Vermont: basement moisture and foundation risk by county
14 counties, ranked by our combined index. Highest combined risk is Lamoille County (44), lowest is Addison County (32). The worst soil for foundation cracks specifically is in Windham County.
| County | Index | Moisture | Cracks | Water table | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamoille County | 44 | 42 | 30 | 66 | Glaciated New England upland |
| Windham County | 43 | 40 | 32 | 66 | Glaciated New England upland |
| Caledonia County | 40 | 41 | 20 | 66 | Glaciated New England upland |
| Orange County | 40 | 41 | 20 | 66 | Glaciated New England upland |
| Chittenden County | 38 | 43 | 25 | 46 | Glaciated New England upland |
| Grand Isle County | 37 | 40 | 25 | 46 | Glaciated New England upland |
| Essex County | 34 | 42 | 13 | 46 | Glaciated New England upland |
| Franklin County | 34 | 41 | 15 | 46 | Glaciated New England upland |
| Rutland County | 34 | 39 | 18 | 46 | Glaciated New England upland |
| Washington County | 34 | 43 | 12 | 46 | Glaciated New England upland |
| Orleans County | 33 | 44 | 20 | 30 | Glaciated New England upland |
| Windsor County | 33 | 40 | 14 | 46 | Glaciated New England upland |
| Addison County | 32 | 40 | 23 | 30 | Glaciated New England upland |
| Bennington County | 32 | 39 | 12 | 46 | Glaciated New England upland |
Values from USDA NRCS SSURGO where available, otherwise our regional model — each county page states which. Methodology.
The physiographic regions inside Vermont
State lines are political; soil follows geology. These are the distinct ground types inside Vermont and why each behaves the way it does.
Glaciated New England upland
A hardpan under thin till creates a perched water table — water stands above an impermeable layer even though the regional water table is deep. It is the commonest cause of a wet basement in New England. Expansive clay is largely absent.
14 counties: Addison County, Bennington County, Caledonia County, Chittenden County, Essex County, Franklin County, Grand Isle County, Lamoille County, Orange County, Orleans County, Rutland County, Washington County, Windham County, Windsor County
Page data updated