The Town FilesBolton, Vermont
Town in Chittenden County · population 1,301 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $311,600
- Household income
- $111,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 69°
- Snow a year
- 235 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 36.3
Bolton is a town of 1,301 people in Chittenden County, Vermont. The median home is worth $311,600, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks better for families than 98% of Vermont towns, better for first-time buyers than 97% of Vermont towns, more upscale than 85% of Vermont towns.
How Bolton ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bolton is worth $311,600, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $111,125, which is more affordable than 92% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $1,299 a month. 81.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bolton | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $311,600 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $1,299 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $111,125 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 81.6% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 16.4% | — |
Who lives in Bolton
| People | Bolton | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 6.7% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 14.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 58.4% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.9% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 22.9% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 27.6 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.0% | 89.3% |
Weather in Bolton
July highs average 69.0°F and January lows 5.7°F. About 81.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 234.9 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 198 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Bolton since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Vermont town. The strongest, an F0, struck on May 31, 1987 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 1987.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 9, 2007.
Severe weather in Chittenden County since 1996
Chittenden County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4810: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| April 19, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4770: Severe Winter Storm |
| July 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4720: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3595: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Chittenden County
Chittenden County had 103,301 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,186 a year. Unemployment was 1.6% in 2023; in Bolton itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Public schools in Bolton
1 public school with 69 students, about 17.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smilie Memorial Elementary School | PK-4 | 69 | 17.3 |
Towns near Bolton
- Richmond, VT5.2 mi · 4,167 people · home $432,200
- Huntington, VT6.1 mi · 1,934 people · home $338,300
- Jericho, VT6.1 mi · 5,104 people · home $493,100
- Richmond, VT6.1 mi · 853 people · home $405,600
- Waterbury, VT6.9 mi · 5,331 people · home $447,200
- Duxbury, VT7.1 mi · 1,413 people · home $364,600
- Huntington, VT7.5 mi · 535 people · home $276,800
- Waterbury, VT7.7 mi · 1,897 people · home $375,400
Bolton questions
Is Bolton, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bolton scores better for retirees than 28% of Vermont towns and quieter than 39%. 6.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.3).
How much does a house cost in Bolton?
The median owner-occupied home in Bolton is valued at $311,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $111,125, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,299 a month.
What is the weather like in Bolton?
July highs average 69.0°F and January lows 5.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 81.1 inches of precipitation a year and 234.9 inches of snow.
Does Bolton get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Bolton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on May 31, 1987. The typical Vermont town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)