Vermont state guide

Childcare centers in Vermont

Vermont has 1,062 childcare centers and homes in its state licensing records, across 195 cities, with about 31,000 licensed seats at the 950 centers that report capacity. Vermont Department for Children and Families, Child Development Division handles licensing. This guide covers the rules that apply, how to check a license, quality ratings, how subsidy works, and how to find a center in your city.

Data updated November 4, 2026 · Source: Vermont Department for Children and Families, Child Development Division (opens in a new tab) public records · How we compile this →

Largest cities for childcare in Vermont

Ranked by centers and homes on file. Each city page lists every center in that city.
  1. Burlington50 centers and homes
  2. Bennington37 centers and homes
  3. Rutland37 centers and homes
  4. Essex32 centers and homes
  5. Brattleboro27 centers and homes
  6. South Burlington24 centers and homes
Show 6 more
  1. Hartford22 centers and homes
  2. St Albans22 centers and homes
  3. Springfield21 centers and homes
  4. Williston21 centers and homes
  5. Colchester20 centers and homes
  6. Derby17 centers and homes

Centers and homes listed per city, of 1,062 in Vermont.

All 195 Vermont cities

All 195 cities in Vermont, A to Z

Jump to a letter, or open a group below.

A · 4 cities

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B · 24 cities

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C · 17 cities

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D · 7 cities

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E · 4 cities

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F · 8 cities

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G · 7 cities

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H · 10 cities

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I · 1 city

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J · 4 cities

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K · 1 city

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L · 7 cities

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M · 12 cities

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N · 8 cities

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O · 2 cities

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P · 9 cities

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R · 11 cities

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S · 24 cities

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T · 5 cities

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U · 1 city

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V · 2 cities

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W · 27 cities

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Vermont childcare centers by county

14 Vermont counties have licensed centers or homes on file, ranked here by how many. Chittenden County has the most, with 213 centers and homes.
  1. Chittenden County213 centers and homes
  2. Rutland County102 centers and homes
  3. Windsor County101 centers and homes
  4. Washington County99 centers and homes
  5. Franklin County97 centers and homes
  6. Windham County71 centers and homes
  7. Caledonia County69 centers and homes
  8. Bennington County64 centers and homes
  9. Orleans County64 centers and homes
  10. Addison County59 centers and homes
  11. Orange County55 centers and homes
  12. Lamoille County46 centers and homes
  13. Grand Isle County12 centers and homes
  14. Essex County10 centers and homes

License types in Vermont

Vermont’s licensing records use these categories. Each listing shows which one applies.

Vermont child care ratios

Vermont sets a maximum number of children per staff member for each age in licensed child care centers. Each row cites the regulation it comes from.
Vermont ratios by age
Maximum children per staff member in licensed child care centers, by age, under CBCCPP rule 6.2.1.3. Some age bands overlap, so each row is listed with its own rule.
AgeStaff : childrenRule
0–17 months1:4CBCCPP rule 6.2.1.3 (opens in a new tab)
18–29 months1:4CBCCPP rule 6.2.1.3 (opens in a new tab)
2 years1:5CBCCPP rule 6.2.1.3 (opens in a new tab)
32–41 months1:6CBCCPP rule 6.2.1.3 (opens in a new tab)
3–5 years1:10CBCCPP rule 6.2.1.3 (opens in a new tab)

These are the state’s minimums for licensed child care centers, and a center can staff richer. Read the linked rule text before relying on a figure: regulations change.

How to check a daycare license in Vermont

Every licensed center in Vermont has a public record with Vermont Department for Children and Families, Child Development Division. Here is how to read it.

  1. Search the state’s site

    Open Bright Futures (opens in a new tab) and look the center up by name and city. Confirm the license type and that its status is active.

  2. Read the inspection information

    Open the center’s record and read whatever inspection or compliance information the state posts for it.

  3. Compare with Clear Day’s center page

    Our page shows the license type and capacity next to the hours and programs the center lists, so you can weigh the state’s record beside what the center offers.

Open Bright Futures (opens in a new tab)

Each Clear Day center page in Vermont links to that center’s state record when the state publishes one, so step 3 starts one click from step 1.

STep Ahead Recognition System quality ratings

STep Ahead Recognition System (opens in a new tab) is Vermont’s own quality rating program for child care. The level a center holds comes from the state.

This is the state’s rating, shown as the state’s. Clear Day does not rate or review centers.

948 of 950 Vermont centers have a STep Ahead Recognition System rating

Share of 950 Vermont centers in the directory, by STep Ahead Recognition System level.

  • Level 1 35%342 centers
  • Level 2 1%11 centers
  • Level 3 10%97 centers
  • Level 4 23%214 centers
  • Level 5 30%284 centers
  • No rating on file 1%2 centers

Paying for childcare in Vermont

These programs help Vermont families pay for care. Which one fits depends on income, your child’s age and where you live.

Head Start and Early Head Start

Federal programs for families with low incomes, from pregnancy through age five.

100%accept Head Start7 of 7 centers reporting

100%accept Early Head Start6 of 6 centers reporting

Head Start locator (opens in a new tab)

Frequently asked questions about childcare in Vermont

Answers use the numbers on this page, as of November 4, 2026.
How many childcare centers are in Vermont?

Vermont has 1,062 childcare centers and homes in the state licensing records Clear Day reads, across 195 cities. Burlington has the most, with 50, followed by Bennington (37) and Rutland (37).

What is the child-to-staff ratio for infants in Vermont?

For children 0–17 months in licensed child care centers, Vermont allows up to 4 children per staff member, a ratio of 1:4 under CBCCPP rule 6.2.1.3. For 18–29 months it is 1:4. The full table is on this page.

How do I check if a daycare is licensed in Vermont?

Look the center up in Bright Futures, the state's public license lookup. Confirm the license is active, then read whatever inspection or compliance information the state posts for that center. Clear Day center pages link to the state's record for that center when the state publishes one.

Does Vermont help pay for childcare?

Yes. Vermont's child care subsidy program is Child Care Financial Assistance Program. Public pre-K is a separate option: Universal Prekindergarten: Act 166.

What is STep Ahead Recognition System?

STep Ahead Recognition System is Vermont's quality rating program for child care. 948 of 950 centers in the Clear Day directory carry a rating. The ratings are the state's. Clear Day does not rate or review centers.

Where does this data come from?

Center records come from Vermont Department for Children and Families, Child Development Division public records. Every share on the page names the number of centers it is counted over, and the methodology page explains how.

When was this data last updated?

The state records on this page were last imported November 4, 2026. Each center page shows its own record date. See the methodology for details.

How we compile the data →

Clear Day Family

Making a shortlist in Vermont?

Tap Save on centers in any of Vermont’s 195 city lists as you go.A free Clear Day Family account keeps that shortlist on every device, with tour notes for each center, so the one you saw Tuesday doesn’t blur into Thursday’s.

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Free. Sign in with a code we email you. On the web now, iPhone and Android apps coming soon.

Before you tour: what to ask, and why

For center directors

Run a center in Vermont?

Your center is already listed here, built from state records. Claim it free and get a free enrollment website built from your listing.

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Other state guides

Vermont is one of 36 states in the directory: 174,936 centers and homes across 14,123 cities. Each state has its own guide with its own rules, agency and license lookup.

Where this data comes from

Center records come from Vermont Department for Children and Families, Child Development Division public records. Every percentage on this page names the number of Vermont centers it is counted over. This page is a guide, not legal advice. Clear Day does not rate, rank or review centers.

Read the full methodology →

Last updated
November 4, 2026
Agency
Vermont Department for Children and Families, Child Development Division (opens in a new tab)

This information is sourced from public records and may be incomplete or out of date. For the most current and accurate details, please verify directly with Vermont Department for Children and Families, Child Development Division or contact the center directly. Clear Day does not rate, rank or endorse any center.

Data updated Nov 4, 2026 · Source: Vermont Department for Children and Families, Child Development Division public records · Vermont license lookup (opens in a new tab) · How we compile this →

Contains information from Vermont Child Care Provider Data (opens in a new tab) (Vermont Department for Children and Families, Child Development Division), which is made available here under the Open Database License (ODbL) (opens in a new tab).