Windham County, Vermont Eviction Risk: Moderate

Windham County carries an average eviction risk score of 5.1/10 (Elevated), the highest of any county in Vermont, ranking 1 of 14 counties statewide. No Vermont eviction laws county scores higher, and 13 of the state's 14 counties present fewer landlord-side hazards than this market. Across the county's 21 cities and towns, scores run from a floor of 5.2 to a ceiling of 5.9, a narrower band than many comparable rural counties, which means there is limited ability to diversify down within county lines. Investors weighing this market against other parts of Vermont should treat the elevated baseline as a systemic feature, not a localized anomaly.

Conditions on the ground reinforce that risk profile. The average renter here carries a 30.1% rent burden, with 45% of residents renting rather than owning, and a 18.9% poverty rate running well above what landlords would consider a comfortable margin. Average asking rent of $1,031 per month is modest but still strains a meaningful share of tenants, which historically correlates with higher late-payment rates and contested eviction filings. For landlords and investors, this is a market that rewards rigorous tenant screening and disciplined lease management over volume acquisition.

The cities inside Windham County

The highest-risk cities in the county, each scoring 5.9/10, include Brattleboro, the county's largest city with a population of 7,657, alongside Bellows Falls (pop. 2,891) and West Brattleboro (pop. 2,749). Smaller communities, including Saxtons River, Putney, and Wilmington, also hit that 5.9/10 ceiling. Risk is hyper-local: Westminster, at 5.5/10, represents the more landlord-favorable end of what this county offers, while the most-populated urban core sits at the top of the range.

The practical implication is that a landlord buying in Brattleboro eviction risk operates under materially different conditions than one buying in Westminster, even though both are Windham County. Underwriting each acquisition to its specific city score, rather than the county average, is the more defensible approach.

State-level laws that apply here

Vermont state law governs landlord-tenant relationships under 9 V.S.A. § 4451 et seq. (Residential Rental Agreements). For non-payment of rent, landlords must serve a 14-day notice before filing. Lease violations and no-cause end-of-term terminations each require a 30-day notice. Once a case is filed, Vermont courts charge between $295 and $340 in filing fees, sheriff lockout costs run $60 to $150, and attorney fees typically range from $750 to $3,000. An uncontested case resolves in 30 to 60 days; a contested matter can stretch to 60 to 150 days. Vermont requires just cause for eviction, which adds a procedural layer that investors accustomed to simpler markets should factor into their projections. Anyone new to the state should review the Vermont eviction process in detail before acquiring here.

Vermont does not cap rent at the state level, and it does not preempt local rent control ordinances, leaving municipalities free to enact their own restrictions. Source-of-income discrimination is a protected class under state law, enforced through the Vermont Human Rights Commission. Landlords must give 48 hours notice before entering a unit. A full breakdown of landlord obligations, including Vermont security deposit limits, is covered in the statewide guides. For a detailed look at out-of-pocket eviction exposure, see the Vermont eviction costs guide.

With a 18.9% poverty rate and nearly half of all residents renting, the financial fragility that drives eviction risk is spread broadly across Windham County, not concentrated in one pocket; the city grid above breaks down where that pressure is highest and where it is comparatively lower.