As rustic farmhouses gradually disappear, modern units (many of them vacation homes for Vermonters and out-of-staters) are being built to replace them. In 2002, there were an estimated 299,570 housing units in Vermont (one of the lowest housing stocks in the country), 242,201 of which were occupied; 71% were owner-occupied. About 64.4% of all units were single-family, detached homes. Nearly 31% of all housing was built in 1939 or earlier. Fuel oil was the most common energy source for heating. It was estimated that 4,709 units lacked telephone service, 1,464 lacked complete plumbing facilities, and 778 lacked complete kitchen facilities. The average household size was 2.46 people.
In 2002, 3,072 new privately owned housing units were authorized for construction. The median home value was $130,492. The median monthly cost for mortgage owners was $1,082. Renters paid a median of $601 per month. During 2002, Vermont received over $14.2 million in community planning and development aid from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.