Northeast Kingdom, Vermont

USA · Essex County uplands (Island Pond, Brighton, Averill)

Why it ranks

Ideal water and food, no quakes or hurricanes, the quietest corner of New England.

What drags it down

The 2023–24 valley floods (buy above the floor), the highest property tax on the list.

Water

Dairy nitrate and cyanobacteria in Lake Memphremagog, the Coventry landfill's PFAS leachate, the old asbestos mine at Eden/Lowell. The Essex uplands avoid all three.

Land prices

$3–6k est. (≈50–80 ac)estimate

(est.) $3–6k/acre. $250k ≈ 50–80 acres.

Hospital

North Country Hospital, Newport 30–45 min; Dartmouth‑Hitchcock 1.5 hr; Burlington 2 hr.

Buying as a US citizen

Open to anyone.

Surf

None.

The numbers behind the score

Water & food

  • Water supply92
  • Watershed integrity75
  • Food capacity73

Climate safety

  • Extreme weather88
  • Wildfire + flood63
  • 50‑yr climate trajectory86
  • Geological hazard100

Off-grid energy

  • Energy self‑sufficiency71

Out of the line of fire

  • Stability / rule of law70
  • Strategic exposure—

Cost

  • Price per acre60
  • Holding costsUS passport50
  • Ownership ease (US citizen)US passport100

Access & care

  • Hospital distance100

Room to breathe

  • Population pressure100
WikipediaMapPhotos

Data as of 2026-10-22. Scores combine public datasets and researched figures; prices are indicative ranges, not listings. Not legal, financial or immigration advice. Verify locally before you buy.