Staff report
Travel + Leisure magazine ranked Rutland 7th among the 12 most livable small towns in the United States
“According to real estate experts, these small towns are among the most desirable places to live in the country,” the article states.
The magazine defines “small towns” as towns with fewer than 25,000 inhabitants. Rutland has about 15,000 inhabitants.
The article stated: “In 2020, nearly half of Americans said they would prefer to live in a small town or rural area, according to a Gallup poll. This is a significant increase since 2018.
“The best small towns in America offer their residents many of the amenities and conveniences of larger metropolitan areas, such as hospitals, schools, cultural and sporting activities, and entertainment. And although these often operate on a much smaller scale, living in a small town has many benefits – a stronger sense of community, peace and quiet, less stress, and often a much more picturesque setting surrounded by nature that encourages an active lifestyle.”
Rutland has a lively downtown area with mostly locally owned restaurants and shops, a large theater, the state’s only year-round farmers market, a large supermarket, a department store, and an active business center.
To explain why Rutland landed at number 7 on the list, author Dobrina Zhekova quoted Freddie Ann Bohlig, a real estate agent with Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty: “The beautiful skyline with its striking buildings set against the backdrop of the stunning Green Mountains never ceases to awe newcomers. But it’s the people who make this gem of a place so special, so friendly and always helpful.”
Rutland is “conveniently located near the largest ski resort in the Northeast (Killington Resort) and the largest freshwater lake in Vermont (Lake Bomoseen) and offers a wide range of activities for different lifestyles,” Bohlig added.
While Rutland (like all of Vermont) gained popularity among families and young professionals during the Covid-19 pandemic, housing has remained relatively affordable, with the median home value just under $270,000, according to Bohlig.
