Relocating to the Mad River Valley
The Mad River Valley is an incredible place to live, raise a family and call home. It’s an idyllic working landscape of farms, forests, covered bridges and steepeled villages situated beneath the towering, frosted ridgeline that is home to Sugarbush and Mad River Glen Ski Areas.
Refreshingly undeveloped, there are horse-xing signs and cow pastures but not a single traffic light (well there is a temporary one on the bridge in Moretown which will go away once it is fixed). The landscape and buildings of the area retain the character of a rural farming community yet are home to two ski areas, many restaurants, nightlife options, unique shops and artist studios, and an ongoing calendar of cultural and community events.
Whether you are considering moving your business, your family, or just yourself, the Mad River Valley offers an unparalleled quality of life. It is a real community, not a manufactured tourist attraction, boasting exceptional schools, challenging career opportunities, the latest technological services, premier recreation, and unspoiled lands. Come and see what we have to offer; you may never leave.
The Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce offers a comprehensive Relocation Packet including a Visitor’s Guide and Community Resource Guide; local maps; demographic profile; School District Directory; Real Estate Information and other helpful information regarding the area. It has everything you need to know for planning a move to Vermont’s Mad River Valley. Please let us know if you would like to receive one.
Our Towns & Villages
Most folks think of “The Valley” as being comprised of the towns of Fayston, Moretown, Warren and Waitsfield. Geographically speaking the Mad River Valley also includes Granville at the river’s headwaters and Middlesex at its confluence with the Winooski.
- Fayston – Home to Mad River Glen and winding roads
- Duxbury – Our link to Waterbury and beyond as well as home to our regional high school
- Granville – The southern gateway to the MRV
- Middlesex – Where the Mad River comes to an end and the start of the Mad River Byway
- Moretown: Northern gateway to the Valley
- Waitsfield: The business center of the Valley
- Warren: Covered bridge, Timber Crib Dam, general store, world-class Pitcher Inn, Sugarbush Ski Resort.
- The Valley at a Glance: Census data & more (PDF)
The Mad River Valley Planning District was established in 1985 as a multi-town body that recognizes the interconnectivity of the Mad River Valley’s towns with a purpose of carrying out a program of planning for the future of the Mad River Valley. Each year they publish an Annual Data Report for use by all members of our community.
A Guide: Moving to Vermont
The state’s official link for making your move to Vermont.
Education
We take a great deal of pride in Vermont’s public school system.
Here are the local schools that encompass the Harwood Union United School District
- Moretown Elementary School
- Waitsfield Elementary School
- Fayston Elementary School
- Warren Elementary School
- Harwood Union Middle and High School
- Crosset Brook Middle School
Here is a list of our Private Schools
- Green Mountain Valley School – A private academy focused on developing high level ski racers.
- Spring Hill School – Private Pre-school
- Waitsfield Children’s Center – Private Pre-school
Mad River Valley Libraries
Our three local libraries work closely together and a librbary card at one is good at all three. The Warren Library is located in downtown Warren. The Joslin Memorial Library is on the corner of Bridge Street and Route 100 in Waitsfield and the Moretown Library operates out of the Moretown Town Hall in downtown Moretown.
Employment
Great place to live, great place to work and enjoy life…the Mad River Valley has a diverse range of employment opportunities, Montpelier is only 30 minutes away, and Burlington is 50 minutes away!
Infrastructure
Who says small town Vermont couldn’t keep up with the Joneses? We may look low-tech but we have an excellent, highly reliable power grid, telecommunications backbone, high-speed internet over the river and through the woods, good cell phone service in most places, not to mention a state highway system, Interstates 89 & 91, and Burlington International Airport that will get you where you need to go.
Here is a comprehensive resource list for folks considering a move to the Mad River Valley;
Accounting
Hall and Holden PCA
Banking & Financial
Eilers Financial
Northfield Savings Bank
NexaMortgage
Construction
Brothers Building Company
Corigan & Klein Artisan Builders
Kingsbury Construction
Turtle Creek Builders
Heating Fuel
Bourne’s Energy
Blue Flame Gas
Gillespie’s Fuels
Homeowner Services
Transform Vermont Compost Collection
Legal
Willem Jewett P.C.- Mad River Valley Law
News & Information
- Mad River Valley TV – The MRV’s local community access TV station – town meetings, locally produced programming and much more.
- Times Argus – The largest newspaper in Central Vermont
- Valley Reporter – The MRV’s long-time, weekly newspaper
- WDEV Radio – A local radio legend in central Vermont
- VTDigger – Online statewide news publication
- Seven Days – Burlington’s weekly and most well read newspaper.
- WMRW – Our local public access radio station
Property Management
Mad River Property Management
Property Management Inc.
Resort Building & Maintenance
RHK Property Management & Design
Sugarbush Property Group
Real Estate
Mad River Real Estate
Maple Sweet Real Estate
Doug Mosle Real Estate
Sugarbush Real Estate
Sugarbush Real Estate Rentals
Utilities
Green Mountain Power
Waitsfield-Champlain Valley Telecom – Our locally-owned telephone company
Waitsfield Cable TV
Washington Electric Cooperative
Worship
Church of the Valley
Jewish Community of Greater Stowe
Roman Catholic Community of Waterbury, Waitsfield & Moretown
Warren United Church of Christ
Waitsfield United Church of Christ