Wallingford, VT

Wallingford sits in the Otter Creek Valley between the Green Mountains and the Taconic Range, right along Route 7 between Rutland and Manchester. The town is made up of a few cozy pockets, from the historic main village to quieter hamlets like East Wallingford and South Wallingford. Once you leave the center, paved streets quickly give way to open farmland, quiet gravel roads, and vast stretches of the Green Mountain National Forest.

ATTRWhoisjohngalt / CC BY-SA 4.0

Daily life here has an easygoing, outdoorsy feel. You might bump into neighbors while running errands around the village, spend summer afternoons swimming at Elfin Lake, or head into the hills to hike around the White Rocks recreation area. Rutland is an easy fifteen-minute drive north for major shopping, healthcare, and dining, giving you a straightforward commute alongside the peace and quiet of valley living.