Stockbridge offers mountain living near Killington Resort
Near the après-ski scene of Killington Resort, Stockbridge is a small mountain town that attracts both full-time and seasonal residents with the promise of recreational activities and scenic surroundings. “It’s just a beautiful little area right in the heart of the Green Mountains,” says Kyle Kershner, a former resident who lived in Stockbridge for 14 years and is now the owner of Killington Pico Realty. “It’s probably about 60% year-round residents and 40% vacationers. Most of those second homeowners are outdoor enthusiasts who want to be close to Killington, and a lot of the primary residents are people who work in the resort towns.” With a focus on outdoor recreation and quiet living, Kershner notes that Stockbridge residents bond over an appreciation for their town. “There’s a really strong sense of community. Everybody knows everybody, and it’s very welcoming,” he says. “There are some people who feel like they’re going to be ostracized since they’re flatlanders and don’t live here full-time, but the locals and the second homeowners all happily coexist.”
Year-round recreation includes skiing, hiking, mountain biking and tubing
Residents are less than 20 miles from Killington Resort, also known as the “Beast of the East.” The resort covers more than 1,500 acres and has seven different mountain areas, making it the largest ski area on the East Coast. Skiers and snowboarders can explore 155 trails with varying terrain for beginners, experts and everyone in between. In the summer, Killington offers a vast network of hiking and mountain biking trails, an 18-hole golf course and scenic gondola rides up to the summit of Killington Peak. Winter sports enthusiasts looking for a quieter experience can head to Pico Mountain Ski Resort, which is Killington’s sister resort and features a smaller ski area.
The Green Mountain Trails wind through Stockbridge and Pittsfield. They span approximately 25 miles and form a multi-use trail network for hiking, mountain biking and snowshoeing past mountain streams and overlooks. Kershner adds that the White River passes through town and is a popular spot for outdoor recreation. “It’s famous for fly fishing, and there are a couple of tubing companies that take people upstream,” he says. “There are also some really awesome swimming holes. On a Saturday in August, there are probably a hundred people at the swimming hole in Gaysville.”
A mountain town with a mix of housing styles and limited inventory
Stockbridge’s mountainous terrain is complemented by a variety of architectural styles. “There are a lot of 1800s farmhouses and Greek Revival-style homes in the village areas,” Kershner says. This includes the village of Gaysville, where properties line Vermont Route 107 and typically have quarter- or half-acre lots. Outside of Gaysville, an eclectic mix of homes sits among Stockbridge’s hills and valleys, offering up to several acres of land. “Stockbridge is home to the Timber Hawk at River Bend, a development built by Robert Carl Williams. He believed in building everything in harmony with the natural environment, so there are a lot of A-frame-style contemporary homes with brown exteriors and white chimneys that blend right into the mountains,” Kershner says. “Outside of that, it’s just kind of a mix of whatever people built.”
Low inventory means that homes rarely go on the market in Stockbridge. Only 10 homes sold in 2024, with prices ranging from $145,000 for 750 square feet to $675,000 for a nearly 2,500 square foot home. The median price for single-family homes is just over $430,000, and while there are lots for sale, Kershner notes that new construction can be expensive since public utilities are not readily available. Existing homes are on private septic systems, and residents have to drill private wells for water service. Portions of Stockbridge can be susceptible to flooding since they’re located within a river valley, and the town most recently saw significant flooding in the summer of 2023 after a period of heavy rainfall. Stockbridge’s overall CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, the lowest possible score and significantly lower than the national average of 4.
Living in the Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District
The town is part of the Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District. Stockbridge Central School covers prekindergarten through sixth grade and does not have a Niche rating. It typically serves less than 50 students and has a low student-teacher ratio of 7-to-1. The district practices school choice for seventh through 12th grade, which allows parents to choose which middle or high school their child attends. Nearby options include White River Valley Middle School, which earns a C-minus from Niche, and White River Valley High School, which receives a B-minus.
A local hangout at The Wild Fern and traveling to run errands
Stockbridge’s only restaurant is The Wild Fern. Located along Vermont Route 100, it’s a cozy establishment with wood-paneled walls, string lights and a small bar. The Wild Fern serves homemade pizzas, burgers and baked goods made from locally sourced ingredients. It also doubles as a local hangout with an outdoor stage and a rotating cast of live music. For more shopping and dining, residents can head to nearby communities. “If you just need a few things, you can shoot up to Rochester, but the main shopping hubs are Rutland and West Lebanon, New Hampshire,” Kershner says. Rochester is less than 10 miles from Stockbridge and has a small grocery store and a handful of local businesses. Walmart and Market 32 are less than 25 miles away in Rutland, while stores like Target and Home Depot require a drive of about 40 miles to West Lebanon.
Highway access and distance to Vermont’s bigger cities
Stockbridge is heavily car-dependent, due to the lack of available public transportation in the area. Residents can access Vermont Routes 100 and 107, and major thoroughfares are just outside of town. “Stockbridge is close to Interstate 89, which is our main north-south corridor, and U.S. Route 4, which is our main east-west connector,” Kershner says. “It’s also pretty close to the geographic center of Vermont, so it has a good location for access to other parts of the state.” Stockbridge is about 25 miles from Rutland, 45 miles from Montpelier and 65 miles from Burlington. For flights, Rutland-Southern Vermont Regional Airport is less than 30 miles away and offers direct daily flights to Boston. Residents can also head 65 miles northwest to Burlington International Airport for flights to more destinations. The closest hospital is the Rutland Regional Medical Center, less than 25 miles from Stockbridge.
Written By
Sally Stimpson
