@@MoonlightXYZ Half a second? My OCD forces me to check every billboard I see for spelling, grammar, and usage of the serial (Oxford) comma. Maybe that’s why my auto insurance is so high. 🤪
@@MoonlightXYZ once you get used to no billboards you realize how much they ruin everything when driving through other states. They're an absolute eyesore.
I grew up in Vermont. It's very rural and winters last forever, but there's also a great sense of community and a very laidback atmosphere (if you wear nice clothes or drive a somewhat fancy car, you will stick out!) You're right about politics too. I grew up thinking it was normal to go to town meeting days and schoolboard meetings! A lot of people there have bachelor's degrees and are well-read, but choose to work on farms, in the outdoor recreation industry, at cafes and restaurants, or as carpenters/welders, etc. There's really not a sense of competition to chase money or career success and you won't be judged for working a job that's "below you". Many people have an agricultural hobby as well. They may have a garden or a few fruit trees in their back yard or keep bees/pigs/chickens, make maple syrup, etc. It's not uncommon to receive homemade/homegrown items as gifts or to even barter with friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family members! (We had a lot of trees and would trade maple syrup and apple cider for beef and bacon from our farmer friends!)
I didn't realize that the word "sugar" could be a verb until I moved here and learned that its a hobby for some people (and often a small side gig too).
Hey, stop giving away our secrets. This video is right, there has been an influx of people in the past two years. Its kind of funny how much they stick out to tell you the truth.
@@vladimirprovotorov580 that really depends on what you're looking for. Chittenden County has a lot more people, but no big cities. Vergennes and Middlebury are nice little towns, as are Manchester and Brattleboro if you're in the southern part of the state. A lot of tourists go to Stowe and Waterbury.
I am born and raised in Vermont and decided to continue to stay here and raise my family. Very expensive to live and I don’t think our pay balances it out like some other states. If you aren’t into the outdoors, there isn’t much to do around here. The winter is long. With all that said though…I would never trade my beautiful house surrounded by woods, privacy, wildlife for a big city.
It’s rural but it’s 2 hours to Montreal, 3 to Boston, and 6 to New York City (depending on where in the state you leave from, of course). Please don’t move here and try to change VT into what you just left. We’re not here for that.
The grass isn't always greener on the other side, if you are one the many moving here lately and think you won't be noticed bringing your drug connections and on the down low, it won't last long with that fantasy, the towns are too small.. sorry.
This is the part I disliked the most to be honest. Vermont is rural enough and while I can look back and appreciate growing up here, it had its draw backs. Especially with being so far from any major city, state side that is. Burlington definitely isn’t like a larger city in many aspects, this is what creates its charm for some, but in my opinion is also a drawback.
It might be three hours from Boston but it's a hard three. Winter driving on the interstate in VT is tough. Between the cold, the snow, the mountains and often bad visibility, it's a lot of work. I had family from Boston who owned a place north of St. Johnsbury and it was always a rough ride. Oh, and there are also crazy ass deer who peer out at you. Your headlights reflecting in their eyes is already creepy but you're also afraid that one might be dumb enough to step out into the road. Slamming into one at 60 m.p.h. will total your car.
I've lived in Vermont for 45 years and there's no place I'd rather be. I never expected to stay here, I only came to work for IBM when I was young. I expected to soon transfer somewhere else but I ended up liking it here so much, I stayed my entire adult life. I'm retired now and can move anywhere I want, but after considering all the choices, I've decided to remain here for the rest of my life, I simply can't find anywhere better. The scenery is incredible, the living is easy, the people are friendly and respectful, the schools are great, there's almost no traffic, crime is far less than in most states, there are no crowds, and there are open spaces for everyone. Don't believe when people say it's too cold. Spring, Summer, and Fall are all wonderful here. Not too hot, not too cold. Winters here are what winters should be, a snowy winter wonderland. You can downhill ski, cross country ski, snowmobile, snowshoe, etc. If you love winter sports or just a winter wonderland, you'll love Vermont. It's better than many Northern states because we actually get gorgeous white snow, not dull, dreary, boring brown winters with nothing to do. It's amazingly beautiful here in winter and not that cold. Temperatures are usually in the 20-30's with some warmer and cooler spells. Vermont also has Lake Champlain, one of the biggest, most beautiful lakes in the US. If you love boating, beaches, lake cottages, sailing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, etc, Lake Champlain is a paradise on earth. We also have some of the best mountains for hiking and skiing. The air is fresh and wholesome and we value nature over industry, Vermont is a healthy place to live. There are no big, vulgar, crowded cities here, it's mostly small, friendly scenic towns both rural and suburban. If you like city life without the downsides, Burlington is the place to be. I've raised two kids here and there was no better place for them to grow up. Both have been all over the globe, yet they still love Vermont best of all. It's one of the best places to live anywhere and one of the best-kept secrets.
Marxists are anti-White and use low diversity as a extreme negative rap on White areas but they never mention the extreme low crime rate across the board that is a result ; wonder why ? If you ( Marxists ) mention the bad , you/ they have to mention the good too ! There are two sides to every coin.
We also feel this way about NH. My husband was recalled to active duty for a year during Covid and we loved it so much we never planned on staying but we did everything in power to permanently live here. I feel most of New England just feels like a new world compared to the rest of the US. (We're from OK)
I was raised in Vermont and I honestly can't recommend moving there. Its not that the state is bad or anything stupid like that, its just that the lifestyle is way more impractical for the average person than people realize. If you are 65 or older, happen to have a huge retirement fund and looking to live quietly, Vermont is probably perfect for you. But for pretty much anyone else, the job scarcity, the isolation, the cost of living make Vermont far more difficult to live in. I didn't really notice it when I was growing up because my family was pretty well off and they took care of all my needs, but once I graduate college in Boston, and came home for a few years, I really began to feel the stress of living in such a remote place. I kept tearing my hair out because there was just no way to balance my need for a job, the distance I had to travel to keep the job (especially when you factor in winters) and when I tried to get an apartment closer to Burlington, the cost of living kept slapping me in the face. Nowadays I just go back for a few weeks at a time to visit family and disconnect from my work for a while. Still a beautiful state though, well worth visiting or vacationing too.
Currently looking at colleges as someone who has lived here all my life. I dont plan to come back due too taxes and such but owning a good piece of land here is def one of my life goals. Must keep vermont green and keep out big companies that polute.
As a native Vermonter I can say it is indeed much like this video states, and that we do speak freely on most subjects, even politics without getting "riled up" you could say, we are not offended by opinion. Be prepared to fight for a job with colledge kids from out of state at any "city", and "mud season" is the 5th season, it's between winter and spring. Income tax is currently for a single unmarried person residing in state and payed weekly, currently around 8.5%, so just plan on 10% tax, and you'll be fine. Gun friendly comes from the old Vermont culture sumed up by the saying, "Good fences make good neighbors." So say hello from the sidewalk or road first, and ask to come in first. Just good maners. Other than that, welcome to Vermont!
@@kathielauren8448 I highly recommend visiting our "city" of Burlington, good place any time of year. If you visit in winter, Stowe is good for winter fun. The capitol "city" of Montpelier is nice with great shopping at independent shops and restaurants, hard to find big box in that area! A good classic NewEngland getaway is Woodstock, of hippy fame Peace, love and ...well, you'll have to bring a good play list for you. Bennington is good for history if you like that. St.Albans along the lake is good if you visit in summer. Good swimming. Mt. Mansfield state park is good for camping. I think there's also a few tour packages you can find online, like the covered bridge tour, nice tour guides, they swing by the covered bridge in my home town once or twice a year with the crowd! :) hope this helps!
Enjoyed the video! I moved to VT from PA, 43 yrs ago to attend UVM. I love VT, it's beautiful, the people are friendly, and there is a real sense of community, however all the people moving here since the pandemic have caused problems. It's really put a strain on the housing market; there's limited availability, and the prices have soared. Many of the newcomers are changing VT (either intentionally, or not) to be more like wherever they moved from, missing the point as to what makes VT so special, and why they moved here. VT is no longer "our" little secret..... I do have a few corrections about the video. Winters are not muddy (they're very snowy), but there is "mud season" which goes from about early March through late April depending on the year (this year was one of the worst). It's caused by the melting snow not able to soak into the ground due to the 5 ft of frost in the ground. Also, I wouldn't say VT has a gun culture, but a hunting culture. You forgot to mention the beautiful Lake Champlain, and VT's many other smaller lakes and rivers. They are great for water sports and fishing. Lastly, many of the images you used were not of VT (ie. the Utah state capital building). Even the last image I don't think was of VT. Overall though I love your videos ( I like all of the PA ones since that's were I'm originally from).
Oh wow, what part of PA? I’m currently trying to make a decision of where to attend graduate school, I’m between moving to Burlington for UVM and Pittsburgh for Chatham. I would really appreciate any thoughts you have there, you seem very passionate about your experiences. Would mean a lot. Thanks. Edit: I do also actually have 2 other remaining options, in Boston and Syracuse, in case you have any experiences with those places too😊I’ve only ever lived in San Diego, CA in the US. Never seen seasons in my life. I love the idea of it, and of small towns and no billboards and primarily small local businesses and eco friendliness etc. and the support for Bernie. In fact, I frequently go out of my way to drive very far to see snow or (somewhat) colorful leaves and rivers and lakes in the mountains northeast of me. I love it there. I’ve also really loved southern Utah for its small towns by the National Parks. I didn’t want to ever leave there.
My late husband and I were planning on retiring and moving to the Brattleboro area in about ten years. It was like magic for us. We’d see the state line sign on 91, and all the stress just melted away. And of course the air is so pure and crisp. Obviously since he’s passed, that’s no longer in my plans. We loved that area: just the right bohemian vibe for my bearded, piano-and-keyboard playing hubby (he was a professional theatre accompanist.) Burlington is artsy-er, and WRJ would gave been nice with Dartmouth not too far away, but being from central CT, we wanted to be able to come home more easily. There were many nights that we’d get out of work, drive to Bratt, have dinner and the Chelsea Royal (and/or see a movie at the Latchis), drive home.
Played accompanied back up piano for rehearsals of a comedy Play Black champange Paramount theatre in Brattleboro. injury from car accident a few months after right hand memory loss .450 was a croud for this play. a few from this play a very talented singer still living in Brattleboro trafficjon400 check it out but expect mistakes but i can play vintage pop request and boogie . Hope things are going better for you now 6 months later. 💛✌
Another thing about Vermont, depending on which side of the State you live, you have a very symbiotic relationship with New Hampshire especially in the Upper Valley near Norwich VT/Hanover NH near Dartmouth College. All of our shopping pretty much is done in NH which makes everything sales tax free. Also Vermont is one of the safest States in the nation as well with our neighbors Maine and New Hampshire also topping the list.
I can confirm this. My dad is from Newport NH, not terribly far from WRJ, VT and Hanover, NH, and at one time, he commuted to Springfield VT for work. A lot of areas on the VT/NH border as well as the VT/NY border (like Bennington VT and Hoosick NY) are quite symbiotic.
@@MichaelBSmall-jx7zo with only the river and a few bridges separating the two states in that area you hardly even notice you're in two different states, I use to do my partying in WRJ then have my breakfast at fort Harry's truck stop . I lived in Leb. Enfield, then Sharon. In the early 90s I moved back to the Adirondacks. I do find it kinda scary that some of the people I met in South Royalton at the four legged duck are now probably practicing attorneys.
@@MichaelBSmall-jx7zo E F 1 Tornado came down rt 12 charlstown area . my sister from sprinfield drove through the pole lines downed tree's missing the tornado by minutes. it blew out windows of a truck driving and side swiping it wile it was on its weekening stage blowing out a few windows and a porch but did not see that part for the tornado was said it traveled 5 miles down the river valley developing in the wooded areas. news cast videos and family driving truck recording the tornado heading strait toward them but weekening . first tornado in the Connecticut river valley recorded on a double lane highway happening spring of last year and very unusual in this area in late spring yet an F4 tornado in great Barrington Massachusetts with snow on the ground and a cold front clashing with a stationary warm front in Dec 14 1995 Plowing through the town traveling 15 miles killing 8 in the village and a father eating dinner in the kitchen with his family . the tornado took the entire side of the house sucking him out and found 2 miles away hanging in a tree. winds of this F4 260miles per hour was just as strong as any south western texis Alabama oklahoma kansas tornado. Dying out in Windham Vermont . many people in south vermont found family picture's insulation debree that travelled up in the tornado to southern VT. Saddly but you can get its news and damage pictures but no videos . pickup truck obliterated . we get tornados may be isolated but they happen VT about 7 a year with around 8-11 in NH Main . 15 - 20 IN Mass Conn- a bit higher in NY STATE (Charlstown NH Tornado) here on You Tube . actually the tornao did cross over from VT north west to south east then northeast a bit befor dying out. it was a unusual direction southest to a very short north west direction and from the currents air mass from a tropical depression that died out in the south after it was a named Hurricane .
I just moved here from Florida, and I’m so glad i did. The only way i can describe it, is it’s different. The people, the way of life around here..things seem to move a little slower. I love it!
@@thatdudekyle5690 Yes but the political climate in this state is not how native Vermonters feel this state has been taken over by urban liberal flatlanders
Please don't! Homelessness is starting to really happen here. Families are getting pushed out with a month's notice while real estates dance in the streets! The attitude is darkening fast. 😞
I'm a Vermonter, ive lived here for 47 of my 47 years..My children want me to move to Florida with them but idk if i can leave VT..VT has its ups and downs..yes the winters are longer but who dont love some snow, its just scary to drive on the winter roads..but i love it, i love Vermont!!❤ Where I live its a small town, close community, everyone gets along ..happy little town..Best school ,i went to the same school as my daughter gets to go to..Everyone is so caring and helpful..Yes since the covid pandemic alot of people have moved to vermont and theres not many if any rentals or houses to rent or buy, alot of homeless people right now..very stressful having to leave your home..My favorite season is vermont is Fall, its absolutely beautiful when the leaves change colors, not to hot not to cold, its perfect weather..Another thing your right the taxes are a downer for sure..They definitely take a chunk from peoples paychecks!!
My parents retired from NJ (where I grew up) and moved to East Dorset, VT. It's a beautiful place. I lived there for a few years when my mother was sick. I love Vermont. You're right it's snowy but I love snow so that never bothered me. You just have to be careful driving in the snow! Late September/early October is beautiful! I went up to Burlington the first week of October 2021. There was hardly any color change in Burlington but up on Mt. Mansfield it was peak!
I was born and raised in FL…it seems like Florida is just about the exact opposite of Vermont. If you love Vermont, there’s a good chance you’ll hate Florida haha. I moved away after college and won’t be back
@@Franksdad_deanmartinonrepeat I grew up in FL and hate FL lol I now live in MN and love it here. Really if you prefer a northern vibe, four seasons, things being lowkey, FL wont be for you. Politically speaking, I think Floridians are the most obnoxious. Dear God much of my family down thrre worships the ground DeSantis and Trump walk on. Its nauseating.
I would stay in Vermont. Florida sucks. As a Floridian who also loves the four seasons, especially autumn leaves and snow, Florida is hell lol. Last time I visited during a "cold" month was November 2017 for Thanksgiving. It was 86 degrees on Thanksgiving day! On Black Friday I am driving my brother and sister around in my moms car and they wanted me to play Christmas music. Christmas music in that heat?? I was not feeling it lol
This was one of the more well done lists about Vermont. As a native I lived 50 years there before moving due to a job change. All 10 are true. It was a “rock rib” Republican state for over 100 years following the civil war. Access to the state when the interstate was completed in 1964 (I-89)contributed to the changes in demographics.
Yeah! that's when we started installing door locks,when outsiders moved in and wanted the same status quo as where they imported from and posting no trespassing on their land.
Yes but interstate 91 construction blew our house up . Bought better land farm House after though. work hard but live free but abuse behind closed doors.
April is cold but snow starts to go away May is actually spring. June thru November are GORGEOUS Even winter is beautiful - picturesque classic Christmas scenes
Vermont has one of the highest property tax rates in the nation and they tax social security. These are two big ticket items to know especially if you are older and looking to move there. It is a beautiful state.
Vermont is a Welfare state, plain and simple. It receives more money from the federal gov't (8% in 2010) than it sends in. The slogan "Vermont Strong" is a joke to lifelong Vermonters who know the truth. Slogans may sound good but they're empty of any truth.
@@youtubejoi6319 Yes, that makes me feel sooo good that VT has become so expensive to live in that low income people like myself have to steal from people who make their money honestly to help me pay my taxes. Not many years ago I didn't have to take charity from others to pay my own way. But you tell me I should be grateful that Socialist Democrats in Montpelier steal from rich people so people like me can still live in the state I was born and raised in before the left wing rot set in. Excuse me if I sound ungrateful and resentful for being a ward of the welfare state of Vermont. I wonder what social experiments are in store for VT citizens after Prop 5 / Article 22 is sleazed thru past the voters who are completely unaware what the Socialist Dems are up to? Should we thank Planned Parenthood for that?
@@utubetommy I wish our government would give much more back to the people. Healthcare for all, free education, affordable housing, etc. some call that welfare, I call it using our tax money in a sensible manner to make the quality of life for everyone better.
Lived there for 10 years - moved there from OKC. I loved it! I found the people to be quite friendly and personable. The schools in the small community I lived in were great and my children got an excellent education there. Very low crime. I knew people there who didn't even lock their doors at night. Taxes are higher, but they do wave sales tax on grocery food goods. Yes, it gets cold and snows a lot, but everyone knows how to drive on it, they're using snow tires, and there's an armada of snow plows that quickly move the snow away, so driving in it is really no big deal. It's less of a problem driving in snow in Vermont than it is to drive in snow in OKC!!! 😆
Yes! We moved to Portsmouth, NH from Tulsa. It was actually supposed to be just temporary but we loved it so much we couldn't go back to OK! Haha I think it's crazy I grew up hearing New Englanders are assholes.. not true at all. Some of the friendliest and welcoming people I've ever met! And I always have to tell my family they can visit during the winter. We're not getting snowed in 😂
I’m 5th generation Vermonter save your self a lot of headaches don’t live here just visit the weather is to extreme you get 1 month of nice days all the rest are to hot or to cold the list goes on with phantom expenses
I was born and raised still here in VT. You Hit the Nail on the head. Alot of new people are coming in from out-of-state and your 10 list is spot on. Yes, we are a open carry state for Semi auto firearms. The only other state to my knowledge is Arizona with the same policy.
OK is a constitutional carry state. Most people conceal carry though. I don't like to broadcast. This point is moving vermont up on my list. Trying to get out of the South.
I moved to Vermont in May and I love it. My little town is paradise compared to SC, where I lived my entire life. I only wish I'd moved here years ago.
I’d say the only thing you need to know is just don’t. I’ve seen a lot of people move here and leave after not too long. Depending on where you live here it can be tough. People are not always friendly and the winters are harsh and long and outsiders are not always trusted by locals.
Born and raised Vermonter here. I’ve lived both extremely rural and our most urban. I can say 2 things for certain; 1. Vermont is expensive. Taxes, real estate, groceries, everything is trending upward. The kicker is, salaries/wages aren’t keeping up with the cost of living. At this point, you either have to already be rich, or know someone to get a deal before moving here. Alternatively, be a bachelor(ette) with no plans to wed or start a family. 2. It being a mostly rural state with a large incoming population means that there’s a strong tendency to resent the “flatlanders” (people from basically anywhere besides Vermont). Only way to counteract that is to give the locals their space, treat them with courtesy, and help out when you can. P.S. I suppose I should reiterate what someone else said; it’s not exactly a “gun” culture, but more a hunting culture. Deer, bear, moose, waterfowl, fishing, etc. all have their seasons here, with plenty of community betting pools on who can catch/hunt the biggest of what’s in season (mainly deer, bear, and moose). Hunters in rural areas can and will likely have their rifles and pistols with them most of the time in the fall to early winter seasons. It’s becoming a less-common practice nowadays, but still present. I’m not the one to say whether it’s right or wrong, I’m only here to say that it’s something that happens in Vermont.
Wages are not keeping up with costs in all states. Let's vote in politicians who want to reverse this trend. Do you know anyone who is trying to do this?
Yes it’s gorgeous here in the fall. Winter is forever. Taxes are high. It’s not diverse at all. It’s beautiful here for sure. Depends on the person and what they want for themselves and their family.
I was born and lived for 19 years in vermont. so many beautiful tight knit community's, the roads are clear and rural as hell. vermont is so bright and the air is just d I f f e r e n t it's clean amd fresh. each town has local stores and shops run by families. I moved to tennesee to be w my long distance partner,bi miss vermont so much. I'm moving back in 4 months with my partner
Living in California the cost of living there I can get used to, still got my whole life ahead of me and the new England region looks like greener pastures
I was born just on the west side of Lake Champlain in New York State. I moved to Vermont with my parents when I was 15. I spent the next 48 years there, married, raised two children. I lived and worked in Vermont east side on the other side of Lake Champlain. At one point one of my daughters and her family moved to NC because they could not earn enough money locally to stay there. Within six months my other daughter and family also moved to the same area in NC. They immediate prospered. Found employment within days that paid twice what they were earning in Vermont. Within the next year I retired and moved to that same area in NC. I found that I could live far more comfortably on my retirement income in NC. Vermont taxes are high because of the small population. Roads still have to be maintained and require a huge budget just for snow removal in the winter. It is indeed a beautiful state and is a great place to visit, but living there is hard and requires a lot of resources. Just to sight one example I was paying $2500. per year just for heating fuel. Something I do not have here in NC. That one time influx of people will turn around over time unless everyone that is moving there is a skier. Winter can be like a postcard, but when the temperature hits -30 degrees F, the beauty wears thin quickly. Vermont has actively done everything it is power to discourage business for arriving or staying in Vermont. At one point IBM had one of the largest "chip" manufacturing plants in the country and got hit with regulations and taxes so bad that they and other computer connected industries closed up and moved elsewhere. In Vermont you are either a very wealthy person that obtained your wealth outside of the state or you are close to minimum wage person struggling to get by. With that the beauty fades as well. Don't get me wrong, at this point I spent 2/3rds of my life there and managed to survive and make a living, but it was never easy and was mostly always paycheck to paycheck. I moved for two reasons. The first and primary was because the rest of my immediate family moved away and I wanted to join them. The second was because the money that I was able to put away after my children went to college and got married has been able to go a lot further here that it would have in Vermont. The third was after spending 63 years in the same geographic area, I had developed a massive hatred of Winter and it's byproducts. If one likes the cold and the beauty and has a dependable source of income Vermont is a great place. P.S. When figuring population increases and declines it is important to remember that most of those leaving are the youth. There is a very limited employment well to draw from and that is leaving Vermont with mostly an elderly population getting closer to going to the big Ski Slope in the sky. What happens then? I'll tell you what, Wisconsin will mover from 50th to 49th knocking Vermont down to the final rung on the ladder.
Born and raised in Rural VT. It's my favorite place in the world, but career opportunities are kind of limited. Hope to retire there someday like everyone else in New England does
Born and raised in the Northeast Kingdom, moved away 38 years ago, still go back one in awhile for families sake, but never to live. Just had to move on!
You could have mentioned the bodies of water. Lake Champlain is the sixth largest lake in the country (after the five Great Lakes) and there are streams and rivers flowing from the mountains to the lake. So lots of waterfront property or properties with stream flowing in them. Good fishing and boating/kayaking. Plus lots of good beer from the fresh mountain water!
The irony or coincidence that I happen to love Vermont and visit all the time, and I live in New Jersey and want to move to Vermont. Smugglers Notch is beautiful and I love the small local towns there. Burlington is fun but small.
My family was a Smugglers Notch owner for 30 years until Fall of 2021 . We are from N.J. originally but have lived in Michigan the last twenty years. We use time shares in both Tn. & Ar. ; more convient.
we have a saying here," don't jersey vermont" not trying to sound unwelcoming but the reason you like it here as i do is because it's not like jersey and we don't want it to be.
@@richardmoore6295 haha I understand completely, I think it’s the same sentiment in Idaho, don’t California Idaho. Don’t worry cud we come we will only come in peace and openness!! Also, we’re only here because my husband is stationed here (even though I like it more than I expected too!) ✌🏼
I live in Connecticut. My older son is in Vermont. I'm a veteran so, once my credit improves, I'll be taking advantage of the VA home loan & looking for a little house on a few acres 😁 Connecticut already sucks as far as taxes go so I'm used to that.
I have some more things for the list as someone who lived in Vermont many years: 1. The video brushed up against this a little bit but there’s a huge population of people living in poverty in Vermont. And an even higher homeless population. If you’re going to live there I really recommend you invest time in nonprofits to help out. I was in the poverty side of things, but I still volunteered to help the local teen populations. 2. For people with kids the middle and high schools (at least where I lived and the surrounding areas… and I lived in a well known college town) are really poor. I worked in a youth outreach organization for over a year. The racism and bullying was borderline extreme. There was also a lot of mistreatment from teachers towards disabled students which in many cases worsened their struggles physically. 3. It’s a very slow state, which can be a plus if that’s what you’re looking for! Most businesses open late and closed early, which at times could be a great inconvenience (if you needed to go to the bank, post office, any restaurants or shops, etc). Because of this people also have a really slow work ethic. If you’ve hired someone, expect that they could arrive much later than you’d expected. 4. There’s a huge hunting culture in Vermont. Which, again, can be a good thing depending on who you are! Also farms of course are very rampant, and many of the ones I’ve seen weren’t very great. Seeing the acclaimed farms in Vermont and their inner workings first hand actually caused me to go vegetarian. 5. If you have food restrictions (allergies, diets, etc) there are not a lot of options in restaurants. 6. The hikes ARE amazing! And usually there’s at least a couple of options close by if you don’t want to drive a distance. 7. Okay, I HAD to put this in the list. As someone who is disabled I require the use of a task trained service dog to keep me safe and allow me any chance of independence. There is very little education within businesses about service dogs, and as such fake service dogs were everywhere. My service dog was barked and lunged at many times. Many other service dog handlers I know from there had their dogs physically attacked (to the point of bleeding and scars) MULTIPLE times by fake service dogs in stores, and the employees and store owners never did anything to help. So if you have a SD, please keep this in mind. 8. Lastly, Vermonters aren’t very friendly towards outsiders. It is really difficult to make connections with people, and casual conversation with strangers is very uncommon. Even working in the community, the only people who were friendly enough to make connections with were also from out of state. There is also a lot of gossip and hatemongering, and I’ve known people who were completely shunned because of very mild rumors. I did enjoy my time living there for different reasons and I don’t mean to dissuade anyone thinking about it. There are kind people when you make an effort to lend a hand in the community. But since I rarely see what I listed above talked about I thought I’d better share these experiences so that they can be taken into consideration by people thinking of moving to VT😊
@@resq717 Like I said at the end of my comment, I enjoyed my time there for other reasons😊 the mountains and sunsets and hikes are incredibly gorgeous~ and there is a lot of wildlife! So I wouldn’t say I was miserable😆 since this is a video about things people should know before moving, I commented based on my experience with things about VT I wish I had known before moving~ Have a good day!☀️
@@jamesdean9367 People seem to keep skipping over the “in my experience” in my comment. In my experience, the people who I MET, had a slow work ethic. Slow as in, LITERALLY SLOW. People who ran small businesses would make deliveries hours late to when they said, with no warning, for no reason other than they just got up a bit late, and expected their customers to adapt to that. Half of the workers I knew would be late to meetings or events, not have things done on time to when they’d need to, cancel things last minute (or forget and just not show up) because they didn’t organize well or had something minor come up (like they were stressed that day). Businesses would close for the day, or early, for reasons that I believe don’t coincide with a strong work ethic. A lot of people I met complained endlessly about the work they were doing, when in reality it really wasn’t hard work and they didn’t have very many hours. The result of all this was there was a large inconvenience to customers, and that is something people should keep in mind. The town I lived in was a slow, easygoing town, which is perfect for relaxed, slow, and easygoing people. But is something people should know if they are busy, care for schedules and change, responsible for some sort of business, etc. It is also something that some of the “native” Vermonters pointed out and didn’t care for as well, so I’m not quite sure why everyone is stressed by my comment🤔
I really appreciate all this info! Makes me think twice about the idealic picture I have painted in my head about what moving to Vermont might be like. I also have a SD and have wondered a lot what that would be like there so glad to hear your (unfortunate) experience with that.
It’s a bike friendly state Lots of bike lanes and “share the road” signs Fast food restaurant variety is very sparse If you like your fast food, then be ready to eat McDonald’s and Subway a lot. There is actually a good amount of job opportunities, and people are open and willing to hire. Even if they’re not advertising you can bring in your resume. Bring your own bags when shopping…trust me.
@@vladimirprovotorov580 I guess it depends on what you are looking for out of Vermont. Burlington and South Burlington are the bigger cities with malls, coffee shops, small business and restaurants. Stowe, Jay, and Killington are the bigger ski towns The further south you go in Vermont, the cheaper the cost of living. Charlotte is more of a “rich” area Shelburne is more know for restaurants. Northern Vermont has harsher winters, Jay being extremely north.
Summers are worse in Texas, Arizona and Florida yet most folks dont think twice and move there. Then they are shocked that its not even Memorial Day and its 105 outside before noon
Went to college in Vermont and I really enjoyed it. Great, interesting people and amazing scenery. Sadly the administration at UVM is pretty corrupt and runs more like a corporation than a learning institution, shafting professors staff and students alike but at least the staff union got a big concession out of admin this month showing Vermonters are principled enough to fight back against poor working conditions at their largest university
Sorry to hear this.. a UVM graduate myself. Very much enjoyed the experience..even tho I was born and raised in BTV ..as a college student totally immersed in the campus life. I know the medical community has been taken over by hedge fund buyouts..and quality of care suffering. Vermont has always been challenged by economic issues..the reason I moved away 40 years ago.
@@wyl.22 such a shame to hear this..there’s an inevitability to it..Vermont one of the poorest states in my day as far as having funds to pay for the university..just about the most expensive State university in the 70’s so out of state students paid very high tuition. I think the cost per credit was one of the highest. Sounds like they went in direction of corporate sponsorships. The medical school in the 40’s was about to lose its accreditation and they hired my grandfather to become Dean of Medicine at the close of WWII and he came East after service in War overseas ( he was in his 50’s).. and succeeded in hiring top physicians out of Ivy League schools to come to Vermont. This seeded a bright future for Vermont MD’s for years. That cycle of good outcomes sounds like it has ended for the time being. Too bad as it seems the quality of life in Vermont has improved a lot since the time I left in early 80’s. 🍃🦋
@@leilettesartoga7276 This is just such a shame to read this. My sister still lives in Vt and has related her own share of stories about herself and the system in general in BTV health. Ironic since my grandfather was recruited shortly after WWII to rescue the medical center from the place it was in then..about to lose their accreditation. He was a teaching physician and agreed to move from Cincinnati to Vermont. His efforts transformed the medicine there for decades to come..with a series of quality Deans succeeding him. Just shows that things can be achieved but the entire system now in chaos.
I taught at Middlebury College 2000-2015 and spent many weekend days driving around the state, soaking up the beauty. I wasn’t there long enough to qualify for the 251 Club of people who have visited all the cities and towns there. Everyone who loves this state should know about this club, and perhaps try to join.
.lived here for many decades. I moved here knowing nothing of the area. from south Florida, company transfer. Rentals are very tight & always have been. Real Estate Prices have doubled since the pandemic. Winter is very expensive & long. It’s extremely rural not a whole lot of conveniences. But it is beautiful. I call it God’s country. If you like convenience move to Burlington anywhere else there are no conveniences no Uber, no food delivery services, no chains like Starbucks not many McDonalds, etc. No nightlife. The area needs medical people.Before Covid a lot of cottage industry but now just like everywhere it’s a struggle. Yes everyone is pretty much into politics, in a friendly way. I stayed for my children they got a great education. They went to college & came back here to raise their families. Vermont is a time warp, you cross the border and your in another time, I went down to Florida in 2021 after 2 years by car and I had no idea what Easipass was, I thought what happened to toll booths? There you have it.
Great Video!!! I Loove Vermont And The New England States Have Soo Much Beauty. .I Moved To Portland Maine And It's Been A Great Place With Beautiful Scenery And Nice People💃🎶💖
I met a young woman in Los Angeles who is from Vermont. She told me that Vermont is absolutely a wonderful place to grow up all the way to the end of college. But after college, many young people in her place need to move away for the job and career opportunities. Vermont's forte is in winter recreation and farming. It's a nice place to come back for retirement. In that sense I could empathize. The State of Hawaii is pretty much the same way. It's a wonderful place to grow up in but after college graduation one needs to either go into the military or move to the mainland for job career opportunity. Hawaii's economy is still based largely on tourism and the military second.
My wife, who in from Los Angeles area, met a man from Vermont. He is considering going back to VT for retirement. It is a far cry from San Fernando valley where I work.
@@jonathanp1884 That supports the view of that young Vermont woman I met eight years or so ago. She briefly lived in Los Angeles for job opportunity but shortly thereafter, moved elsewhere. I can see how lovely Vermont would appeal to someone growing up and later for someone in late middle age and older wanting to retirement to somewhere quiet, picturesque, away from the noise, density, crowding, crime, and pollution of the big cities.
Having lived here for 5 years, I can say that most of the more left-wing population is concentrated around Burlington and Montpelier. The rest of the state tends to be more moderate. It would probably be a swing state if the traditional northeastern branch of Republicanism hadn't almost gone extinct.
66% of Vermont voters voted democrat/socialist for Biden & Harris. So I would say the left wing has a far stronger stranglehold than you imagine. Moreover, look at the Bio's of the Reps & Senators in Montpelier and you will find that over 90% of them (closer to 95%) are not native-born Vermonters but liberal/socialist transplants from other states. NYC is a good example... Howard-the_Coward Dean and Bernie-the-Communist-Sanders are both from there. Guess they couldn't make a go of it in NYC so came to Vermont where native Vermonters USED to be trusting and minded their own business. Not so any longer... look what kind of state it got us... controlled by Demoncrats and Planned Parenthood. Not much left of the old Conservatives after the 1960's. You'll find a majority of old time Conservative Vermonters in the graveyards around the state. That's the only place their vote counts any more.
@@kimballamram552 Scott is a Planned Parenthood flunkie just like all Democrats. In reality the Demoncratic party is just a huge Pimping Machine for Planned Parenthood, and that is where Dems get their marching orders from. Scott, too. He's just a RINO figurehead for the Dems to give the illusion of balanced politics. Dems are masters at putting on Dig & Pony Shows at the statehouse to give the illusion of fairness. But it's all a facade and anyone, like myself, who has attended more than one of them sees through the left wing BS. But the gullible public laps up the Dem BS as if it were cream to a cat.
Sure, people are moving to Vermont, but most of them won’t last. People commonly move here with starry eyed ideas about pretty leaves rural living, but most can’t make enough money to stay and the reality of dealing with winter and the following mud season kicks them back out of the state again.
Vermont does seem like the Wyoming of the East Coast. It's so small but so rural. Most of New England is pretty urbanized due to being a part of the first wave of industrialization in the early 19th century.
Yep, Ive referred to it as the Idaho of the northeast, been to both states and they are they are incredibly safe, quiet, have a sense of community, and pretty rural. The politics, time zone, and the humidity are the biggest differences between the two.
Moved here to Vt. 7 years ago. Thought how beautiful. First my dog got Lyme disease. Now I have Lyme disease from ticks everywhere. Should have stayed back in the asphalt jungle I came from...
Take a two-week vacation to Vermont and you will be hooked. People are intelligent and nice. Raving lunatics are not popular here. “Be nice or go away.”
I'm an Australian and just discovering this beautiful state through the hilarious comedy show 'Newhart'. If I ever get there I wouldn't mind meeting people like George Utley and Jim and Chester, quirky characters and funny.
One other thing you didn't mention - Social Security income is taxable in VT, one of the only 13 states that do so. If you are planning on retiring in VT, better have a nice nest egg to live off.
@@resq717 Correct Lisa, and about the only way to stay under that income amount is to stop working altogether. VT is STILL one of only 13 states to tax SS benefits.
@@donschneider3687 That's true, but also true is not everyone continues to work at a job paying more than $50K/yr. Some people simply retire/volunteer/whatever. :)
Born and raised in Vermont. I have lived all over the world and live in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam now. But I still have the occasional dream of coming home to Vermont.
Don't let the seasons in Vermont fool you. We go through about 3 or 4 false springs until we get to real spring. The year starts out in winter. Couple months later it'll start being sunny out, you'll be able to go out for a few days without your winter jacket. Don't get too cozy though. Because overnight you can wake up to like 4 feet of snow outside your front door. Winter continues. Again, a few days -- hell, even a few weeks -- of great spring, even summer, feeling weather. But ah ah ah. The snow comes back. We are LUCKY if mother nature finally decides to lay off on the snow when June comes around. But don't let a few months of good weather fool you. We could get a random ass blizzard in the middle of July.
The influx of new residents has sent the cost of housing thru the roof. A starter house that would have sold for $200k a couple years ago now goes for $350k. Houses have been selling for $50k more than asking price - site unseen and in cash. Rent - even for a one bedroom, is significantly more than most mortgages. Most younger people trying to start out in life end up rooming with more people than the apartment is supposed to hold so they can eat more than ramen. 8th generation Vermonters are looking at moving out-of-state even when they really want to stay because they cannot afford not to. My oldest son earns GREAT money, college loans are gone, but is staying home rather than buying a starter house like he should be able to until he saves about 1/2 of what the house he'll want is going for so he can afford the mortgage. It's ridiculous. Come, visit us, this is a truly beautiful state, but not for everyone* - and this influx is pushing out the people that are a big part of what makes this state so desirable. * Winters are harsh, summers are really buggy, mud season is a thing and lasts 20% of the year. You cannot buy all the things you're used to getting at chain stores - much smaller selections here. If you like being stylish at all you're going to find that people will look at you funny if you wear full make-up each day and always wear cute shoes, seriously, even lawyers wear mud boots with their suits. And every place closes early, forget getting seated for dinner after 8pm.
There’s gold in Vermont. Mostly tracer gold, but it’s there. They were in the middle of a gold walk when gold was discovered in California and they had a gold rush. I would bet a lot of miners who rushed to California were just ambling around Vermont when they got word. The leaves in Vermont are beautiful. They equal the colors of SR 19 from Summerville to Weston in West Virginia. I drove through NY in the fall, having recently moved from WV and was looking forward to the leaves of New England that I had heard so much about. I drove through PA, NY, CT, MA and VT. It was a real snooze fest until I drove into Vermont. It was like a longer stretch of SR 19. Stunning. I am finished with Tennessee. Am looking at land at the NM/CO line and Vermont. Lots of snow in both areas. More snow in Vermont and more Blizzards in that area of NM & CO. It’s going to come down to where I find the perfect piece of land, first. Tick TOCK.
If gold is your thing, El Dorado County in Cali is calling. Yeah it is expensive as hell here but the color can't be beat. Nor can the rock climbing! I washed rock here for 13 years and ran a mining district in Grizzly Flat before the fires came....
Tip as a lifetime vermonter. If you want somewhere nice to raise your kids, stay away from Chittenden, Orleans, and Franklin. Derby and conventry are nice places. The south is really nice. Bud kids in St. Albans and Burlington and new port get into drugs and violence. But biggest thing for safety, STAY AWAY FROM TROY. A couple years ago some guy was decapitated in the middle of the street in troy. People get shot and stabbed there constantly. There are drug addicts everywhere. Needles all over the ground. Same with newport.
I live here and have most of my life. I’ve also lived in NY, NC and PA. The fall foliage colors are more vivid here because of the sugar maples. Fun facts: We have more miles of dirt roads then paved and more second home owners then year round residents
@@resq717 taxes really aren’t that horrible for the region. Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York are worse. I have to file a homestead declaration each year at tax time so I’m taxed as a primary resident and not a second home owner. Second home owners are taxed incredibly high
Growing up in CA I never really paid attention to diversity but after living in CT and visiting other states that aren’t diverse, I can say that it is something I look at. Sure people say that they don’t see it but if you’re POC, you’ll definitely say otherwise. Thanks for including that in your vid.
@@dw309 It’s mostly the nonchalant stares and whispers. It just makes it uncomfortable and almost as if you’re like some zoo animal. No one has out right been discriminatory but it’s the subtly of it all. 🤷♂️
@@hwhytee1 Thanks for sharing your experience. I have the same experience when I visit places where I look and sound different from the local population too.
I have lived in Vermont for 9 years now and it has its ups and downs…be mindful that the winters are extremely long and cold but if you love skiing then it’s great. The roads are always terrible think pot holes everywhere and you need to have a reliable running vehicle. Locals are not very friendly and it takes awhile to be accepted if you are a transplant. They also do not have much variety in restaurants and be prepared to love maple syrup flavored everything. For those that enjoy marijuana this is a good state to move to.
I find it interesting that Vermont is overwhelmingly white and rural yet it’s the most liberal state in the country. This is largely because of the large college population though and because it’s in New England.
@@firstconsul001 Your point? They're a docile people, which, is why they're often the victims of violence perpetrated by that race that is the exact opposite of White. 😉
I too went to college in VT. not far from the Canadian border. Winters last from November to March and it can get frigging cold below 0 at night. Great state.
#11 don't move to Vermont. Everyone suddenly moving here has driven up property prices so bad most of us born here who havent already will never be able to own a home. Not to mention flatlanders are ruining smaller farm comunities by trying to turn them into there idea of a nice little quaint town.
@@susanc.houghtondogandfolka3163 Pease come visit and spend your money but if your SS# doesn't start with 008 or 009 eventually go home. Inside joke and Yes thats how small our population is. We aren't liberal either, we are open minded. Its the transplants who are liberal. Thanks for backing me Susan!
@@susanc.houghtondogandfolka3163 I am glad you could rant. The people moving in are destroying what makes Vermont, Vermont by trying to bottle it for themselves and missing the whole point of the way we have lived our whole lives. Green Mountain Boys (and girls) for life!
@@susanc.houghtondogandfolka3163 lol vermont is the 2nd least populated state in the u.s. Its just that people are densely packed into small towns that cant be expanded on. The building of homes is a massive issue in the u.s due to the housing bubble and inflation. As someone who lives in jersey im noticing a trend people are fleeing their state on the notion it might be better elsewhere but its not the case. The u.s economy is dead theres no outrunning that reality.
Well said my man there have been so many city folk moving here since the pandemic and I have taken observation on the ski slopes especially of how many more people there are. Tbh I hate tourists now they are ruining our little humble state
You're right about the fall foliage: it beautiful but brief. I read a railfan magazine about autumn in Vermont, and pointed out that it last only more than a month! It is beautiful there!
In most places fall foliage only lasts a month. Leaves dont hold on forever doncha know! You arent gonna find anywhere where the foliage will last 3 months lol If a place is cold enough to have it start in September its not going to last you until Thanksgiving.
I wa born in New York. Raised in Cincinnati. Lived in Colorado until I got married. I've been in Utah for 2 years now. And I honestly want to move back east. And Vermont seems to be top of my list.
Three additional points about movingnto Vermont. 1) I would advise against moving here for retirement unless you are excellent health. It can take a long time to establish even with a primarcy care clinic, and you will need to wait even longer for specialty care. 2) The pandemic brought in a lot (relatively for a small state).of telecommuters, who bought up most of the available decent housing. They don't build many new houses in Vermont, so if you want to move here, you will either need to contract with a builder, or buy an old house that probably needs a lot of work. And if you do build, the lot is likely to be on an unpaved road, which brings on the third point. 3) Winters here aren't muddy, they're cold and frozen. But the transition between winter and spring is when the conditions get very muddy. If you live on a dirt road, 4 wheel drive is a necessity.
Also need to have good mental health because it’s near impossible to find a mental health provider/prescriber. I say that as a resident and healthcare worker.
@@blippityblahblah Yes, that too, but mental health access is difficult everywhere. Having practiced elsewhere, I find Vermont is a little better, but the available resources still aren't even closely adequate for the need. And the isolation caused by the long winters up here can break some people, especially if they don't have an outdoor winter activity to keep them busy and engaged.
As a Vermonter there’s no place I’d rather be! Out east is beautiful, the valley region is “city” enough if you like that. Central VT is good for skiing. Southern VT is rural and truly beautiful. We like it here the way it is!
As someone who has lived in VT my whole life(20), it has changed a lot. Definitely more crime in the cities in the past few years and huge amounts of fentanyl in the rural areas. HUGE!!! Many people bring drugs from CT and other states and sell to the local residents. Many of the small towns are cute, but very much decaying. Lots of run down homes, empty businesses, and again, more drugs. It is extremely hard to build new homes here due to environmental regulations (namely Act 250), so housing is always becoming more expensive and is really not in line with incomes. People have been coming here since the beginning of the pandemic with their city money and buying homes. It is very rare to find someone who makes over $60k here, and it is pricing them out of the market. Just some thoughts. Guns are also turning into a villain here more and more all the time as well. No one talks about carrying or gun culture like you would in a state like Texas, and we have practically no shootings, but they still are passing gun restrictions. It will not be long before it is like every other liberal state.
I totally agree! I'm 75 and lived here all my life. The rot set in back in the 60's when the Democrats and Socialists like Bernie Sanders moved in from NYC and other left wing bastions and took over state politics. The outcome is exactly what this individual said about Vermont. The Democrats control the state and Planned Parenthood controls the Democrats. They are a mutual admiration society. So DON'T move here, stay away. It is no longer an old New England state with Yankee traditions. If you like Socialism and Communism, you'd fit right in. But if you cherish Patriotism and the Constitution, then Vermont is not the place for you. Spoken by an old Conservative lifelong Vermonter.
@@bayou_cat7679 High crime in urban areas (yes I am aware places like Memphis and St. Louis exist in conservative states), overregulation leading to decreased quality of life and high housing cost, lenient judges/judicial system leading to many criminals on the streets that should be in prison (namely pedophiles), high petroleum prices, unconstitutional gun control, high rates of welfare (which is already the case here), and much much more...
Had a family member who moved to Vermont after a vacation because they loved how friendly were and the scenery, after purchasing their home things went down the hill. They realize that they were friendly to tourist, but they had to deal with the same racism and prejudice that they faced in other places but worst because there was less people and diversity in the area. Is a beautiful State but you should definitely not move there after only visiting for vacations. Plus you don't have many options, so if you need an accountant you are at the mercy of that accountant and whenever they feel like working. The same with other services, there is no competition so there is no sense or urgency
Yes, I live in Burlington and I can say that people certainly don't have a problem being polite to people of other races, especially tourists, but their is significant racial bias which goes unsaid here. People aren't going to be openly racist in public here often, but they also likely didn't grow up in a very diverse culture if they're from around here and therefore have a lot of work to do on recognizing racial prejudices. I do love that the state is politically liberal but sometimes it feels like a thought bubble where everyone is disconnected from the reality of America
@@Henryfordisright Na, we don’t need that sentiment in VT. Vermont has its fair share of racists, but there are wonderful and accepting people too. It’s the racist nut jobs that give Vermont a bad name and look. As for the whole slow accountant thing, that’s not true across the state and that’s casting a bit of a wide net. People work hard in VT, albeit the overall groove of things is slower.
I have spent several vacations in Vermont, and I love it. People are friendly, great hiking. My cousins moved there a couple yrs ago and love it but it is expensive
I’ve lived in Vermont for a long while now and honestly I hate it. It’s boring. It’s expensive. There’s nothing to do unless you’re a winter outdoor person. It’s very rural. To go somewhere big you have to drive… a lot. It’s good to just visit or pass through. Don’t live here
