Grand Isle County, Vermont Eviction Risk: Moderate

Grand Isle County sits at the northwestern tip of Vermont, a collection of Lake Champlain islands that together form the smallest county in the state by population. With roughly 705 renters across its two principal communities, the county carries an eviction risk score of 4.7/10 (Moderate), placing it 14th out of 14 Vermont eviction laws counties on our index -- where rank 1 represents the highest eviction pressure. That position in the lower tier of the state ranking reflects a genuine structural reality: Grand Isle's rental market is small, tight-knit, and shaped by statewide tenant protections that meaningfully constrain the eviction process for landlords.

The two communities the model scores are Alburgh, the county's largest rental hub at 486 renters and a score of 4.8/10, and South Hero, the quieter island village with 219 renters scoring 4.5/10. The county-wide spread runs from 4.5 to 4.8 -- a narrow band that reflects how uniformly Vermont's legal framework applies across even its smallest jurisdictions. Average rent across the county sits at $1,602 per month, and 40.7% of renter household income goes to housing costs. That rent-burden figure is not trivial for a county with a 9% poverty rate and only 24.6% of residents in rental housing, which means a small pool of renters is absorbing a disproportionate share of financial pressure relative to the county's overall income picture.

Vermont's statewide eviction statute -- 9 V.S.A. § 4451 et seq. -- applies uniformly here. Landlords must have just cause to terminate a tenancy, must provide 14 days' written notice for non-payment of rent, and 30 days for lease violations or no-cause end-of-term terminations. Source-of-income discrimination is prohibited under Vermont law, meaning a landlord cannot refuse a tenant solely because they receive housing assistance. Landlord entry requires 48 hours' advance notice. If a case proceeds to court, filing fees run $295 to $340, sheriff costs add $60 to $150, and attorney fees typically range from $750 to $3,000 -- with uncontested cases resolving in 30 to 60 days and contested disputes running 60 to 150 days. These timelines and costs set the practical floor for any eviction in Grand Isle County, regardless of which community the property is in.

Grand Isle County's 4.7/10 score reflects a combination of moderate rent burden (40.7%), statewide just-cause eviction requirements, and a small renter population concentrated in two communities. The county's scores range from 4.5 in South Hero to 4.8 in Alburgh, with both communities subject to the same Vermont eviction laws statutory framework and no local rent control overlay.