Fayston’s ski resorts and year-round community
Fayston is a small town in northwestern Vermont’s Mad River Valley, which also encompasses the towns of Waitsfield and Warren. The valley’s ski resorts, Sugarbush and Mad River Glen, fuel the local economy each winter. “A lot of our real estate market is second homes for skiing,” says Lisa Jenison, the principal broker of Sugarbush Real Estate, who has lived in the region since 1981.
Although the area hosts thousands of skiers each winter, Fayston itself has fewer than 2,000 full-time residents. “A pretty large percentage have lived here a long time,” Jenison says. “People really look out for one another.” The town's CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Skiing, mountain biking and other outdoor recreation
Fayston’s natural surroundings provide opportunities for outdoor recreation throughout the year. From November through March, the mountains are typically blanketed with snow. Many people spend their free time on the Mad River Glen and Sugarbush ski slopes, but backcountry skiing and snowshoeing are also popular.
In spring, skilled kayakers run the surging, snowmelt-laden Mad River. By summer, the river is generally calmer, and some locals cool off in swimming holes along the edges. Mountain bikers and hikers can explore the network of trails that snakes through the valley. The 18-hole course at Sugarbush Golf Club is open to the public as well. Waitsfield’s long-standing movie theater reopened in May 2025 as The Big Picture Community Center for the Arts. “After COVID, the owners decided they couldn’t do it any longer, so community members got together and formed a nonprofit to get it going again,” Jenison says.
Desirable locations and views impact home prices
Narrow back roads wind along the mountains, and private gravel driveways branch off the sides. Most homes rest on an acre or more of land, but not all properties are the same. “Fayston has a lot of micro markets,” Jenison says. “Houses that are right on the mountain or near a ski area are more desirable. Views are a big thing too.” Residences with panoramic vistas or exclusive locations may sell between $1.16 million and $1.7 million. Throughout the rest of Fayston, single-family homes tend to range from about $590,000 to $870,000. Condos often run between $310,000 and $520,000.
Farmers markets and restaurants in Waitsfield
In Fayston, dining options include Mad River Barn, an inn with an on-site restaurant that is open a few days each week. Neighboring Waitsfield has a more developed downtown area with grocery stores, pottery studios and a handful of eateries. The Blue Stone serves hand-tossed pizzas and comfort food, and Scrag & Roe offers Asian-inspired cuisine in a dining room that overlooks the Mad River. Waitsfield is also home to a Shaw’s and the locally owned Mehuron's Supermarket.
Many people shop directly from farmers, either through community-supported agriculture subscriptions or by visiting the weekly Waitsfield Farmers Market that runs from mid-May through mid-October, Jenison says. The von Trapp Farmstead sells organic cheese and yogurt at its farm store along Common Road.
School options for Fayston children
Fayston Elementary School receives an A Niche rating, and Harwood Union Middle & High School gets a B-plus. Some eighth- through 12th-grade students attend Green Mountain Valley School, an A-plus-rated private school that focuses on ski training. From November through March, GMVS also offers a winter program for sixth- and seventh-grade students who want to strengthen their alpine or Nordic skiing skills.
Car travel and volunteer-based transportation services
Residents depend on cars for travel, and state Route 17 is the main thoroughfare through Fayston. The valley’s two-lane roads link up with Interstate 89 in Middlesex, about 15 miles away. The Burlington International Airport is about 35 miles northwest, and the closest hospital is the Central Vermont Medical Center, about 25 miles east. Volunteer-driven organizations, like Free Wheelin’ and the Mad River Valley Ambulance Service, provide rides to doctor appointments and emergency care.
Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve celebrations in the valley
The day-long Fourth of July gathering is one of the valley’s biggest events. Festivities kick off with a parade through Warren, and in the evening, fireworks are launched from Sugarbush’s Lincoln Peak. Sugarbush hosts a parade and fireworks show on New Year’s Eve as well.
Staying prepared for storms and rural Vermont life
Living in rural Vermont year-round can be challenging at times. “You have to like winter,” Jenison says. Residents prepare for heavy storms by clearing dead branches and testing their backup generators, and after a storm, neighbors chip in to help each other repair any damage. Some locals also take steps to make their yards less welcoming to bears, including adding locks to garbage cans and placing electric fences around chicken coops.
