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Vershire VT Real Estate: Rural Homes and Land in the Orange County Hills

By Tony Walton, Principal Broker, New England Landmark Realty

Quick Answer

Vershire is a small, rural Orange County town of about 670 people in the hills west of the Upper Valley, home to the headwaters of the Ompompanoosuc River. It has a surprising history as a copper-mining town, briefly renamed Ely in 1880, and it's home to the Mountain School of Milton Academy, a semester program for high school juniors on a working farm. Vershire is part of the Rivendell Interstate School District with Fairlee, West Fairlee, and Orford, New Hampshire. Current Vershire listings appear at the bottom of this page, and our Vershire market report shows recent sales and prices.

Vershire at a Glance

• County: Orange
• ZIP code: 05079 (Vershire); some addresses use Strafford (05072)
• Population: 672 (2020 Census)
• Area: about 36.5 square miles
• Communities: Vershire, Mill Village, South Vershire, and Vershire Heights
• River: headwaters of the Ompompanoosuc River
• Schools: Rivendell Interstate School District (Westshire Elementary in West Fairlee; Rivendell Academy, grades 6-12, in Orford, NH)

Living in Vershire

Vershire is hill country: farms, woods, back roads, and long views, with a small population spread across several small communities. The Ompompanoosuc River begins here before flowing southeast toward Thetford and the Connecticut River.

The town has a lively past. In the 1800s copper mining boomed here, and in 1880 the town was renamed Ely after the Ely Mining Company. In 1883, some 200 unpaid miners seized the plant demanding back wages, and five companies of the National Guard were called out. The town later took back the name Vershire. The old Ely Copper Mine site is now an EPA Superfund site.

Vershire is also home to the Mountain School of Milton Academy, a selective semester program where high school juniors from around the country live and work on a farm.

Schools

Vershire is part of the Rivendell Interstate School District, which includes Fairlee, Vershire, and West Fairlee in Vermont and Orford, New Hampshire. Elementary students attend Westshire Elementary School in West Fairlee, and grades 6-12 attend Rivendell Academy in Orford. The district has been reviewing its school configuration, so confirm current arrangements with the district.

Homes and Land in Vershire

Buyers in Vershire find farmhouses, country homes on acreage, cabins, and open and wooded land. See what's for sale now in the listings below, and check recent sale prices in the Vershire market report, which updates as homes sell.

For rural property, check road access, winter maintenance and mud-season conditions, septic suitability, and whether the land is enrolled in Current Use. For property near the old Ely mine, ask about the site and review EPA information; our Vermont Land Buying Guide covers what else to check.

Getting Around

• Vermont Route 113 runs through Vershire, east toward West Fairlee and Thetford and west toward Chelsea.
• Interstate 91 is reached to the east in Fairlee and Thetford.

Costs to Plan For

Vermont's property transfer tax, paid by the buyer at closing, is 0.5% on the first $200,000 of a primary residence and 1.47% above that; 3.62% for a second home suitable for year-round use; and a VHFA-financed primary residence is exempt on the first $250,000. Estimate your payment, transfer tax, and cash to close with our Vermont Home Cost Calculator. Many Vershire homes have private wells and septic systems; see our Vermont home inspection guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Vershire, VT in?

Orange County.

What is the ZIP code for Vershire, VT?

05079. Some addresses use Strafford (05072).

What schools serve Vershire?

The Rivendell Interstate School District: Westshire Elementary School in West Fairlee and Rivendell Academy (grades 6-12) in Orford, New Hampshire.

What is the Mountain School in Vershire?

The Mountain School of Milton Academy, a selective semester program where high school juniors live and work on a farm in Vershire.

How do I see recent home prices in Vershire?

Our Vershire market report lists recent sales, prices, and days on market, and updates automatically.

What to Do Next

Call our office at 802-253-4711, reach Tony Walton directly at 802-233-4107, or contact us.

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• Vermont Land Buying Guide
• Nearby: Fairlee, Thetford, Corinth, Tunbridge

Sources

• Vershire, Vermont (county, population, area, ZIP codes, communities, Ely history, Mountain School, Ompompanoosuc River, school district)
• Rivendell Interstate School District
• U.S. EPA, Ely Copper Mine Superfund Site
• Vermont Department of Taxes, Property Transfer Tax