Vermont Real Estate For Sale

With the smallest population of any state but Wyoming, Vermont has plenty of room for population growth and increases in housing density. The vast majority of real estate in Vermont were built over a century ago, giving them an old New England style that appeals to many and makes the state beautiful to look at each day. Having been ranked the safest state, the best state to have a family, and one of the healthiest states in America, it's no wonder there has also been an increase in the number of newly built homes in recent years.

The average cost of a home in Vermont real estate market sits under $350,000, making it one of the lowest in New England. For those who want to buy a real estate in Vermont in a more rural area, there will be lower living costs, while the cities have more apartment and condo-style homes for a slightly faster pace. But you can expect to find more single-family homes than anything, with Vermont averaging over five rooms per house, the highest of its neighboring states' averages.

Wherever you choose to buy a real estate in Vermont, you may notice some unique features to the available properties. What most of the country calls a basement is often referred to as a "Lower Level" in Vermont, and it comes with special requirements. Because of the cold winters, frost protection is critical in these spaces, and the state requires a depth of four feet to ensure maximum protection. You are also likely to see a Mudroom in many modern homes for sale in Vermont because the period between winter and spring is notoriously muddy in the state!

Consistently ranked in the Top 5 states for education quality, Vermont has a long-running tradition of excellence in education. Students in K-12 schools score above the national average in every subject and grade level. Public education in Vermont is overseen by the Vermont State Board of Education, which audits the performance of schools run by local municipalities and school districts. In all, the VSBE has responsibility for Vermont's 250 public schools.

There is a unique concept in Vermont known as a union high school. To promote educational efficiency, especially in rural areas, the state allows towns to create a higher-level school district above the level of each participating town. These union schools permit the creation of larger high schools in rural areas. There are more than 80 such unions in the state. Vermont real estate also has access to the nation's first cross-state school district- Dresden School District, which includes part of Vermont plus Hanover, New Hampshire.

Among the state's best school districts are Rutland City Public Schools, which includes a technical center and a special education campus, and South Burlington School District for its high academic performance.

Vermont is also well-known for being a highly educated state amongst its populace, with 94% of the population having a high school diploma or higher. This is partly because the state houses 16 colleges and universities, including the flagship University of Vermont.

The main airport in Vermont is Burlington International Airport. There are only two other commercial airports, Rutland-Southern Vermont Regional Airport and Morrisville-Stowe State Airport. While Burlington is a large and busy airport, some people choose to fly into surrounding states like Massachusetts or New Hampshire. 

Vermont's attractions are varied, so a trip's itinerary may differ based on your interests. For the outdoor enthusiast, almost anywhere you turn will have a lake, forest, or covered bridge to explore and a nearby hiking trail. There is also the Green Mountain National Forest and Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park to explore. Others will enjoy the Church Street Marketplace in downtown Burlington, a tour of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream, or a visit to one of Vermont's maple farms. 

Vermont winters can be extremely cold, with an average temperature of 22 degrees and average lows under 10 degrees. It is also the snowiest state in the US, with over 90 inches of snow each year. However, summers are very mild, with nights dipping into the 50s and the high rarely going over 82 degrees. 

The biggest city in Vermont is Burlington, with a population of about 42,600. The next largest city, Essex, has a population of 21,600. 

Vermont's school year begins at the end of August, with the last day of school typically in the first two weeks of June.

While Vermont is sparsely populated and full of small towns, there is no shortage of things to do. Real estate in Vermont has access to an endless amount of nature to enjoy, and in the winter, many outdoor sports allow you to keep enjoying the scenery. The state is also known for various food and drinks and offers relaxing lakeside views between adventures. 

Ben and Jerry's ice cream is one of the biggest brands based out of Vermont. In addition to stores throughout the state, the factory itself is in Vermont and open for tours. There is a lot of pride in the state for the ice cream brand, as well as other local businesses like Lake Champlain Chocolates, King Arthur Flour, and the Vermont Country Store. Many small breweries are also scattered throughout the state, and you may notice a lot of home brewing as well. 

The state is also known for its maple syrup, and you'd be hard-pressed to find fake syrup in any home in Vermont. Much of the country's maple syrup is sourced from Vermont, where you can find it in most stories alongside candies, cookies, sauces, and jellies that use it as an ingredient. 

Vermont is one of the coldest states in the country, with an average low of just 10 degrees in the winters and an average snowfall of 91.4 inches per year. With so much snowfall every year, Vermont residents would go crazy if there wasn't a way to get outside all winter. Skiing and snowboarding are extremely popular in the state among local residents and tourists. In fact, some of the state's largest economic boons come from winter visitors to ski resorts. Alongside common choices like skiing and snowboarding, you may also enjoy riding a snowmobile, sledding, ice skating on a lake, or snowshoeing.

Most people in Vermont spend a lot of time outdoors, both for work and leisure activities. The state houses Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Park, which covers over 550 acres of beautiful forest and a historic mansion. Many farms and nature centers throughout the state also have hosted tours and seasonal events that will keep even lifetime residents coming back. For a less structured option, you can spend time on one of the many lakes in the area or hike the local trails.

The major industries in Vermont are tourism, manufacturing, and agriculture. While tourism provides a large number of jobs, many of them are seasonal or used to supplement other lines of work. The most stable job market in the state is in manufacturing, with Vermont producing a lot of precision instruments and specialty metals, defense and aerospace materials, and plastics. 

Vermont also exports a lot of natural resources as part of its manufacturing industry. This includes wood from the state's trees, sap used for maple syrup, and marble, granite, and limestone to be quarried and turned into building material. Additionally, Vermont has an active agriculture industry, primarily focused on dairy. Brands like Cabot cheese rely on small, local dairy farmers to supply nationwide products. 

Many of Vermont's well-known brands have grown out of a tradition of cottage industries. These are small businesses, usually started in someone's home, that produced a specialty product and ended up with a large and loyal following. While these may remain small, Vermont has enough to justify a portion of its economy, including the famous Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream. 

Burlington is the most populated city in Vermont and is home to large employers in the education sector, such as the University of Vermont and St. Michaels College. The area used to be a large base of employment for IBM, which has left a legacy of tech companies in the area, including the largest private employer in the state, Global Foundries.