Groundwork

Market rankings · Vermont

Restaurants and cafes in Vermont

Markets across Vermont ranked by the Groundwork market score for restaurants and cafes, with competitor counts and household spending for each.

Listings
3,148
504 chain locations (16%)
Official establishments
1,206
−1.2% since 2019
Household spending a year
$1.1B
On food away from home
Listings per 10k households
115.1
5% above the U.S.
Spending per listing
$349K
6% below the U.S.
Rank among states
#38 of 51
Market score 40 · Lower middle

A site report maps the restaurants and cafes 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

As of September 2026, map listings count 3,148 restaurants and cafes in Vermont. Of those, 504 are chain locations, or 16%, against 34% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 115.1, 5% above the U.S. rate of 109.8.

Household spending on food away from home in Vermont comes to about $1.1B a year: $4,013 per household, in line with the U.S. average. Spread across 3,148 restaurants and cafes, that is $349K per restaurant, 6% below the U.S. figure of $371K.

In 2023, official counts showed 1,206 businesses with payroll in Vermont classed as restaurants and other eating places, down 1.2% from 2019. That is one for every 227 households, against one for every 209 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 6.0% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 54 SBA-backed loans worth $9.5M have gone to businesses classed as restaurants and other eating places in Vermont.

Among the 50 states and DC, Vermont ranks #38 for restaurants and cafes, with a Groundwork market score of 40 (lower middle). The one scored metro area in or partly in Vermont, the Burlington-South Burlington metro area, scores 55. Of the 5 scored small-town markets in or partly in Vermont, the Lebanon-Claremont area scores highest (54).

Every market in Vermont for restaurants and cafes

Download the ranking (CSV)

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 restaurants and cafes by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Burlington-South Burlington, VT551,068112.9$381K+0.9%#157 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching Vermont, ranked for restaurants and cafes by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
Lebanon-Claremont, NH-VT541,040113.3$360K+1.5%#224 of 538
1Barre, VT54312120.7$334K−0.2%#229 of 538
2Rutland, VT30318125.6$290K−1.4%#458 of 538
3Bennington, VT29219146.1$264K−1.8%#469 of 538
4Brattleboro, VT27279141.0$268K−1.4%#478 of 538

Counties

Counties in Vermont, ranked for restaurants and cafes by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Orange County, VT837861.2$644K+2.4%#87 of 2,405
2Franklin County, VT7514673.1$535K+2.3%#245 of 2,405
3Addison County, VT6713489.5$461K+1.8%#485 of 2,405
4Orleans County, VT6110486.1$423K+0.7%#721 of 2,405
5Caledonia County, VT4912595.5$383K+0.8%#1,232 of 2,405
6Chittenden County, VT45883123.6$356K+0.4%#1,410 of 2,405
7Washington County, VT45312120.7$334K−0.2%#1,422 of 2,405
8Windsor County, VT44280110.7$362K−0.7%#1,459 of 2,405
9Lamoille County, VT28216181.2$216K+1.4%#2,114 of 2,405
10Rutland County, VT25318125.6$290K−1.4%#2,188 of 2,405
11Bennington County, VT25219146.1$264K−1.8%#2,195 of 2,405
12Windham County, VT22279141.0$268K−1.4%#2,253 of 2,405
Grand Isle County, VTNot scored39124.2$363K+3.2%
Essex County, VTNot scored1553.1$622K+2.2%

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

Questions

How many restaurants and cafes are in Vermont?

Vermont has 3,148 restaurants and cafes on map listings as of September 2026. 504 of them (16%) are chain locations. The listings count every restaurant, cafe, bar, bakery and food truck. Official counts show 1,206 businesses with payroll classed as restaurants and other eating places in 2023, down 1.2% from 2019. Official counts list 202 one-person businesses without payroll.

How much do households in Vermont spend on food away from home?

About $1.1B a year, or $4,013 per household. That is in line with the U.S. average (an index of 99, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 3,148 restaurants and cafes on map listings, it comes to $349K per restaurant. 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 restaurants and cafes?

Vermont has 115.1 restaurants and cafes per 10,000 households, 5% above the U.S. rate of 109.8. Spending per restaurant is $349K, 6% below the U.S. figure of $371K. At the national ratio of restaurants and cafes to household spending, Vermont would have about 2,959, against 3,148 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 227 households, against one for every 209 across the U.S. The official count fell 1.2% from 2019 to 2023, against +6.0% for the U.S.

Which market in Vermont has the highest market score for restaurants and cafes?

The one scored metro area in or partly in Vermont is the Burlington-South Burlington metro area, at 55 (upper middle). Among 5 scored small-town markets in or partly in Vermont, the Lebanon-Claremont area scores highest, at 54 (upper middle). Among 12 scored counties in Vermont, Orange County scores highest, at 83 (high). 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 40 for restaurants and cafes (lower middle), #38 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 restaurants and cafes 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.

Restaurants and cafes in other states

All 51 states

Top markets for restaurants and cafes 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.