The Town FilesMontpelier, Vermont
City in Washington County · population 8,074 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $375,100
- Household income
- $81,030
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 126 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 42.3
Montpelier is a city of 8,074 people in Washington County, Vermont. The median home is worth $375,100, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks hipper than 99% of Vermont towns, more walkable than 98% of Vermont towns, better for young professionals than 97% of Vermont towns.
How Montpelier 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 Montpelier is worth $375,100, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $81,030, which is more affordable than 17% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $1,302 a month. 53.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Montpelier | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $375,100 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $1,302 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $81,030 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 53.1% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Montpelier
| People | Montpelier | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.3% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 66.1% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 26.9% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 89.3% |
Weather in Montpelier
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 7.3°F. About 41.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 125.6 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Montpelier since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 9, 2007.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| 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 |
| July 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4720: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3595: Flooding |
| March 20, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4695: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 33,484 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,784 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Montpelier itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Montpelier
4 public schools with 1,834 students, about 9.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| U-32 Middle & High School | 7-12 | 692 | 8.9 |
| Union Elementary School | PK-4 | 436 | 11.2 |
| Montpelier High School | 9-12 | 371 | 10.6 |
| Main Street Middle School | 5-8 | 335 | 9.9 |
Towns near Montpelier
- East Montpelier, VT3.8 mi · 2,598 people · home $378,700
- Berlin, VT4.6 mi · 2,849 people · home $273,600
- Barre, VT5.6 mi · 8,491 people · home $210,400
- Barre, VT7.5 mi · 7,923 people · home $281,400
- Northfield, VT9.3 mi · 3,757 people · home $241,400
- Northfield, VT10.1 mi · 5,918 people · home $274,400
- Williamstown, VT10.8 mi · 3,515 people · home $234,900
- Waterbury, VT11.8 mi · 5,331 people · home $447,200
Montpelier questions
Is Montpelier, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Montpelier scores better for retirees than 60% of Vermont towns and quieter than 5%. 24.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Montpelier?
The median owner-occupied home in Montpelier is valued at $375,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,030, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $1,302 a month.
What is the weather like in Montpelier?
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 7.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.4 inches of precipitation a year and 125.6 inches of snow.
Does Montpelier get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Montpelier in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)