Key Takeaways

Key Takeaways Price Stabilization: Vermont's median home price of $385,000 represents a cooling from pandemic-era rapid growth, but affordability remains challenging for most local workers. Construction Shortage: Only 1,200 new housing permits issued statewide in 2025 due to labor costs, strict zoning, and logistics challenges. Migration Reversal: After pandemic-era population gains, Vermont saw net outflow in 2025 as remote work policies changed and costs remained high. Economic Reality: While unemployment is low at 2.8%, most jobs are in healthcare, education, and tourism – sectors that don't support current housing prices for average workers.

Vermont's Housing Market 2026: Where Remote Work Meets Reality Check

Look, I've been watching Vermont's housing market for years, and 2026 is shaping up to be one of those "interesting" years. You know what I mean by interesting, right? The kind where everyone's trying to figure out what's really happening after all the pandemic craziness.

I had a homeowner from Burlington call me last week. She bought her place in 2021 thinking she'd work remote forever, but now her company wants her back in Boston three days a week. "Uncle Charles," she said, "I love Vermont, but I can't afford to keep this house if I'm commuting to Massachusetts half the week." That conversation? It's happening all over the Green Mountain State.

The Numbers Don't Lie: Vermont's Economic Reality

Let me break down what's really happening with Vermont's housing economy in 2026. The median home price is sitting around $385,000 – that's up from $320,000 just three years ago. But here's the thing that gets me: wages in Vermont haven't kept pace. The median household income is about $68,000, which means most Vermonters are spending way more than 30% of their income on housing.

The job market tells an interesting story. Vermont's unemployment rate is hovering around 2.8% – pretty good, right? But most of those jobs are in healthcare, education, and tourism. Not exactly the high-paying remote tech jobs that drove the pandemic buying frenzy.

Population-wise, Vermont gained about 15,000 people between 2020 and 2024, but that growth has slowed dramatically. In 2025, the state actually saw a net outflow of about 2,000 people. Turns out, when remote work policies changed and living costs kept climbing, some folks decided Vermont wasn't as attractive as they thought.

New Construction: The Struggle is Real

Here's where it gets frustrating for everyone involved. Vermont issued permits for only about 1,200 new housing units in 2025 – and that's for the entire state. Compare that to a place like North Carolina, which sees that many permits in a single county some months.

Why so few new homes? Three big reasons:

Labor costs are through the roof. Finding skilled construction workers in Vermont is like finding a needle in a haystack, and when you do find them, you're paying premium wages.

Land and zoning regulations. Vermont has some of the strictest development rules in the country. I'm not saying that's all bad – they want to preserve the character of the state – but it sure makes building expensive and time-consuming.

Materials and logistics. Everything costs more when you're building in rural Vermont. Getting materials delivered to job sites, dealing with winter weather delays – it all adds up.

The result? New construction is mostly focused on high-end homes for wealthy out-of-state buyers, not the workforce housing that Vermonters actually need.

Migration Patterns: Who's Coming and Going

The migration story in Vermont is more complex than the headlines suggest. Yeah, during the pandemic, Vermont saw an influx of people from New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. These were mostly higher-income folks who could work remotely and wanted that small-town Vermont lifestyle.

But 2025 and early 2026 have shown a different pattern. Some of those pandemic migrants are leaving – either because remote work policies changed or because they realized rural Vermont winters are different when you're not just visiting for ski weekends.

At the same time, Vermont is losing younger residents. Kids who grow up in places like Montpelier or Rutland often leave for college and don't come back because they can't afford to buy homes in their hometowns. It's a pattern I see in rural areas across the country, and it's heartbreaking every time.

The people who are staying and thriving? Often folks in their 50s and 60s who sold properties in more expensive markets and can afford Vermont's current prices. That's great for them, but it doesn't help with the age demographics or the workforce housing shortage.

What This Means for Property Owners

If you own property in Vermont right now, you're probably sitting on some decent equity – assuming you didn't buy at the peak in 2022. But equity on paper and cash in your pocket are two different things, especially if you need to sell quickly.

I'm seeing more situations where Vermont homeowners need to sell fast. Maybe it's a job change, maybe it's financial pressure from higher property taxes and heating costs, or maybe it's family circumstances. The traditional real estate market in Vermont can be slow, especially in the winter months or if your property needs work.

That's where HOMESELL USA comes in. We've helped hundreds of Vermont property owners who needed to sell quickly, regardless of the season or the condition of their property. Whether you're in Burlington dealing with a job relocation or in a rural town with a property that needs major repairs, we can close fast and handle the complications.

The Job Market Reality Check

Vermont's job market in 2026 is stable but not spectacular. The biggest employers are still the University of Vermont, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and various manufacturing companies like GlobalFoundries.

Tourism and hospitality provide a lot of jobs, but most are seasonal or don't pay enough to afford current housing prices. I've talked to ski resort workers who commute from New Hampshire because they can't afford to live where they work.

The tech sector presence is small but growing, with some companies attracted by quality of life and state incentives. But it's not enough to drive the kind of broad-based wage growth that would make housing affordable for most Vermonters.

Looking Ahead: What to Expect

Here's my take on where Vermont's housing market is headed. Prices will probably stabilize rather than continue the rapid growth of recent years. The days of 20% annual appreciation are likely over, which is probably good for everyone's sanity.

New construction will remain limited, which means the housing shortage isn't going away anytime soon. If you own property in Vermont, especially in desirable locations, you'll probably maintain good equity positions.

The challenge will be matching buyers and sellers. There are still people who want to move to Vermont, but they're more selective and realistic than the pandemic buyers. Properties need to be priced right and show well to sell quickly in the traditional market.

For property owners who need flexibility – whether you're facing foreclosure, dealing with inherited property, or just need to sell fast – companies like HOMESELL USA provide options that the traditional market can't match.

The Bottom Line

Vermont's housing economy in 2026 is finding its new normal after years of pandemic-driven volatility. It's not a crisis, but it's not easy either. Property owners have equity but face challenges with affordability, seasonal markets, and limited new supply.

Whether you're thinking about buying, selling, or just trying to understand what your property is worth in today's market, the key is having realistic expectations and good information. The Vermont market rewards patience and penalizes desperation – unless you work with buyers who specialize in fast, fair transactions.

If any of this sounds like your situation – whether you're dealing with a property you need to sell quickly or just want straight answers about Vermont's market – give Uncle Charles a call at HOMESELL USA. No pressure, no judgment, just honest information about your options in today's Vermont housing market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are Vermont home prices still rising in 2026?

A: Home prices have stabilized after rapid growth. The median is around $385,000, but appreciation has slowed significantly from the 20% annual increases we saw during the pandemic years.

Q: Is it still hard to find construction workers in Vermont?

A: Yes, skilled construction labor remains scarce and expensive in Vermont. This is one of the main factors limiting new housing construction across the state.

Q: Are people still moving to Vermont from other states?

A: Migration has slowed considerably. Vermont actually saw a net outflow in 2025 as some pandemic migrants left when remote work policies changed or living costs became prohibitive.

Q: What's the job market like for young people in Vermont?

A: The job market is stable but wages often don't match housing costs. Many young Vermonters leave for better opportunities elsewhere, contributing to workforce challenges.

Q: How long does it typically take to sell a house in Vermont?

A: Traditional sales can take 60-120 days or more, especially in rural areas or during winter months. Properties need to be well-priced and in good condition to sell quickly through conventional channels.