USLakeFront Lake survey & intelligence
Lakes → Vermont → Lake Champlain

Lake Champlain

Vermont · Natural · near Burlington

271,000 acres 400 ft deep 12 ft clarity Water C
Compare
6.4SCORE
Survey summary · Vermont
271,000
Surface acres
400 ft
Max depth
587 mi
Shoreline
12 ft
Typical clarity
95 ft
Elevation

Lake Champlain covers 271,000 acres in Vermont and drops to 400 feet at its deepest point. It is a natural lake, which generally means a more stable shoreline and fewer drawdown surprises than an impoundment. Level is unusually stable, which protects dock usability and shoreline appearance year round. Short-term rental posture: Town by town. Confirm at the municipal level before underwriting rental income.

What stands out

  • Very stable water level year-round
  • Deep water — 400 ft max
  • Large open water, 271,000 acres
  • 587 miles of shoreline
  • Sailing
  • Fishing

Score breakdown

WATER RECREATION VALUE ACCESS INVESTMENT
Water 6.5
Recreation 7.2
Value 3.5
Access 7.3
Investment 7.4

Each axis is computed by published formula from this lake's own attributes. How we score.

Water quality grade
Water A
ExcellentClear, low-nutrient water. Typically oligotrophic with high clarity and little seasonal algae.
Water B
GoodHealthy water with moderate clarity. Some seasonal variation, no persistent problems.
Water C
FairProductive water — good fishing, reduced clarity. Algae possible in late summer.
Water D
PoorNutrient-rich or heavily drawn down. Swimmable conditions vary; check before you rely on them.

Computed from measured clarity, trophic state, and drawdown magnitude — not an opinion. See the formula.

Overall score, 1–10
8.0+
ExceptionalStrong on every axis we measure.
7.0–7.9
StrongClearly above average, usually with one standout axis.
6.0–6.9
SolidA good lake with a trade-off worth understanding.
5.0–5.9
MixedReal strengths and real compromises.
Under 5
CompromisedSomething material — volatility, water quality, or access.

Weighted: water 26% · recreation 22% · investment 20% · value 18% · access 14%.

Fishery

Lake troutLandlocked salmonSmallmouth bassNorthern pike

On the water

SailingFishingFerriesPaddling
Live from LAKE CHAMPLAIN AT BURLINGTON, VT. This is a lake or reservoir station measuring lake elevation (navd88) on this water body — direct sensor readings, not estimates.
24.20 deg C
Temperature
2026-08-04

Gauge history

Daily values from USGS. Loading up to one year.

Where it is

True shoreline from USGS NHD 1121 km²

The outline is this lake's actual boundary from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset, not an approximation — 540 boundary points. Basemap is USGS topographic with contours and hydrography. Switch layers at the top right.

Depth profile

SURFACE 400 ft max avg 128 ft

Idealized cross-section. Max depth 400 ft, average 128 ft. Depth at a specific dock depends on local bathymetry — verify at the property.

Level behaviour

Level stabilityNatural Typical drawdown3 ft Drawdown seasonAutumn Trophic stateMesotrophic Typical clarity12 ft Water quality gradeC Elevation95 ft Managing authorityVT DEC / NY DEC

Dock & shoreline

Permitting authorityVT DEC / NY DEC Wake / speed rulesOpen water
A dock is never guaranteed. Confirm in writing with VT DEC / NY DEC that the specific parcel is eligible before you remove contingencies.

Short-term rental posture

Town by town

Generally permitted, but rules change. Confirm the specific municipality and any HOA covenant.
Model rental income →
Modeled estimates. Market figures are derived from lake attributes and regional patterns, not from MLS data. Treat them as a starting point, not a comp.
$805,000
Median waterfront
$6,416
Per shoreline foot
+5.6%
Year over year
227
Est. inventory
109
Avg days on market
$212
Est. nightly rate

Rental snapshot

Modeled occupancy52% Booked nights / yr137 Gross revenue$36,871 Net operating income$14,375 Yield on median price1.79%
Open the full model →

What a median-priced home on Lake Champlain actually costs to carry, with waterfront-specific line items most calculators omit.

$6,527
All-in per month
$183,570
Cash to close + setup
$15,595
Beyond P&I, tax, insurance
Where the annual cost goes
$78,325 PER YEAR
Principal & interest $50,897 (66%) Maintenance reserve (1.1%) $8,855 (12%) Property taxes $8,452 (11%) Hazard insurance $3,381 (4%) Utilities $2,700 (4%) Shoreline / seawall reserve $960 (1%) Dock maintenance $900 (1%) Winterization / seasonal close $750 (1%)

Annual carry

Principal & interest$50,897
Property taxes$8,452
Hazard insurance$3,381
Flood insurance$650
Utilities$2,700
Maintenance reserve (1.1%)$8,855
Septic service$520
Well & water testing$260
Dock maintenance$900
Winterization / seasonal close$750
Shoreline / seawall reserve$960
Total$78,325
Model your own numbers →
4.3 / 5 from 3 reviews
Best family lake we found
J. Harmon · Summer 2025
5/5

We looked at six lakes across three states before choosing this one. Sandy bottom in the swim areas, enough marina services, and it never feels crowded outside July.

Depends heavily on your cove
Danielle S. · Owner on the lake · Fall 2025
3/5

Main channel is fantastic. Some of the back coves get shallow and mucky by late summer. Walk the actual shoreline before you commit, not just the listing photos.

Twenty years on this water
Linda M. · Owner on the lake · Summer 2025
5/5

We bought in 2005 and have never regretted it. The lake is busy on holiday weekends and quiet the rest of the time. Get a dock on the main channel if you can — the coves warm up and weed over by August.

For sale

Homes on Lake Champlain

All listings →