Richest Cities in Vermont (2025)

by Kristen Carney Kristen Carney

Updated: December 17, 2024

Richest City in Vermont

The richest city in Vermont is West Haven in Rutland County with an average household income of $230,774 as of 2023. While exceptionally affluent, West Haven only has a population of 244 as of 2023. The richest city in Vermont with at least 5,000 people is Shelburne in Chittenden County with an average household income of $161,333 as of 2023 and 7,922 people as of 2023 according to the most current Census data available (citation).

Download the newest population data for Vermont cities

Save 40+ hours of searching for data in the deep, dark internet rabbit hole, and get the most current Census income data for all Vermont cities. Sort your Excel file from the most affluent cities to the least affluent cities in Vermont with 2 mouse clicks. Download the sample below.

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20 Richest Cities in Vermont

Rank City County Population Average Income Median Income
1 West Haven Rutland 244 $230,774 $87,750
2 Searsburg Bennington 126 $227,998 $59,375
3 Norwich Windsor 3,643 $200,676 $140,139
4 Old Bennington Bennington 132 $186,453 $154,375
5 South Hero Grand Isle 1,717 $181,272 $137,917
6 Ripton Addison 745 $179,111 $118,542
7 Stratton Windham 445 $169,222 $159,375
8 Peru Bennington 526 $167,797 $123,304
9 Charlotte Chittenden 3,887 $165,858 $136,385
10 Warren Washington 1,985 $163,574 $84,688
11 Shelburne Chittenden 7,922 $161,333 $115,019
12 Weston Windsor 629 $159,206 $120,500
13 Jericho Chittenden 5,089 $155,421 $115,223
14 Woodstock village Windsor 937 $152,316 $103,750
15 Woodstock town Windsor 3,032 $151,974 $123,735
16 Elmore Lamoille 876 $151,541 $107,500
17 Landgrove Bennington 174 $150,835 -$1
18 Waterbury Washington 5,458 $147,242 $109,022
19 Fayston Washington 1,409 $145,426 $108,000
20 Cavendish Windsor 1,404 $144,081 $79,583

Median Income versus Average Income: Which Should You Use?

We usually suggest using median income data – either instead of or in addition to – average income data as a true indicator of wealth. If you haven’t thought about median versus average since your last standardized test, you aren’t alone. Here’s what they are:

  • average is the sum of a set of numbers divided by the count of numbers in the set
  • median is the middle number in the set of numbers
illustation of median vs average

Now let’s say you had the following simplified set of income data.

Household 1: $30,000
Household 2: $50,000
Household 3: $1,000,000

The average income for this set is $360,000. The outlier data point ($1,000,000) skews the average WAY up. Conversely, the average income would be skewed WAY down if someone had an income of $500. The median income for the same data set is $50,000. Outlier data doesn’t skew the median.

Most Business Owners Should Use Median Income

So most business owners should use the median income as a true indicator of wealth, because it provides a more accurate representation of a typical income, especially in areas with significant income disparity.

When Should You Use Average Income

If your target market is high-income households, the average income may be more relevant. This is because the average income can highlight the presence of a higher concentration of wealthy individuals, which is beneficial for luxury goods and services marketing. We’re using average income on this page because using the Census’s highest reported median value of $250,001 could result in multiple ties for the richest geography.

Why do so many cities have a median value of $250,001?

The Census' American Community Survey uses $250,000+ as a jam value for median income estimates to protect privacy, ensure data consistency, and simplify reporting. A "jam value" in survey data refers to a placeholder or default value used when actual data points are unavailable, incomplete, or exceed certain thresholds. We represent this jam value as $250,001 to make it easy for you to sort.

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SOURCES

United States Census Bureau. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Web. May 2024. http://www.census.gov/.

United States Census Bureau. B01001 SEX BY AGE, 2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 12 December 2024. http://www.census.gov/.

United States Census Bureau. B19013 Median Household Income, 2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 12 December 2024. http://www.census.gov/.

United States Census Bureau. “DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS.” 2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 12 December 2024. http://www.census.gov/.

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