By Tony Walton, Principal Broker, New England Landmark Realty · The Numbers Guy · Updated October 2026

Quick Answer

The best place to buy a Vermont ski home depends on budget and how you plan to use it. In 2026, Fayston ($585,000 median) and Waitsfield ($721,250) are the value entries near Sugarbush and Mad River Glen, Warren ($795,000) and Winhall ($834,500, near Stratton and Bromley) are the middle tier, and Stowe ($1,285,000) and Killington ($1,212,500) are the top tier. Before you buy, plan for Vermont's 3.62% transfer tax on second homes and confirm the town's short-term rental rules, because Stowe now caps rental licenses and they do not transfer to a buyer.

Key Takeaways

Two-Sentence Summary

Vermont ski-town prices range from about $585,000 in Fayston to about $1.29 million in Stowe for a typical single-family home in 2026. The purchase price is only the first number: second-home transfer tax, rental rules and how fast homes in your price band sell matter just as much.

If You Only Remember 3 Things

  1. A second home costs more to buy. Vermont charges 3.62% transfer tax on a non-principal residence, about $28,800 on Warren's median home and about $46,500 on Stowe's.
  2. Rental income is not guaranteed. Stowe caps general short-term rental licenses at 850 and a license does not go to the buyer. Warren and Killington require registration.
  3. Price decides speed. In Stowe this year, homes that sold within 30 days got a median 100% of original list; homes that sat 100+ days got 79.7%.

Quick Facts

  • Stowe median (2026, single-family): $1,285,000 on 57 sales
  • Killington median: $1,212,500 on 12 sales (small sample)
  • Winhall median: $834,500 on 46 sales
  • Warren median: $795,000 on 15 sales (six months)
  • Waitsfield median: $721,250 on 12 sales (six months)
  • Fayston median: $585,000 on 9 sales (six months)
  • Second-home transfer tax: 3.40% plus 0.22% clean water surcharge = 3.62%
  • Statewide short-term rental surcharge: 3%, on top of the 9% rooms tax

Vermont Ski Towns Compared: 2026 Prices

These figures come from our own PrimeMLS searches of single-family sales, with each median calculated from the individual sales. Stowe, Killington and Winhall cover January 1 to September 27, 2026. The Mad River Valley towns cover the six months to September 26, 2026.

Town Mountain Homes sold Median price Transfer tax at median (second home)
Stowe Stowe Mountain Resort 57 $1,285,000 about $46,500
Killington Killington 12 $1,212,500 about $43,900
Winhall (Bondville) Stratton, Bromley 46 $834,500 about $30,200
Warren Sugarbush (Lincoln Peak) 15 $795,000 about $28,800
Waitsfield Sugarbush, Mad River Glen 12 $721,250 about $26,100
Fayston Sugarbush (Mt Ellen), Mad River Glen 9 $585,000 about $21,200

Stowe: The Top of the Market, With a Rental Cap

Stowe is the most expensive town on this list. The median single-family home sold for $1,285,000, and 34 of 57 sales were $1 million or more. The typical home had 4 bedrooms, about 2,800 square feet and about 2 acres.

Stowe also shows what correct pricing is worth. The median home sold in 39 days at 93.9% of original list. Homes that sold within 30 days got a median 100% of list. The 14 homes that sat 100 days or more got a median 79.7%. The $1 million to $1.99 million band was the slowest, at a median of 103 days.

The rental picture changed in 2026. Stowe adopted a short-term rental ordinance that caps general licenses at 850, starting September 15, 2026. A license does not transfer to a buyer. New licenses come through an annual July lottery, and the Town's guide says 20 licenses will be issued in each of 2027 and 2028. Owners whose primary residence is in Stowe can hold homestead licenses for up to two units outside the cap. Read the full rules in our Stowe short-term rental guide before you write an offer.

The Mad River Valley: Warren, Waitsfield and Fayston

The Mad River Valley offers two mountains, Sugarbush and Mad River Glen, at roughly half to two-thirds of Stowe's price. Across Warren, Waitsfield, Fayston and Moretown, 42 single-family homes sold in the six months to September 26, 2026, at a median of $641,250.

  • Warren is home to Sugarbush's Lincoln Peak base. 15 homes sold at a median of $795,000. Condos near the mountain are a separate market; see our Warren condo guide.
  • Waitsfield is the Valley's village center, with restaurants, shops and easy access to both mountains. 12 homes sold at a median of $721,250.
  • Fayston is home to Sugarbush's Mt Ellen and Mad River Glen. 9 homes sold at a median of $585,000, the lowest median of any ski town on this list.

Warren requires short-term rental owners to register with the Town, at $200 per unit; the first registration deadline was February 28, 2026. For more, see our Sugarbush real estate guide.

Killington: A Split Market

Killington's 12 single-family sales produced a median of $1,212,500, but the sample is small and the market is split in two. Six homes sold in 7 days or less at a median 101.1% of list. The other six took 100 days or more and sold at a median 79.7% of list. Correctly priced homes in Killington move fast; overpriced homes sit and then sell at a deep discount.

Killington requires annual short-term rental registration. Registrations run November 1 to October 31 and renewals are due by November 15. Occupancy is generally limited to two guests per approved bedroom plus two, and rentals for more than 8 guests need a state fire safety inspection.

Winhall: Stratton and Bromley Access

Winhall, including the village of Bondville, sits next to Stratton and Bromley in southern Vermont. 46 single-family homes sold at a median of $834,500. It was the fastest market on this list: the median home sold in 22 days, and 30 of 46 sold within 30 days at a median 100% of list. Older homes are the entry point. The 19 homes built from 1960 to 1979 sold at a median of $670,500. Confirm current rental rules with the Town of Winhall before you buy.

The Costs Every Ski-Home Buyer Should Plan For

The list price is the first number, not the last one. Build these into your budget before you make an offer:

  • Transfer tax. A home you will not live in as your primary residence pays 3.62% of the full price. A primary residence pays 0.5% on the first $200,000 and 1.47% on the rest. On Warren's median, that is about $28,800 for a second home versus about $9,700 for a primary home. Our Vermont closing costs guide covers the rest.
  • Rental taxes. If you rent the home for fewer than 30 consecutive days and more than 14 days a year, Vermont charges the 9% rooms tax plus a 3% short-term rental surcharge.
  • Rental rules. Stowe caps licenses. Warren and Killington require registration. Never assume a seller's rental income comes with the house.
  • Condo and HOA fees. Slopeside condos carry association fees that cover plowing, roofs and shared amenities. Ask for the budget, the reserve study and any planned special assessments.

Which Ski Town Fits You?

  • Best value near a big mountain: Fayston and Waitsfield.
  • Classic ski-village life with resort amenities: Stowe, if your plan works without rental income.
  • Closest to Sugarbush's main base: Warren.
  • Southern Vermont, the closest of these towns to southern New England: Winhall, near Stratton and Bromley.
  • One of the largest ski areas in the East: Killington, priced carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest Vermont ski town to buy a home in?

Of the major ski towns we track, Fayston had the lowest single-family median at $585,000 in the six months to September 26, 2026. It is home to Sugarbush's Mt Ellen and Mad River Glen.

How much does a ski home in Stowe cost?

The median single-family home in Stowe sold for $1,285,000 from January 1 to September 27, 2026, based on 57 sales. 34 of those sales were $1 million or more.

What is the transfer tax on a second home in Vermont?

Vermont charges 3.40% property transfer tax plus a 0.22% clean water surcharge, 3.62% in total, on a home that will not be the buyer's principal residence. On a $795,000 home, that is about $28,800.

Can I rent out a ski home in Stowe?

Only with a license. Stowe caps general short-term rental licenses at 850, licenses do not transfer to a buyer, and new licenses come through an annual July lottery. Stowe residents can hold homestead licenses for up to two units outside the cap.

Do I pay tax on short-term rental income in Vermont?

Yes. Rentals of fewer than 30 consecutive days, for more than 14 days a year, are subject to Vermont's 9% rooms tax plus a 3% short-term rental surcharge.

What to Do Next

Thinking about a ski home this winter? Call Tony Walton at 802-233-4107 (cell) or the New England Landmark Realty office at 802-253-4711. We will run the numbers on a specific town or property, including transfer tax and rental rules, before you make an offer.

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