutland County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $229,400 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.30, with rents averaging $1,000/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Rutland County are both close to flat — population -0.1% YoY and jobs 0.0%. Home values shifted +4.1% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
Not particularly — 1.32% of Rutland County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.