RANK #213 / 1001 NAT · POP 60,017
1YR FORECAST: +0.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +33%
Montpelier, the nation's smallest state capital, anchors Washington County, Vermont, offering a blend of small-town character and natural beauty. Located centrally in Vermont, the county is about a 30-minute drive from Burlington, the state's largest city. Commuting within the county is primarily by car, with an average commute time of 23.4 minutes, though Green Mountain Transit provides bus services connecting towns like Montpelier, Waterbury, and Barre. The region is characterized by rolling hills, forests, and access to the Green Mountains, providing extensive outdoor recreation opportunities such as hiking, biking, skiing, and water activities on the Waterbury Reservoir.
Life in Washington County often appeals to those seeking a balance of peaceful living and access to outdoor activities. The public schools in Washington County are rated above average, with options including Montpelier High School and Harwood Union Middle/High School. The economy is driven by state government activities in Montpelier, along with tourism, insurance, trade, and the granite industry in Barre. While manufacturing jobs have seen a decline statewide, efforts are underway to foster growth in private-sector industries and address workforce shortages.
Washington County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +1.6% YoY, population +0.1%, wages +4.2%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.0x — 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 →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 79/100, Washington County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $83,449 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in VT.
Housing in Washington County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $315,000 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.26, with rents averaging $1,163/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Washington County are both close to flat — population +0.1% YoY and jobs -0.6%. Home values shifted +1.6% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.68% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Washington County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.