Employment
State government employs many residents of Montpelier, and many work in the region’s large and important tourist industry, especially the many ski areas. Montpelier’s second largest employer is National Life Insurance, which employs about 900 people. Other insurance companies, including Vermont Mutual Insurance, have their headquarters here as well; likewise strong are the financial and real estate sectors.
Montpelier also is home to an interesting mix of granite-tough Vermonters and people who have discovered its charms and extended a ski vacation or fall foliage jaunt to residency. These folks combine to add a real entrepreneurial spirit, opening a variety of small businesses.
With a strong downtown and service sector, Montpelier has a good cross section of employment opportunities. It is home to the last wooden clothespin manufacturer in the U.S. (National Clothespin Company). When it comes to nametag and hairnet jobs, be aware the Montpelier is the only state capital in the U.S. with no golden arches on its skyline; a choice of the city’s residents.
Connecting it to its past, Montpelier, like much of Vermont, has some granite-processing businesses as well.
Fast Facts
Location: Near the middle of the state where four rivers, including the Winooski, merge.
Area: 10.26 square miles
Population: 8,035
Housing Units: 3,899
Average Annual Precipitation: 30 inches of rain and 9 feet of snow
Average Annual Temperature: 42 degrees F