I wonder if a lot of the issue in VT is there are so few people who CAN do this work. I'm currently living in Arkansas, and the house I currently live in is 1,232sqft and I paid 132k. We also have lots of different contractors and companies and individual people and small businesses that are able to do this kind of work. So I wonder if it's simply a matter of high demand and short supply of the skills and equipments needed to build homes--therefore contractors can charge whatever they want because people are insane enough to pay for their "dream home." VT has so many people with college degrees, but how many with trades certifications and training? Curious.