The 6 Most Expensive Lakes in Vermont to Buy a Second Home

Vermont is an excellent place to buy a lake house, with its shade-filled valleys and tall green mountains. The lakes have a lot to offer, like fishing, canoeing, and sunbathing while enjoying the breathtaking views. Some lakes are far enough out of cities, making you feel secluded but close enough in case of an emergency. However, others are true retreats from stressful lives. As you can imagine, buying lakefront property won’t come cheap. Therefore, here is a quick look at the most expensive lakes in Vermont to buy a second home.

1. Emerald Lake

Emerald Lake is situated in Emerald Lake State Park in the town of Dorset, VT. The average cost of a house in Dorset is approximately $1.6 million as of April 2023. Furthermore, residents are paying an average of $308 per square foot. This stunning town consists of several neighborhoods, like:

• East Dorset
• Dorset Village
• South Dorset
• Dorest Hollow

Dorset lies right adjacent to the commercial hub of Manchester, and it is often labeled as one of the most beautiful towns in the state. This picturesque town lies between the rolling hills and peaks of the Green Mountains and Taconic Mountains in Southern Vermont. Dorset offers well-maintained homes with a historic downtown. Furthermore, residents get treated to breathtaking mountain views from anywhere in the town. The quiet and laid-back community has excellent restaurants, locally-owned shops, great schools, and plenty of recreational activities.

Summertime is when Dorest really shines. It is notorious for being the oldest marble quarry in the nation, now an internationally famous swimming hole. In addition, this little town is home to the oldest continuously operating golf club. Visitors also enjoy the pristine network of rivers, lakes, trails, ponds, and woodlands.

2. Lake Champlain

Lake Champlain lies between Vermont and New York but extends to Quebec, a province in Canada. One of the towns bordering this lake is Shelburne, and it is one of the most expensive lakes in Vermont to buy a second home. For example, the average price of a home in this town is $596 000, and $291 per square foot. Shelburne was charted in 1763 and named after William Fitzmaurice Petty, the second earl of Shelburne. Due to the town’s ideal location and natural resources, it developed from a tiny settlement to a diverse agricultural town. While Shelburne is small, it offers many notable eateries, inns, and activities which capture the town’s charm.

Lake Champlain is 435 miles of surface water and approximately 120 miles long, with a width of 12 miles at its widest point. It also features 587 miles of shoreline, and its deepest point is 400 feet deep, between Essex, New York, and Charlotte, Vermont. Lake Champlain also boasts 71 islands and provides 200,000 people with drinking water.

3. Lake Bomoseen

Lake Bomoseen is a freshwater lake between the towns of Castleton and Hubbardton in Rutland County. The average price of a home in Castleton is $416 000, making it one of the most expensive lakes in Vermont to buy a second home. The picturesque town lies 15 miles west of Rutland and around five miles from the Vermont, New York state border. The town has a population of roughly 4,000 people, so the community has a strong bond. In addition, it is home to Castleton University, which was first established in 1787. This university provides one of the most diverse curricula in New England. Furthermore, this quaint town is near many of the state’s major ski resorts, like:

• Killington & Pico (around a 40-minute drive Northeast)
• Okemo (40-minute drive Southeast)

In addition, Rutland is just a short 25-minute drive from Castleton. And if you love shopping, there are massive shopping centers in Saratoga Springs, New York, only an hour’s drive away.

4. Waterbury Reservoir

Waterbury Reservoir is surrounded by the town of Waterbury, VT. The average price of homes in Waterbury is around $412 000 ad $268 per square foot. This picturesque town sits along the eastern fold of the Green Mountains, Mad River Byway, Green Mountain Byway, and Interstate 89. It is also easily accessible by nearby towns like Burlington, Stown, Montpelier, and the Mad River Valley.

While small, Waterbury has excellent dining, accommodation, attractions, and shopping. But, what residents enjoy the most is the ever-changing backdrop that promotes outdoor activities, like hiking and paddling, in several state parks. Furthermore, this town is home to Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Ben and Jerry’s, and Prohibition Pig. The downtown area is littered with locally-owned shops, artist studios, and restaurants, which produce award-winning:

• Local craft beers
• Farm-to-table dining
• Eclectic stores

Waterbury Reservoir is the ninth-largest man-made lake in the state and was established in the 1930s. It has a maximum depth of 100 feet and 850 acres of surface area. Lastly, this reservoir attracts anglers from all over the state because of the large amount of fish beneath its surface.

5. Lake Saint Catherine

Lake Saint Catherine is located in the Vermont towns of Poultney and Wells. The average price of a home in Poultney is around $370 000, making it one of the most expensive lakes in Vermont to buy a second home. This little town sits on the Vermont – New York state border. Poultry is home to Green Mountain College, a Liberal Arts College focusing on environmental issues. Residents of this small town experience a high quality of life and embrace past values of integrity, honesty, community spirit, and mutual respect. In addition, Poultry offers numerous recreational opportunities, which draws in tourists from all over the world.

The lake has 852 acres of surface water and is five miles long, consisting of the central main lake, Northern Lily Pond, and the southern Little Lake. This lake is a paradise for fishermen containing multiple fish species, including:

• Trout
• Bass
• Northern pike
• Panfish
• Catfish

6. Caspian Lake

Caspian Lake is situated in the town of Greensboro, Vermont. This town has an average property price of approximately $367,000. The lake has been one of the state’s most popular vacation destinations for over 65 years. Not only are residents and visitors entranced by the amazing views of the lake, but they also enjoy all the recreational activities it offers. For example, there is plenty to do outside, like sailing, skiing, kayaking, fishing, and socializing. During the summer, residents and guests gather on their docks, boats, porches, or decks every Sunday evening to listen to the classical music concert playing from the Landon Lake Home. Furthermore, this town is surrounded by forests, farms, open land, and more lakes.

Greensboro is a tiny town, barely consisting of a population of 760 people. However, the town swells to well over 2000 people in the summer. Things to see and do in Greensboro include:

• A nine-hole golf course
• Theater
• Library
• Stunning churches
• Active historical society
• General store
• Brewery
• A cheese cave
• Outdoor recreational trails

Summary of the Most Expensive Lakes in Vermont to Buy a Second Home

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