Vermont

Vermont lands two cities in America’s top 15 happiest list

Published

3 days ago

April 18, 2026

Vermont lands two cities in America’s top 15 happiest list

Is creativity the missing key to better health?

Research suggests creative activities like art, music and crafts may benefit mental health as much as other key health habits.

Here’s another reason Vermont is the best New England state: It’s home to one of the top 5 happiest cities in the United States.

Plus, it has another within the top 15.

Massachusetts, on the other hand, doesn’t even break the top 50. Nor, does Connecticut or Rhode Island.

The personal finance website analyzed 182 of the largest cities in the country, and ranked Boston 63rd overall. Although the city is home to some of the nation’s top universities, high-ranking hospitals, and well-regarded companies, it didn’t break the top 50.

To get the rankings, WalletHub compared the cities using 29 metrics, including life-satisfaction index, depression rate, poverty rate, job security, and acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, and cities were assigned an overall happiness score.

Here’s a look at how the cities ranked.

South Burlington is No. 4 happiest city, Burlington is No. 11

South Burlington came on top for Vermont in WalletHub’s list of the happiest cities in the United States, ranking at No. 4. In scored very high for emotional and physical well-being coming in at the No. 4 spot, which made up for coming in No. 48 for community and environment. It was No. 9 for income and employment ranking. That gave it a total happiness of score of 70.15

Burlington wasn’t far behind at all, taking the No. 11 spot on the list and a happiness score of 67.54. It’s highest score was for income and employment ranking where it came second. It ranked No. 13 for community and environment and No. 21 for emotional and physical well-being.

Happiest cities in the US, per WalletHub

Here are the 25 happiest cities in the U.S., and their happiness scores, according to WalletHub’s 2026 list:

Fremont, California – 74.09
Bismarck, North Dakota – 73.11
Scottsdale, Arizona – 71.36
South Burlington, Vermont – 70.15
Fargo, North Dakota – 69.36
Overland Park, Kansas – 68.45
Charleston, South Carolina – 68.44
Irvine, California – 67.99
Gilbert, Arizona – 67.96
San Jose, California – 67.79
Burlington, Vermont – 67.54
Madison, Wisconsin – 66.35
Columbia, Maryland – 66.28
Chandler, Arizona – 65.69
Seattle, Washington – 65.62
Plano, Texas – 65.34
San Francisco, California – 64.99
Lincoln, Nebraska – 64.90
Portland, Maine – 64.59
Tempe, Arizona – 64.30
San Diego, California – 64.30
Raleigh, North Carolina – 63.47
Peoria, Arizona – 63.38
Durham, North Carolina – 62.84
Huntington Beach, California – 62.80

Least happy cities in the US, per WalletHub

Here are the 25 least happy cities in the U.S., and their happiness scores, according to WalletHub’s 2026 list:

Detroit, Michigan (#182 overall) – 29.55
Memphis, Tennessee (#181 overall) – 34.39
Shreveport, Louisiana (#180 overall) – 34.93
Cleveland, Ohio (#179 overall) – 36.50
Huntington, West Virginia (#178 overall) – 37.20
Toledo, Ohio (#177 overall) – 37.21
Augusta, Georgia (#176 overall) – 38.24
Fort Smith, Arkansas (#175 overall) – 38.66
Dover, Delaware (#174 overall) – 39.08
Akron, Ohio (#173 overall) – 40.11
Baltimore, Maryland (#172 overall) – 40.28
Birmingham, Alabama (#171 overall) – 40.37
Baton Rouge, Louisiana (#170 overall) – 40.47
Columbus, Georgia (#169 overall) – 40.61
Montgomery, Alabama (#168 overall) – 41.35
Gulfport, Mississippi (#167 overall) – 41.65
Charleston, West Virginia (#166 overall) – 42.18
Jackson, Mississippi (#165 overall) – 42.60
St. Louis, Missouri (#164 overall) – 43.53
Knoxville, Tennessee (#163 overall) – 44.04
Wilmington, Delaware (#162 overall) – 44.34
Little Rock, Arkansas (#161 overall) – 44.48
Mobile, Alabama (#160 overall) – 44.85
New Orleans, Louisiana (#159 overall) – 45.19
Tulsa, Oklahoma (#158 overall) – 45.33

Where New England cities ranked

Here are the 12 happiest cities in New England, and their happiness scores, according to WalletHub’s 2026 list:

South Burlington, Vermont (#6 overall) – 70.15
Burlington, Vermont (#11 overall) – 67.54
Portland, Maine (#19 overall) – 64.59
Nashua, New Hampshire (#27 overall) – 62.49
Manchester, New Hampshire (#51 overall) – 59.10
Boston, Massachusetts (#63 overall) – 56.88
Warwick, Rhode Island (#66 overall) – 56.59
New Haven, Connecticut (#95 overall) – 54.14
Bridgeport, Connecticut (#96 overall) – 54.01
Providence, Rhode Island (#98 overall) – 53.52
Worcester, Massachusetts (#116 overall) – 50.12
Lewiston, Maine (#145 overall) – 47.28

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Vermont

VT Lottery Powerball, Gimme 5 results for April 20, 2026

Published

10 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win

Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.

Just the FAQs, USA TODAY

The Vermont Lottery offers several draw games for those willing to make a bet to win big.

Those who want to play can enter the MegaBucks and Lucky for Life games as well as the national Powerball and Mega Millions games. Vermont also partners with New Hampshire and Maine for the Tri-State Lottery, which includes the Mega Bucks, Gimme 5 as well as the Pick 3 and Pick 4.

Drawings are held at regular days and times, check the end of this story to see the schedule.

Here’s a look at April 20, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from April 20 drawing

09-17-36-47-64, Powerball: 26, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Gimme 5 numbers from April 20 drawing

16-17-25-33-36

Check Gimme 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 20 drawing

Day: 0-5-8

Evening: 6-1-9

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 20 drawing

Day: 7-8-3-4

Evening: 0-0-4-9

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Megabucks Plus numbers from April 20 drawing

04-11-23-32-41, Megaball: 04

Check Megabucks Plus payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

For Vermont Lottery prizes up to $499, winners can claim their prize at any authorized Vermont Lottery retailer or at the Vermont Lottery Headquarters by presenting the signed winning ticket for validation. Prizes between $500 and $5,000 can be claimed at any M&T Bank location in Vermont during the Vermont Lottery Office’s business hours, which are 8a.m.-4p.m. Monday through Friday, except state holidays.

For prizes over $5,000, claims must be made in person at the Vermont Lottery headquarters. In addition to signing your ticket, you will need to bring a government-issued photo ID, and a completed claim form.

All prize claims must be submitted within one year of the drawing date. For more information on prize claims or to download a Vermont Lottery Claim Form, visit the Vermont Lottery’s FAQ page or contact their customer service line at (802) 479-5686.

Vermont Lottery Headquarters

1311 US Route 302, Suite 100

Barre, VT

05641

When are the Vermont Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Gimme 5: 6:55 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
Pick 3 Day: 1:10 p.m. daily.
Pick 4 Day: 1:10 p.m. daily.
Pick 3 Evening: 6:55 p.m. daily.
Pick 4 Evening: 6:55 p.m. daily.
Megabucks: 7:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily

What is Vermont Lottery Second Chance?

Vermont’s 2nd Chance lottery lets players enter eligible non-winning instant scratch tickets into a drawing to win cash and/or other prizes. Players must register through the state’s official Lottery website or app. The drawings are held quarterly or are part of an additional promotion, and are done at Pollard Banknote Limited in Winnipeg, MB, Canada.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Vermont editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Vermont

74-year-old woman fulfills childhood dream as EMT at fair in Vermont

Published

23 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

74-year-old woman fulfills childhood dream as EMT at fair in Vermont

ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. (Aging Untold) — For 10 days, the Champlain Valley Fair, a county fair in Vermont, becomes its own little town with thousands of people, hot afternoons and the occasional emergency.

Charlene Phelps, 74, runs the fair’s emergency response team.

“We have a lot of seniors that come and people don’t drink enough water,” Phelps said.

The team handles sprains, bee stings, heat exhaustion and whatever comes through.

“I like taking care of people, I like helping people,” Phelps said.

Living out a childhood dream

It’s also a childhood dream.

Phelps wanted to be a nurse, but college wasn’t possible, so she found another route into care and has been showing up year after year at the fair.

Aging Untold expert Amy O’Rourke said living out your purpose can improve mental and spiritual well-being.

“When you tap into that, you’re tapping in on a place that’s a risk, that’s a challenge that inevitably creates growth inside you, gives you confidence so that if you’re in another situation you can build on that,” O’Rourke said. “Or, if you’re in an everyday situation where you’re a little anxious, it’ll help create stabilization in that place as well.”

Saving lives at the fair

Sometimes it’s bigger than a bandage.

“Over on there near the swings way over there is Gustovo, and we saved his life,” Phelps said.

Gustovo had gone into cardiac arrest at the fair a few years ago.

“I mean he was gone,” Phelps said.

Now he’s back and working the rides.

“Came for my hug, Gustovo,” Phelps said.

O’Rourke said stories like this are also why some people keep working past retirement age. Purpose isn’t a number, it’s a role.

“I’ve seen a 92-year-old still working as a nurse’s aid. I’ve seen people in my neighborhood chilling out and loving it,” O’Rourke said. “So, I think it’s being really self-aware of what you need and making sure that you’re getting those needs met.”

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Vermont

Vermont lawmakers reject digital lottery initiative – Valley News

Published

1 day ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Vermont lawmakers reject digital lottery initiative – Valley News

A plan by Gov. Phil Scott’s administration to make all of the state’s lottery games, including scratch-off tickets, available on a person’s phone never got off the ground at the Statehouse this year.

Lottery Commissioner Wendy Knight told lawmakers in January that the plan was a way to modernize the lottery “because you need to keep pace with technology — you need to meet your players where they are.”

Fifteen states have created a “digital” lottery system, and many have discovered there’s a distinct market of people who don’t buy lottery tickets at retail outlets but will do so on their phones, according to Knight. “We’re trying to ensure the future of the Vermont Lottery, ” the commissioner said.

But state lawmakers have not been persuaded.

Vergennes Rep. Matt Birong, the Democratic chair of the House government operations committee, said members of the panel felt this year was not the time to move forward with this plan, especially given the recent legalization of sports betting.

“It is digitizing a current system and after moving forward with the sports wagering — people just wanted to take their time with it — so my committee decided to tap the brakes on further testimony.”

The administration estimated that the plan would have raised roughly $5 million a year for the state’s education fund after two years of implementation.

The prospect of that additional revenue is appealing to lawmakers, and Birong said they may reconsider the plan next year.

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