Staff report
Travel + Leisure magazine named Rutland No. 7 of its Top 12 best small towns to live in the U.S.
“These small towns are some of the country’s most sought-after communities to call home, according to real estate experts,” the article stated.
The magazine classifies “small towns” as those with less than 25,000 residents. Rutland has a population of about 15,000.
The article stated: “In 2020, almost half of Americans said they preferred to live in a small or rural town, a significant increase since 2018, according to a Gallup Poll.
“The best small towns in America provide residents with many of the amenities and conveniences of larger urban areas, like hospitals, schools, cultural and sports activities, and entertainment. And while those often come at a much smaller scale, the benefits of living in a small town are many — a stronger sense of community, tranquility, less stress, and often a much more scenic setting immersed in 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 farmers’ market open year-round, a major supermarket, a department store, and an active business hub.
When extrapolating on the reason Rutland made the list at No. 7, author Dobrina Zhekova quoted Freddie Ann Bohlig, a local real estate agent at Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty, who said: “The beautiful skyline of landmark buildings, set against the backdrop of the stunning Green Mountains, consistently leaves newcomers in awe. But, it’s the people that make this gem of a place so special, so friendly, and always looking to help.”
Rutland is “conveniently located near the largest ski area in the northeast [Killington Resort] and the largest freshwater lake in Vermont [Lake Bomoseen], offering a wide range of activities that cater to diverse lifestyles,” added Bohlig.
While Rutland (like all of Vermont) gained popularity with families and young professionals during the Covid-19 pandemic, housing has remained relatively affordable, with median home values just below $270,000, according to Bohlig.
