According to the Census Bureau's 2020 count, 17,336 more people and 15,448 more households considered Vermont their primary home than in 2010, despite earlier predictions of near zero growth in the statewide tally. This was almost certainly the result of the COVID-19 pandemic that abruptly shifted the way we lived and worked in 2020.
Data and Statistics
Vermont home prices continue to increase despite predictions of cooling market
By: Mia Watson
The median Vermont primary home sold for $295,000 throughout the first six months of 2022, compared to $270,000 throughout 2021, a 9.3 percent increase for the first half of the year. The median single family non-vacation home sold for $300,000, the median condominium sold for $286,250 and the median manufactured home sold for $130,000.
New data shows how Vermont towns balance jobs and homes
By: L. Black-Plumeau and M. Watson
Towns with sufficient homes to house the employees that work there are more likely to make inroads against climate change and the housing affordability crisis. According to data published this week by the Vermont Housing Data website, the top Vermont town with over 10,000 workplaces to strike this balance is Essex. For every 100 homes in Essex, the town has 112 jobs.
Understanding Vermont’s vacant homes
By: L. Black-Plumeau and M. Watson
A recent article in the New York Times suggested that Vermont is ranked first in the nation in vacant homes. This may be surprising to many Vermonters, given the state’s extremely tight housing market. Diving into the data more closely shows that the vast majority of Vermont’s vacant homes are seasonal or vacation homes, which are considered to be vacant under the Census Bureau’s methodology, but not necessarily available to buyers or renters.
Report shows renters face continued challenges post-pandemic
By: Christina Cramer
This article was written by VHFA Spring Housing Fellow Christina Cramer
Vermont home prices increase 19% during pandemic
By: Mia Watson
The median Vermont non-vacation home sold for $270,000 in 2021, a 10.2% increase from the prior year, and a 19% overall increase from prices in 2019, before the pandemic. This is the largest home price increase seen since 2005.
Investing in housing will help marry growth with vibrancy
Vermont learned last month that its population grew by a slim 2.8% between 2010 and 2020, less than the national average of 7.4%. But by planning to invest millions in American Rescue Plan Act funds in homes and neighborhoods, Vermont policy makers have embraced the opportunity presented by this decade to accelerate community and economic vibrancy.
Facing worsening housing shortage, Upper Valley initiative provides solutions
By 2030, the Upper Valley region will need to triple the pace of home building and conversions to meet projected demand from existing and future residents, according to the collaborative Keys to the Valley initiative. About one-third of the region’s households are cost burdened by paying more than 30% of their income for their housing.
Home sale prices rise in 2020, fueled by strong second half of the year
By: Mia Watson
Home sale prices in Vermont continued to rise in 2020 amidst the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The median primary (non-vacation) home sold for $246,000, according to Vermont Property Transfer Tax records.
Vermont home prices continued increasing through September 2020
The median price of a non-vacation home in Vermont rose to $244,000, according to Vermont property transfer tax records for homes sold through September 30, 2020. While the 7% increase from 2019 may reflect increased demand from the pandemic’s “race for space,” Vermont is no stranger to rising home prices which have increased steadily since 2014.