Franklin County covers about 692 square miles in the northwest corner of Vermont, running from St. Albans and Swanton up to the Quebec border at Highgate and Richford. Outside the county seat, the land opens quickly into dairy farms, sugarbush and rolling country around towns like Enosburg Falls, Fairfield, Bakersfield and Montgomery.
The homes reflect that spread. In St. Albans you find multi-story houses near Taylor Park with full staircases between floors. Out in the 16 towns there are farmhouses, split-levels, ranch-style homes and townhouses. Each one asks a different question of a stair lift, and this page walks through those questions and the programs that may help pay.
The St. Albans Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Fires swept parts of downtown more than once in the second half of the 19th century, so the area mixes Greek Revival, Romanesque and Queen Anne buildings from the early 19th to early 20th centuries.
Multi-story homes from that era usually have one full staircase between floors, and many of those stairs turn at a landing or wind near the top. A turning stair calls for a curved lift built on a rail made to fit that exact staircase. If the stair runs straight from bottom to top, a straight lift is simpler and faster to install.
Before quoting, we measure the stair width, the turns, and the space at the top and bottom landings. Older stairs are sometimes narrow, so we also check that a folded seat leaves room for others to pass.
Split-level homes have short flights between levels. A lift can serve the flight to the bedrooms, and in some houses a second short lift is needed for the lower level. Ranch-style homes keep living space on one floor, but the stairs to a basement laundry or the steps at the entry can still be the problem.
Townhouses often stack the kitchen and bedrooms on separate floors, which makes a straight lift a common fit. Walk-up apartments are a harder case, since shared stairways belong to the building owner and any lift needs their approval first.
Where the trouble is outside, at a porch or entry, an outdoor lift or a platform lift may work better than an indoor chair. A platform lift is the option for someone who needs to stay in a wheelchair.
Franklin County has about 45,348 residents, and 16.4 percent are 65 or older. About 78.3 percent of households own their homes, which matters because owners can install a lift without asking a landlord, and several repair programs below are open only to owner-occupants.
Veterans should know which VA programs do and do not cover a stair lift before applying, so we cover that in the programs list.
St. Albans is the largest population center, but much of the county is rural farmland. Many residents live a meaningful drive from installers and accessibility contractors based in the Burlington and Chittenden County area.
For a home in Richford, Berkshire or Fletcher, it helps to plan the measuring visit and the install with that drive in mind. Have the stair cleared, know where the nearest outlet is, and have whoever makes decisions present so the visit only happens once.
Agriculture anchors the local economy, and Census figures from 2006 to 2010 put median household income at $53,623, with 10.5 percent of residents below the poverty line. That makes loans and grants worth checking before paying out of pocket.
None of the programs listed below name stair lifts outright. Several do cover home modifications or accessibility work in general, and the VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides. The best first call is usually the Senior HelpLine at (800) 642-5119, which can point you to Choices for Care and other options.
Other statewide resources include the Vermont Independence Fund (Assistive Technology Loan). Veterans can reach Vermont Veterans Outreach at (802) 338-4312, 789 National Guard Road, Colchester.
A Medicaid long-term care waiver for Vermonters who meet nursing facility level of care, with a 2026 income limit of $2,982 a month for a single applicant. Home modifications are a listed benefit with ramps, grab bars and widening doorways as examples, but stair lifts are not named; call (800) 642-5119.
A state-funded tier for Vermonters 65 and older, or adults 18 and older with a physical disability, that pays through a self-directed Flexible Funds budget and does not require Medicaid eligibility. Home modifications appear as one example use, though stair lifts are not named; call (800) 642-5119.
The Area Agency on Aging for Vermonters 60 and older, with a St. Albans office at 228 North Main St, offering referrals, benefits counseling and help applying for programs like Choices for Care. It does not list a stair lift or home modification fund; call the Senior HelpLine at (800) 642-5119.
Low-interest repair loans and grants up to $3,000 for owner-occupants in Franklin, Chittenden or Grand Isle County earning under 80% of area median income, such as $69,850 for a 1-person household. The trust says it can help with home accessibility modifications, though stair lifts are not named; call (802) 861-7388.
Federal loans up to $20,000 at 1% fixed interest over 20 years, and grants up to $7,500 for homeowners 62 and older who cannot repay a loan, combinable up to $27,500, for very-low-income owners in eligible rural areas. The program funds repairs and removal of health or safety hazards and does not mention stair lifts.
A lifetime VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000, depending on disability status, for medically necessary structural changes to a veteran's home. The VA explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts, so HISA does not cover a stair lift.
Grants for veterans with specific severe service-connected disabilities to build or modify a home, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026. Stair lifts are not named in the source, so ask whether one can be part of an approved adaptation plan.
A state-funded program for Vermonters with a physical disability and household income no greater than 80% of HUD area median income, with no age or homeownership requirement. It covers home entry and bathroom accessibility modifications and does not mention stair lifts; call (802) 224-1807.
Older adults
875 Roosevelt Highway, Suite 210, Colchester, 05446
Veterans
789 National Guard Road, Colchester, 05446
Usually, yes, but many older multi-story homes have stairs that turn at a landing, which calls for a curved lift with a custom rail. A measuring visit checks stair width and landing space before anything is ordered.
The VA HISA grant does not, since its rules exclude stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants fund home modifications for veterans with specific severe service-connected disabilities, but the source does not name stair lifts, so ask before counting on it. Vermont Veterans Outreach is at (802) 338-4312.
Age Well serves people 60 and older, but the Choices for Care Moderate Needs Group accepts adults 18 and older with a physical disability, and the VCIL Home Access Program has no age limit. Neither names stair lifts specifically, so confirm coverage when you apply.
Age Well has a St. Albans office at 228 North Main St for Franklin County residents. The Champlain Valley AAA office is at 875 Roosevelt Highway, Suite 210, Colchester, phone (802) 865-0360.
The USDA Section 504 program offers grants up to $7,500 to homeowners 62 and older in eligible rural areas who cannot repay a loan. Champlain Housing Trust also offers grants up to $3,000 to income-eligible owners anywhere in Franklin County.
Not for the Moderate Needs Group, which has a 2026 income limit of $2,982 a month for an individual and an asset limit under $10,000. The High/Highest Needs Group is a Medicaid waiver. Call (800) 642-5119 to start.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
