State soil summary
Soil types in Vermont
The most widespread soil series in Vermont are Cabot, Tunbridge, Peru. Pick a county below, or enter a ZIP code for the county you live in.
- Well or moderately well drained
- 75% of mapped land
- Typical topsoil pH
- 5.1 strongly acidic · most land 4.6–6.2
- Septic fields very limited
- 94% 0% not limited
- Subject to flooding
- 2% of land, any frequency
Vermont counties
1 county reports, by population
| County | Most common soil | Well drained | Topsoil pH | Septic very limited |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chittenden County | Lyman | 73% | 5.2 | 92% |
What this means
What Vermont soils mean for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Vermont is strongly acidic: pH 5.1 (most land between 4.6 and 6.2). Most vegetables and lawn grasses do best around 6.0 to 7.0, so lime is often needed; blueberries, azaleas and rhododendrons like it as it is.
Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 82% of the land: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is fine sandy loam (44% of the land).
75% of the land is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
On 76% of the land, rain soaks in slowly (hydrologic groups C and D, including dual groups that are D until drained). Expect runoff and puddles after heavy rain: core-aerate compacted lawns and keep ground sloping away from foundations.
A seasonal high water table comes within 18 inches of the surface on 33% of the land, often in spring. Basements, sump pumps and lawns in low spots feel it first.
For septic systems
For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 94% of the land in Vermont very limited, 4% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (2% not rated, such as urban land, pits or water).
Where the soil is very limited (slow permeability, a high water table, flooding, shallow bedrock or steep slopes), alternative systems such as mound or sand-filter designs are common and cost more.
Only a licensed site evaluation or perc test at the actual lot decides whether a system is allowed and which design.
Statewide mix
Share of all mapped land
Drainage
Show as a table
| Category | Share of land |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 3.5% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 13.3% |
| Well drained | 38.3% |
| Moderately well drained | 20.3% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 5.5% |
| Poorly drained | 12.7% |
| Very poorly drained | 3.3% |
| Not rated | 3.1% |
Septic absorption fields
Show as a table
| Category | Share of land |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 4.1% |
| Very limited | 93.5% |
| Not rated | 2.4% |
Topsoil pH
Show as a table
| Category | Share of land |
|---|---|
| Strongly acidic (below 5.5) | 62.8% |
| Moderately to slightly acidic (5.5–6.4) | 25.8% |
| Near neutral (6.5–7.3) | 6.9% |
| Alkaline (7.4 and up) | 0.0% |
| Not reported | 4.5% |
Sources & data dates
- Source
- USDA NRCS Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO), queried through Soil Data Access. Public domain.
- Data date
- SSURGO as published on November 3, 2026 (most recent survey area update October 26, 2026). NRCS refreshes SSURGO each October.
- Scope
- Vermont: 5,902,549 acres of mapped land in 14 counties, pooled (not an average of county figures).
- Method
- Shares are by mapped land area: each map unit’s acres in the county times each soil component’s percentage. Open water is excluded. Topsoil values use the first mineral horizon of each component. Full methodology.