Living in Newport, VT

Orleans County

Newport is a real, genuinely small and remote Orleans County city (2020 census population 4,455) sitting on the southern shore of Lake Memphremagog, a 27-mile lake straddling the Vermont-Quebec border -- the Northeast Kingdom's regional hub. Newport's real, defining, and unavoidable story is the Jay Peak/AnC Bio EB-5 immigrant-investor fraud scandal, one of the largest EB-5 fraud cases in US history, which left a downtown vacant lot -- 'the pit' -- undeveloped for nearly a decade; as of this pass's August 2026 research, that site was finally nearing a resolution, slated for purchase by a regional development corporation. Newport's housing runs genuinely, substantially below both the national and Vermont statewide comparison figures, though its property tax burden runs genuinely high -- the highest of this project's four Tier A Vermont markets built this pass. Newport's crime data runs genuinely unfavorable overall (higher than 93% of Vermont communities, an elevated violent-crime reading), with one real, disclosed favorable nuance (a below-national property-crime rate). Recent-year population figures carry a genuinely disclosed cross-source inconsistency this record does not force to a single trend. North Country Hospital, a small 25-bed critical access facility, serves the immediate area, though the nearest larger regional medical center sits a substantial distance away.

Explore Newport in depth

Exploring the idea of moving?

We can connect you with a local real estate professional who knows the area -- no pressure, just a starting point.

Learn more

Housing

Median sale price$250,000

Taxes

Local effective property tax rate2.98%

Not independently sourced at the Orleans County level this session. Vermont's top state income tax rate is 8.75%. See the Vermont hub page for the statewide property tax context -- do not treat that figure as Newport-specific.

Want to know what your budget actually buys here?

Tell us a bit about what you're looking for and we'll connect you with someone local who can walk you through real numbers.

Get local guidance

The tradeoffs

Pros

Genuinely affordable housing, well below both national and Vermont statewide comparison figures across every source reviewed. A real, distinctive Lake Memphremagog waterfront setting and Northeast Kingdom regional-hub character. A real, current, and hopeful sign of downtown redevelopment progress on the long-vacant EB-5-scandal site as of August 2026.

Cons

Property taxes run genuinely high, even by Vermont's own already-high standards (Ownwell's cited 2.98% effective rate, the highest of this project's four Tier A Vermont markets). Crime data runs genuinely unfavorable overall, and North Country Union High School's disclosed proficiency figures run well below typical national benchmarks. Healthcare access is genuinely limited to a small, 25-bed critical access hospital, with the nearest larger regional medical center a substantial distance away. Newport's real, documented EB-5 fraud history left a visible, decade-long downtown scar only now nearing redevelopment.

Who this fits

Best for: Best fits movers prioritizing genuinely affordable Vermont housing and small-town, lake-adjacent Northeast Kingdom living, and those drawn to outdoor recreation on Lake Memphremagog, who are comfortable with a real, remote regional-hub setting and limited local healthcare/school options.

Maybe not for you if: Probably not the right fit for movers prioritizing top-tier school performance, ready access to a large regional hospital system, or the lowest possible Vermont crime and property tax profile -- Newport's own disclosed data runs unfavorably on each of these relative to this project's other Vermont Tier A markets.

Planning a move?

Tell us what you're looking for and we'll connect you with a local expert who can help you make it happen.

Talk to a local expert
Last reviewed: 2026-08-28. Independent research; see individual metric entries above for source attribution. This is not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.