Out of 308 ZIP codes with data in Vermont, these are the highest-ranked areas for purchase risk. See also: National Worst ZIP Codes for Homebuyers — Hidden Risk Factors | All Vermont Rankings
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| ZIP codes ranked | 308 |
| Highest value | 69/100 |
| Median value | 34/100 |
| State | Vermont |
Top 100 Worst ZIP Codes
| Rank | ZIP Code | City | State | Purchase Risk | Safety Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 05034 | Bridgewater | VT | 69/100 | 79/100 |
| 2 | 05158 | Westminster | VT | 66/100 | 74/100 |
| 3 | 05056 | Plymouth | VT | 63/100 | 51/100 |
| 4 | 05091 | Woodstock | VT | 63/100 | 68/100 |
| 5 | 05667 | Plainfield | VT | 62/100 | 65/100 |
| 6 | 05736 | Center Rutland | VT | 62/100 | 82/100 |
| 7 | 05641 | Barre | VT | 61/100 | 67/100 |
| 8 | 05673 | Waitsfield | VT | 60/100 | 53/100 |
| 9 | 05148 | Londonderry | VT | 58/100 | 73/100 |
| 10 | 05821 | Barnet | VT | 58/100 | 75/100 |
| 11 | 05843 | Hardwick | VT | 58/100 | 71/100 |
| 12 | 05060 | Randolph | VT | 57/100 | 79/100 |
| 13 | 05149 | Ludlow | VT | 57/100 | 63/100 |
| 14 | 05660 | Moretown | VT | 57/100 | 77/100 |
| 15 | 05676 | Waterbury | VT | 57/100 | 69/100 |
| 16 | 05765 | Proctor | VT | 57/100 | 74/100 |
| 17 | 05363 | Wilmington | VT | 56/100 | 73/100 |
| 18 | 05602 | Montpelier | VT | 56/100 | 63/100 |
| 19 | 05701 | Rutland | VT | 56/100 | 68/100 |
| 20 | 05868 | Troy | VT | 56/100 | 80/100 |
| 21 | 05068 | South Royalton | VT | 55/100 | 73/100 |
| 22 | 05255 | Manchester Center | VT | 54/100 | 72/100 |
| 23 | 05656 | Johnson | VT | 54/100 | 70/100 |
| 24 | 05762 | Pittsfield | VT | 54/100 | 82/100 |
| 25 | 05902 | Beecher Falls | VT | 54/100 | 63/100 |
| 26 | 05651 | East Montpelier | VT | 53/100 | 69/100 |
| 27 | 05001 | White River Junction | VT | 52/100 | 74/100 |
| 28 | 05142 | Cavendish | VT | 52/100 | 77/100 |
| 29 | 05462 | Huntington | VT | 52/100 | 78/100 |
| 30 | 05674 | Warren | VT | 52/100 | 49/100 |
| 31 | 05773 | Wallingford | VT | 52/100 | 74/100 |
| 32 | 05839 | Glover | VT | 52/100 | 74/100 |
| 33 | 05851 | Lyndonville | VT | 52/100 | 70/100 |
| 34 | 05143 | Chester | VT | 51/100 | 69/100 |
| 35 | 05444 | Cambridge | VT | 51/100 | 70/100 |
| 36 | 05650 | East Calais | VT | 51/100 | 74/100 |
| 37 | 05663 | Northfield | VT | 51/100 | 72/100 |
| 38 | 05748 | Hancock | VT | 51/100 | 76/100 |
| 39 | 05767 | Rochester | VT | 51/100 | 81/100 |
| 40 | 05860 | Orleans | VT | 51/100 | 74/100 |
| 41 | 05009 | White River Junction | VT | 50/100 | 78/100 |
| 42 | 05362 | Williamsville | VT | 50/100 | 63/100 |
| 43 | 05747 | Granville | VT | 50/100 | 55/100 |
| 44 | 05059 | Quechee | VT | 48/100 | 63/100 |
| 45 | 05074 | Thetford | VT | 48/100 | 77/100 |
| 46 | 05354 | Vernon | VT | 48/100 | 63/100 |
| 47 | 05825 | Coventry | VT | 48/100 | 75/100 |
| 48 | 05829 | Derby | VT | 48/100 | 76/100 |
| 49 | 05850 | Lyndon Center | VT | 48/100 | 63/100 |
| 50 | 05035 | Bridgewater Corners | VT | 47/100 | 55/100 |
| 51 | 05089 | Windsor | VT | 47/100 | 75/100 |
| 52 | 05340 | Bondville | VT | 47/100 | 50/100 |
| 53 | 05488 | Swanton | VT | 47/100 | 70/100 |
| 54 | 05648 | Calais | VT | 47/100 | 74/100 |
| 55 | 05032 | Bethel | VT | 46/100 | 78/100 |
| 56 | 05047 | Hartford | VT | 46/100 | 79/100 |
| 57 | 05154 | Saxtons River | VT | 46/100 | 80/100 |
| 58 | 05345 | Newfane | VT | 46/100 | 55/100 |
| 59 | 05447 | East Berkshire | VT | 46/100 | 81/100 |
| 60 | 05492 | Waterville | VT | 46/100 | 68/100 |
| 61 | 05654 | Graniteville | VT | 46/100 | 79/100 |
| 62 | 05661 | Morrisville | VT | 46/100 | 72/100 |
| 63 | 05772 | Stockbridge | VT | 46/100 | 78/100 |
| 64 | 05822 | Barton | VT | 46/100 | 64/100 |
| 65 | 05855 | Newport | VT | 46/100 | 78/100 |
| 66 | 05081 | Wells River | VT | 45/100 | 70/100 |
| 67 | 05153 | Proctorsville | VT | 45/100 | 55/100 |
| 68 | 05301 | Brattleboro | VT | 45/100 | 75/100 |
| 69 | 05819 | Saint Johnsbury | VT | 45/100 | 76/100 |
| 70 | 05866 | Sheffield | VT | 45/100 | 78/100 |
| 71 | 05161 | Weston | VT | 44/100 | 55/100 |
| 72 | 05252 | East Arlington | VT | 44/100 | 63/100 |
| 73 | 05440 | Alburgh | VT | 44/100 | 91/100 |
| 74 | 05649 | East Barre | VT | 44/100 | 78/100 |
| 75 | 05658 | Marshfield | VT | 44/100 | 78/100 |
| 76 | 05669 | Roxbury | VT | 44/100 | 82/100 |
| 77 | 05679 | Williamstown | VT | 44/100 | 82/100 |
| 78 | 05050 | Mc Indoe Falls | VT | 43/100 | 63/100 |
| 79 | 05052 | North Hartland | VT | 43/100 | 80/100 |
| 80 | 05062 | Reading | VT | 43/100 | 63/100 |
| 81 | 05343 | Jamaica | VT | 43/100 | 78/100 |
| 82 | 05356 | West Dover | VT | 43/100 | 73/100 |
| 83 | 05739 | Danby | VT | 43/100 | 79/100 |
| 84 | 05038 | Chelsea | VT | 42/100 | 77/100 |
| 85 | 05043 | East Thetford | VT | 42/100 | 78/100 |
| 86 | 05201 | Bennington | VT | 42/100 | 55/100 |
| 87 | 05254 | Manchester | VT | 42/100 | 77/100 |
| 88 | 05351 | South Newfane | VT | 42/100 | 63/100 |
| 89 | 05355 | Wardsboro | VT | 42/100 | 55/100 |
| 90 | 05464 | Jeffersonville | VT | 42/100 | 78/100 |
| 91 | 05874 | Westfield | VT | 42/100 | 79/100 |
| 92 | 05903 | Canaan | VT | 42/100 | 77/100 |
| 93 | 05069 | South Ryegate | VT | 41/100 | 55/100 |
| 94 | 05155 | South Londonderry | VT | 41/100 | 75/100 |
| 95 | 05702 | Rutland | VT | 41/100 | 78/100 |
| 96 | 05738 | Cuttingsville | VT | 41/100 | 78/100 |
| 97 | 05826 | Craftsbury | VT | 41/100 | 78/100 |
| 98 | 05260 | North Pownal | VT | 40/100 | 63/100 |
| 99 | 05446 | Colchester | VT | 40/100 | 84/100 |
| 100 | 05671 | Waterbury | VT | 40/100 | 79/100 |
Methodology
The Home Purchase Risk Score combines environmental hazards that create unexpected costs for homebuyers: water system violations requiring filtration, lead service lines requiring replacement, radon requiring mitigation systems, flood zones requiring insurance, and aging infrastructure requiring upgrades. These are factors that standard home inspections may not fully capture.
Data sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), FEMA National Flood Insurance Program, EPA radon zone maps, EIA electricity rates, and Consumer Confidence Reports. Last updated: 2026-06-04.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Home Purchase Risk Score?
This score (0-100) estimates the hidden environmental costs a homebuyer may face: water filtration needs, lead pipe replacement, radon mitigation, flood insurance, and infrastructure upgrades. Higher scores mean more potential unexpected expenses after purchase.
What should homebuyers do in high-risk ZIP codes?
Request a water quality test, check for lead service lines with the utility, test for radon before closing, verify FEMA flood zone designation, and factor in potential remediation costs ($5,000-$30,000+) to your budget.
Explore More Rankings
- Worst ZIP Codes for Lead in Water in Vermont
- ZIP Codes with Most EPA Violations in Vermont
- Lowest Home Safety Scores in Vermont
- Safest ZIP Codes in Vermont — Highest Safety Scores
- ZIP Codes with Highest Flood Risk in Vermont
- ZIP Codes with Highest Energy Costs in Vermont
- ZIP Codes with Highest Radon Risk
- ZIP Codes with PFAS Detections in Vermont
- Least Reliable Water Systems in Vermont
- Environmental Justice Concern Areas in Vermont
- ZIP Codes with Worst CO & Gas Risk in Vermont
- Safest ZIP Codes for Gas & CO Risk in Vermont
- ZIP Codes with Worst Wildfire Smoke Risk in Vermont
- Safest ZIP Codes for Wildfire Smoke in Vermont
- All Rankings