Vermont Cities by Population 2026

Vermont, the most rural state in the U.S., is characterized by its widespread agricultural traditions, small-town governance, and economic identity. In Vermont, local governance is marked by a wide variety of municipalities, each with its own unique characteristics and functions, making it easier to manage the largely rural population.

Vermont’s municipal framework consists of 277 local government units, which are divided into four main categories: cities, towns, villages, and gores or unorganized towns.

Vermont is home to 10 incorporated cities, each with its local government, generally functioning under a mayor-council system. This means that their mayor acts as the executive, overseeing city administration, while an elected council serves as the legislative body, passing laws and approving budgets. The mayor and council work together but have distinct roles in governing the city. Burlington, the largest of these cities, serves as the state’s primary economic and cultural center, with a population exceeding 40,000.

The vast majority of Vermont’s municipalities—237 in total—are towns. These towns serve as the state’s main units of local government and are responsible for managing essential services such as road maintenance, public education, and safety. Most towns in Vermont operate under the traditional New England-style town meeting system, where local residents gather to vote on community issues, budgets, and policies, allowing citizens to make decisions directly rather than through representatives.

Within many towns are smaller incorporated villages, of which there are approximately 30. These villages often manage specific services like water distribution, fire protection, and other utilities. Though they are part of larger towns, villages typically maintain their governing boards and local services. These unincorporated towns have their own local government, including elected officials, and the authority to pass laws, levy taxes, and provide municipal services.

A unique feature of Vermont’s municipal system are gores and unorganized towns, typically sparsely populated or geographically remote areas. Unlike an incorporated town with its own municipal system, an unorganized town lacks a formal local government and is typically governed by a higher-level authority, such as a county or state. Vermont has five gores, including Avery’s Gore, which has little to no permanent population.

Vermont’s settlement patterns and emphasis on local governance ensure that all areas are managed by some form of local government, stemming from its colonial history and New England governance traditions.