These Are The 10 Hardest Working Places In Vermont

Top 10 Hardest Working Places in Vermont (2026 Update)

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Vermont, known for its picturesque landscapes and vibrant communities, embodies the spirit of hard work and dedication. As we navigate through 2026, it’s clear that the ethos of striving for personal and professional growth remains a cornerstone of life in the Green Mountain State.

While all of Vermont showcases a remarkable work ethic, certain areas stand out as the hardest working places. These communities lead the way in commitment and perseverance, exemplifying the true essence of the Puritan work ethic.

At the forefront is South Burlington, which has earned the title of the hardest working place in Vermont. Residents here demonstrate such dedication that commuting itself can feel like a full-time job.

Curious about which other towns are burning the midnight oil? Here’s a list of the top contenders where hard work is the norm, and where you might need to put in some extra hours to compete for that promotion:

Attention, Bellows Falls! Take notes as we delve into how these rankings were determined—you might find some valuable insights.

For more on Vermont’s job landscape, check out:

The 100 Highest Paying Jobs in Vermont
The 100 Largest Companies in Vermont

How We Determined the Hardest Working Places in the Green Mountain State

At Zippia, we pride ourselves on data-driven insights. To pinpoint Vermont’s hardest working locales, we utilized the latest American Community Survey data, ensuring our analysis reflects the most current employment trends.

We evaluated various criteria to gauge the work ethic of each community, including:

Average hours worked per week
Average commute time
Workers per household (Employed labor force divided by the number of households)
Labor force participation rate
Percentage of adults with a college degree

This approach allows us to recognize communities where residents, after investing in their education, actively pursue employment, work extensive hours, and navigate long commutes—all contributing to their hardworking reputation.

After analyzing data from all 25 places in Vermont, we ranked each location based on the above criteria, with 1 representing the “hardest working.” The average rankings culminated in a hardworking index, leading us to crown South Burlington as the top contender for 2026.

Explore the detailed chart below to see how each place compares and learn more about their rankings.

1. South Burlington

Source: Wikipedia

Population: 18,378
College Graduates: 53.9%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.1
Workers Per Household: 1.3

2. Essex Junction

Population: 9,552
College Graduates: 44.1%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 37.8
Workers Per Household: 1.4

3. Montpelier

Population: 7,760
College Graduates: 52.5%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 37.3
Workers Per Household: 1.2

4. St. Albans

Population: 6,889
College Graduates: 26.7%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 37.9
Workers Per Household: 1.3

5. Middlebury

Population: 6,713
College Graduates: 50.0%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 30.9
Workers Per Household: 1.4

6. Winooski

Population: 7,250
College Graduates: 37.1%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 36.7
Workers Per Household: 1.4

7. Vergennes

Population: 2,579
College Graduates: 35.5%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 36.6
Workers Per Household: 1.5

8. Burlington

Population: 42,342
College Graduates: 49.1%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 33.1
Workers Per Household: 1.5

9. Manchester Center

Population: 2,211
College Graduates: 31.2%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 40.6
Workers Per Household: 1.1

10. Northfield

Population: 2,677
College Graduates: 26.4%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 34.6
Workers Per Household: 1.4

Detailed List of Hardest Working Places in Vermont

City	Rank	Population	College Graduates	Average Hours Worked Per Week	Workers Per Household
South Burlington	1	18,378	53.9%	39.1	1.3
Essex Junction	2	9,552	44.1%	37.8	1.4
Montpelier	3	7,760	52.5%	37.3	1.2
St. Albans	4	6,889	26.7%	37.9	1.3
Middlebury	5	6,713	50.0%	30.9	1.4
Winooski	6	7,250	37.1%	36.7	1.4
Vergennes	7	2,579	35.5%	36.6	1.5
Burlington	8	42,342	49.1%	33.1	1.5
Manchester Center	9	2,211	31.2%	40.6	1.1
Northfield	10	2,677	26.4%	34.6	1.4
Swanton	11	2,389	11.4%	37.4	1.2
Brattleboro	12	7,132	35.0%	38.6	1.2
Morrisville	13	2,194	28.9%	37.0	1.1
Fair Haven	14	2,347	20.9%	39.6	1.3
White River Junction	15	2,327	21.7%	38.3	1.2
Barre	16	8,955	21.1%	37.3	1.2
Rutland	17	16,217	27.4%	37.1	1.2
Newport	18	4,535	18.2%	38.5	1.0
Springfield	19	3,913	14.3%	37.4	1.2
West Brattleboro	20	2,758	31.9%	35.3	1.2
St. Johnsbury	21	5,922	27.2%	37.0	1.1
Randolph	22	2,361	33.4%	33.5	1.1
Windsor	23	2,138	27.9%	35.8	1.1
Bennington	24	8,933	26.0%	35.9	1.1
Bellows Falls	25	2,766	14.1%	38.2	1.1

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Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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