by Kristen Carney
Updated: December 17, 2024
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).
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 |
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Join thousands of subscribers and receive just 1 (ONE!) email a year in December when the US Census Bureau releases new income data for Vermont richest cities.
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/.
© Copyright 2025 Cubit Planning, Inc.