Vermont earthquake risk
Chittenden County has the highest earthquake risk in Vermont, scoring 76.7 out of 100 — rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chittenden County | 76.7 | Relatively Low |
| 2 | Franklin County | 60.1 | Relatively Low |
| 3 | Rutland County | 58.2 | Very Low |
| 4 | Addison County | 55.8 | Very Low |
| 5 | Windsor County | 53.9 | Very Low |
| 6 | Washington County | 52.4 | Very Low |
| 7 | Windham County | 49.7 | Very Low |
| 8 | Orleans County | 46.7 | Very Low |
| 9 | Bennington County | 45.5 | Very Low |
| 10 | Caledonia County | 44.9 | Very Low |
| 11 | Lamoille County | 40.5 | Very Low |
| 12 | Orange County | 37.8 | Very Low |
| 13 | Grand Isle County | 30.6 | Very Low |
| 14 | Essex County | 22.5 | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. Scores are 0–100 percentile rankings among all US counties. See the methodology page for definitions. Download the full CSV for all counties.
Earthquake risk nationally:
Other hazard risks in Vermont:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest earthquake risk county in Vermont?
Chittenden County, VT has the highest earthquake risk in Vermont, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 76.7 out of 100 (rated "Relatively Low").
What causes earthquake risk in Vermont?
Earthquake risk reflects expected annual losses from ground shaking. High scores concentrate in California, the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and the New Madrid Seismic Zone (spanning Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, and neighboring states). NOAA's Storm Events Database does not track earthquakes, so recorded event counts are not shown.