Groundwork

Market rankings · Vermont

Child care centers and preschools in Vermont

Markets across Vermont ranked by the Groundwork market score for child care centers and preschools, with competitor counts and household spending for each.

Listings
219
6 chain locations (3%)
Official establishments
272
+11.5% since 2019
Household spending a year
$159.3M
On child care and other personal services
Listings per 10k households
8.0
38% above the U.S.
Spending per listing
$727K
27% below the U.S.
Rank among states
#48 of 51
Market score 23 · Low

A site report maps the child care centers and preschools on map listings around any address in Vermont by name and distance, and the spending within reach.

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Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

Map listings as of September 2026 show 219 child care centers and preschools in Vermont. 6 of them (3%) are chain locations, against 12% across the U.S. That comes to 8.0 for every 10,000 households, 38% above the U.S. rate of 5.8.

Households in Vermont spend about $159.3M a year on child care and other personal services, or $583 per household, in line with the U.S. average. Spread across 219 child care centers and preschools, that is $727K per center, 27% below the U.S. figure of $1M.

In 2023, official counts showed 272 businesses with payroll in Vermont classed as child care services, up 11.5% from 2019. That is one for every 1,005 households, against one for every 1,573 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 5.7% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 6 SBA-backed loans worth $2.1M have gone to businesses classed as child care services in Vermont.

Among the 50 states and DC, Vermont ranks #48 for child care centers and preschools, with a Groundwork market score of 23 (low). The one scored metro area in or partly in Vermont, the Burlington-South Burlington metro area, scores 34. Of the 5 scored small-town markets in or partly in Vermont, the Lebanon-Claremont area scores highest (56).

Every market in Vermont for child care centers and preschools

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Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Vermont, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.

Metro areas

Metro areas reaching Vermont, ranked for child care centers and preschools by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Burlington-South Burlington, VT34818.6$768K+0.9%#300 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching Vermont, ranked for child care centers and preschools by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
Lebanon-Claremont, NH-VT56616.6$908K+1.5%#181 of 454
1Barre, VT54166.2$927K−0.2%#198 of 454
2Rutland, VT39239.1$544K−1.4%#323 of 454
3Brattleboro, VT37168.1$661K−1.4%#335 of 454
4Bennington, VT36138.7$654K−1.8%#346 of 454

Counties

Counties in Vermont, ranked for child care centers and preschools by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Orange County, VT5175.5$985K+2.4%#791 of 1,611
2Washington County, VT48166.2$927K−0.2%#869 of 1,611
3Lamoille County, VT4386.7$827K+1.4%#1,003 of 1,611
4Franklin County, VT42157.5$724K+2.3%#1,040 of 1,611
5Addison County, VT41138.7$693K+1.8%#1,070 of 1,611
6Chittenden County, VT40659.1$755K+0.4%#1,099 of 1,611
7Orleans County, VT3497.5$645K+0.7%#1,244 of 1,611
8Rutland County, VT34239.1$544K−1.4%#1,253 of 1,611
9Windsor County, VT33239.1$646K−0.7%#1,268 of 1,611
10Caledonia County, VT32107.6$636K+0.8%#1,293 of 1,611
11Windham County, VT30168.1$661K−1.4%#1,328 of 1,611
12Bennington County, VT30138.7$654K−1.8%#1,329 of 1,611
Grand Isle County, VTNot scored13.2$2.3M+3.2%
Essex County, VTNot scored00.0n/a+2.2%

Markets with fewer than 5 child care centers and preschools on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.

Questions

How many child care centers and preschools are in Vermont?

There are 219 child care centers and preschools on map listings in Vermont as of September 2026. 6 of them (3%) are chain locations. The listings count day care centers and preschools. Official counts show 272 businesses with payroll classed as child care services in 2023, up 11.5% from 2019. Official counts list 955 one-person businesses without payroll.

How much do households in Vermont spend on child care and other personal services?

About $159.3M a year, or $583 per household. That is in line with the U.S. average (an index of 100, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 219 child care centers and preschools on map listings, it comes to $727K per center. It is estimated from the incomes of the 273,416 households in Vermont and national spending patterns by income.

How does Vermont compare with the U.S. for child care centers and preschools?

Vermont has 8.0 child care centers and preschools per 10,000 households, 38% above the U.S. rate of 5.8. Spending per center is $727K, 27% below the U.S. figure of $1M. At the national ratio of child care centers and preschools to household spending, Vermont would have about 159, against 219 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 1,005 households, against one for every 1,573 across the U.S. The official count rose 11.5% from 2019 to 2023, against +5.7% for the U.S.

Which market in Vermont has the highest market score for child care centers and preschools?

The one scored metro area in or partly in Vermont is the Burlington-South Burlington metro area, at 34 (lower middle). Among 5 scored small-town markets in or partly in Vermont, the Lebanon-Claremont area scores highest, at 56 (upper middle). Among 12 scored counties in Vermont, Orange County scores highest, at 51 (upper middle). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.

What is the Groundwork market score?

The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. Vermont scores 23 for child care centers and preschools (low), #48 of the 50 states and DC.

How can I see the market around a specific site?

Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Vermont. It maps the child care centers and preschools on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.

Child care and preschools in other states

All 51 states

Top markets for child care centers and preschools across the U.S. · All business types in Vermont

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This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.