Vermont’s Safest Cities of 2025

John Carlsen
Cathy Habas
Mar 17, 2025
Icon Time To Read4 min read
Icon CheckEdited ByKit Smith
Icon CheckData Analysis ByDaniel Delgado

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11th annual Safest Cities report banner

Here are the 5 Safest Cities in Vermont for 2025

See crime rates for the safest cities.

According to our most recent State of Safety report, people in Vermont hardly worry about crime or security. For the most part, they have fewer crime experiences than other Americans, but Vermonters' property crime experiences are surprisingly high. 

This seems to be the trend in Vermont's safest cities as well, where some report exceedingly high amounts of property crime but relatively few violent crimes. 

In this report

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NOTE: If your city is missing from our full report, it means that it was below the population threshold or didn’t submit a complete crime report to the FBI in 2023.

Do people feel safe in Vermont? Survey insights for 2025

Bar chart comparing how safe Vermont residents feel, with 60% feeling safe versus the 48% national average.

Bar chart comparing how safe Vermont residents feel, with 60% feeling safe versus the 48% national average. Image: SafeWise

We didn't have enough viable data to accurately calculate statewide crime rates this year, but our annual State of Safety survey sheds some light on crime experiences and concerns in The Green Mountain State. 

Six in 10 (60%) of Vermonters say they feel safe in their state, which is one of the highest confidence levels nationwide but down from 65% the year before. Residents in nine other states, including Maine and Massachusetts, feel safer than Vermonters. 

Still, Vermont residents don't worry much about crime. They're the least concerned about violent crime nationwide, and they're also the least worried about their overall level of safety and security (VT 29%, US 47%). Only property crime stands out as more concerning for Vermonters, with 48% being concerned.

Although there's a lot to feel good about in this state, 35% of Vermont residents are adding security and safety measures, up from 21% the year before. Considering Vermonters are among those most likely to experience a property crime but least likely to protect against it, increased security may be a good idea. 

Find safety and security resources in Vermont.

Property crime in Vermont: Fear vs. reality

Property crime is the only issue that has Vermonters more worried than the year before. The percentage of Vermonters who experience property crime is the seventh highest in the nation. Meanwhile, Vermonters are the least likely to experience package theft nationwide and, understandably, among those least likely to worry about it. 

  • 33% said they experienced a property crime in the 8 months prior to our survey, which is the same percentage as the year before (US 27%).  
  • Vermonters were more likely to experience property crime than other New Englanders. 
  • Concern about property crime rose from 46% to 48% (US 54%).
  • 29% said they experienced a package theft in the 8 months prior to our survey, down from 32% the year before (US 37%). 
  • Concern about package theft fell from 39% to 37% year over year (US 52%). 
  • Residents in only 3 other states worry about package theft less than Vermonters: North Dakota (35%), Wyoming (32%), and Iowa (31%). 
  • 38% said they use no property protection, which is the highest percentage in the nation.
  • Vermont residents prefer to protect their properties with security cameras (33%), guard dogs (31%), and firearms (23%). 
  • Vermont ties with Iowa for the lowest security system usage nationwide (VT 10%, US 27%). 
"There are really no concerns to note in my area. We keep everything very secured. The only issues I suppose I can say is the amount of thefts."
—Vermont resident*

Natural disasters in Vermont

  • 19% of Vermont residents evacuated due to a natural disaster in the 8 months prior to our survey. That's the second highest percentage nationwide behind Louisiana (23%). The national average is 9%.
  • Flooding is the biggest concern for Vermonters, with 58% saying they worry about it. That's the second-highest level of concern in the nation behind Louisiana at 61%.
  • Vermont residents are the least concerned about extreme temperatures nationwide (VT 35%, US 56%). 
  • 13% of Vermonters worry about drought, which is the third lowest percentage in the nation behind Alaska (10%) and Maine (11%).
  • Vermonters worry about hurricanes, fire/smoke, earthquakes, and strong winds less than average. 
"My biggest safety concern this year was the flooding that took place in Vermont. Bridges went down. Families couldn’t get to the grocery store. It was a travesty."
—Vermont resident*

Attitudes about cyber crime in Vermont

  • 58% of Vermonters say they're worried about cyber crime, which is the second-lowest percentage in the nation (US 69%). Only Nebraskans worry less (53%). 
  • 26% say they use antivirus protections (US 34%). Again, only Nebraskans use it less (25%). 
  • Vermont ties with Alabama for the lowest usage of credit monitoring services (VT 15%, US 23%). 
  • 31% say they experienced a cyber crime in the 8 months prior to our survey (US 33%). 
"My biggest concern is whether my data is being sold online. I receive lots of phishing texts and scams."
—Vermont resident*

What security measures do Vermonters use most?

Top security measures used in Vermont: guard dogs, security cameras, and firearms, compared to national trends.

Top security measures used in Vermont: guard dogs, security cameras, and firearms, compared to national trends. Image: SafeWise

What crimes are Vermont residents most concerned about?

Bar chart of top crime concerns in Vermont, showing violent crime, property crime, gun violence, and package theft rates.

Bar chart of top crime concerns in Vermont, showing violent crime, property crime, gun violence, and package theft rates. Image: SafeWise

Violent crime in Vermont: Fear vs. reality

Vermonters are the least concerned about violent crime nationwide and among those least likely to experience it. Both their reported experiences and concerns decreased year over year.

  • 8% said they experienced a violent crime in the 8 months prior to our survey, down from 13% the year before (US 14%). 
  • Only South Dakotans reported a lower level of violent crime experiences (6%) than Vermonters. 
  • Concern about violent crime decreased from 40% to 39% year over year (US 59%). 
  • 24% of Vermonters said they use personal protection. Only Hawaiians (23%) and Massachusetts residents (20%) are less likely to use personal protection. 
  • Vermont residents prefer to protect themselves with pocket knives (16%), pepper spray (11%), and firearms (8%). 
"My biggest safety concern was about a sex offender living in my immediate area and beside the school."
—Vermont resident*

Attitudes about gun violence in Vermont

  • 8% of participants said they experienced gun violence during the 8 months prior to the survey, down from 9% the year before (US 11%).
  • Concern about gun violence fell slightly from 39% to 38% year over year (US 57%). 
  • Residents in only four other states worry less about gun violence than Vermonters: South Dakota (36%), North Dakota (34%), Alaska (33%), and Wyoming (31%).
  • Vermont experienced no mass shooting events in 2024.
"I'm scared about getting shot in the streets."
—Vermont resident*

*Quotes collected from our latest State of Safety survey.

A closer look at the safest cities in Vermont

For the purposes of this report, the terms “dangerous” and “safest” refer explicitly to crime rates as calculated from FBI crime data—no other characterization of any community is implied or intended.

  • 26 cities met the criteria for ranking this year.
  • Reporting 2 violent crimes and 4 property crimes, Castleton is this year's safest city in Vermont.
  • No murders were reported in this year's cities.
  • Castleton and Stowe reported no rapes or robberies. 
  • Shelburne also reported no robberies.
  • Castleton, Northfield, and Swanton reported no motor vehicle thefts. 
  • Castleton also reported no burglaries. 
  • Stowe and Northfield saw year-over-year decreases in both property crime and violent crime. 
  • Stowe's property crime rate is about 69 times higher than its violent crime rate. Shelburne's is 27 times higher. 

The 10 safest cities in Vermont

Map of the safest cities in Vermont for 2025, listing top 5 ranked cities based on SafeWise crime data.

Map of the safest cities in Vermont for 2025, listing top 5 ranked cities based on SafeWise crime data. Image: SafeWise

Castleton, Vermont
#1
Castleton
(
NEW
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    4,449
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.2, N/A, N/A
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.5, N/A, N/A
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Stowe, Vermont
#2
Stowe
(
+1
Up
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    5,323
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.2, 0.6, 0.9
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    13.5, 15.3, 15.2
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
#3
Northfield
(
+6
Up
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    5,935
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    2.2, 2.9, 1.7
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.4, 1.6, 1.2
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Swanton, Vermont
#4
Swanton
(
-2
Down
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    6,876
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.8, 1.3, 0.8
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    6.0, 4.6, 7.6
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Shelburne, Vermont
#5
Shelburne
(
-0-
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    7,948
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.6, 0.6, 0.6
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    17.1, 16.7, 11.7
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

How we determined the safest cities

Learn how we identified the safest cities on our methodology page.

How to make a safe home anywhere

Over 6 in 10 Americans surveyed don't have a home security system, despite over 50% of all burglaries being residential. Unfortunately, a majority of people who have a security system added it after they had a break-in. One of the best ways to stop a burglary before it happens—and get immediate help if a break-in is detected—is to add a monitored home security system.

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Find the safest cities in each state

Click on the state below to check out the safest cities for each state.

Find all endnotes and sources in our full methodology.

FBI Crime Data Explorer, "Documents & Downloads." Accessed March 17, 2025.

  • 2023 Crime in the United States Annual Reports
    • Offenses Known to Law Enforcement
  • 2023 NIBRS Estimation Tables

Bureau of Justice Statistics, "National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)." Accessed March 17, 2025.

Gun Violence Archive, "Mass Shootings." Accessed March 17, 2025.

John Carlsen
Written by
John is a technology journalist specializing in smart home devices, security cameras, and home security systems. He has over a decade of experience researching, testing, and reviewing the latest tech—he was the Smart Home Editor for Top Ten Reviews and wrote for ASecureLife before joining SafeWise as a Staff Writer in 2020. John holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism emphasis from Utah Valley University. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, photography, cooking, and starting countless DIY projects he has yet to complete.

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