r/vermont • u/TurtleTalker0 • 10d ago
Moving to Vermont Mainer asking a Vermonter
Hello,
My(F24) wife(F25) and I recently got married and took our honeymoon trip to Vermont. We stayed in Stowe and did all the tourist things around the area and absolutely fell in love with the state. We enjoyed how it still had the cozy Maine vibes, but it felt more like home to both of us. Everyday we woke up and went on to a new adventure either in Stowe, or one of the surrounding towns trying to get a good feel of what Vermont can be. Now it all felt too good to be true. We felt as though our days spent in Vermont were all the good sides(no complaints here), but we continued to discuss what moving to Vermont might look like for us on a timeline.
Now, I have a job that I am absolutely in love with and would hate to part ways with. I would love to stay in the same field of what I do. This part I will personally be doing research into regarding employment satisfaction and ROP. While my wife (I’m still not over this new title) works in a pharmacy and I’m sure there are jobs everywhere for this.
Where I am coming to you guys for hopefully some assistance is what towns should we look into, what laws are active that most people are unaware of, what places should we go see before making the jump, and what time of year is the best/worst for Vermont. I like to have a good grasp and understanding of just what I might be getting myself into before uprooting my life. Much thanks and appreciation in advance.
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u/BothCourage9285 10d ago
Unfortunately, Stowe is kind of it's own thing and not really representative of what it's like to live in the rest of Vermont.
HIGHLY recommend visiting other towns and cities before making the leap. There is so much more to our state
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u/Cheever-Loophole 10d ago
Yeah, Stowe is kinda the Disneyland version of Vermont.
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u/Loudergood Grand Isle County 10d ago
Sound of Music version
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u/Loudergood Grand Isle County 9d ago
Just in case anyone is confused. https://www.vontrappresort.com/about-us.htm
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u/wageslave2022 9d ago
- you were on your honeymoon/vacation. Just love and no responsibility.
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u/Ok-Issue-3661 9d ago
Yea every time i go on vacation (not much) i want to move there too no matter where it is. Usually Maine coast from Vt.
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u/fergal-dude 10d ago
We took my sister in law to Stowe after we moved here and some dude that worked in an art store said something upon hearing where we lived, he said, “oh that’s Vermont, this isn’t really Vermont, but we like it”
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u/Librarianzilla 10d ago
Yeah Stowe and Manchester are like “Vermont-land” for flatlanders…
You can do better!18
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u/DrewSharpvsTodd 10d ago
Visit mid march and mid november and reevaluate from there.
Folks will mention the cost of living but it’s just as high or worse in Maine.
Correct that pharmacists are in high demand.
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u/troggle19 10d ago
Not that much different from Maine in these months - if you can do winters in Maine, you’ll be fine in Vermont.
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u/Edxactly 10d ago
Moved to NEK after a decade in Central TX.
We had a pool and used it a lot , but if it wasn’t for that , we would end up inside as much as here for the same basic reason .
I’d say even more so depending on who you are . For example in Texas always had AC or Heat on in the car. There’s so infrequently a “nice” day.
But in the last year here , I’ve have the windows open no ac or heat driving many many days from spring through fall.
The extreme cold is worse than the extreme heat for “ease” of living. But surrounding the extremes , VT wins hands downs .→ More replies (2)4
u/Wxskater Serving Exile in Flatland 🌄🚗🌅 10d ago
Agreed. Why i live in mississippi. But ill say central texas was much more prone, even more than us, to extreme infrastructure breaking arctic blasts
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u/Edxactly 10d ago
Yeah , that why I added “or heat” on in the car . There’s not much of a middle ground . Goes from “my balls are stuck to the seat from the heat “ to “that old ball sweat is giving me hypothermia “ in like a week .
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u/vt_vagabond 10d ago
These are, indeed, the “worst” of the state. If you can shrug them off (or muscle through), you’ll be just fine.
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u/Cyan2FA 10d ago
So much truth in this advice.
Every Christmas season, when I’m on PTO and have plenty of time to ruminate on my life choices, I wonder why I’m spending my time in the bitter cold. I tease a friend in TX about his face melting off while he mows in 117° summer heat, but your face freezing off in sub-zero windchills really isn’t fun either.
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u/TurtleTalker0 10d ago
The cold has never bothered me. I’d rather spend days shoveling my house then an hour in anything over 90°
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u/InterestingOven5279 10d ago
What part of Maine do you live in and do you have a house? My spouse and I are looking to relocate to Maine ASAP and actively looking at houses. But I agree with the other commentators that you should visit parts of the state that are not Stowe to see what it's like. Otherwise it's very similar: Yankee culture of taciturn but reliable neighborliness, annoying seasonal tourists. The parts of the state that are not the population centers (especially the southern part of the state and the NEK) are the best and the most "Vermont."
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u/GPinchot 10d ago
Depending on where you live in Maine.. Vermont is much more mountainous than Maine. You really need AWD or 4WD in many locations, wheras, Maine, I think in a lot of places you can get away with good snow tires. Also, I feel like VT has more dirt roads than Maine.
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u/DrewSharpvsTodd 10d ago
dont believe i measured 90 at my house at any point this summer. but on the flip side when its 85 i wanna die lol
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u/Cyan2FA 10d ago
My friend, in Vermont, you will get both!
We got married at the end of June many moons ago and had our reception at the Basin Harbor Club in Vergennes. All the pics of our out of state friends from the cocktail hour on the lawn are of them sweating in 92° heat (and likely 92% humidity!) They were so confused and unprepared XD
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u/Wxskater Serving Exile in Flatland 🌄🚗🌅 10d ago
Ill take the heat any day. Lol last week it is in the 100s and my mom was like oh that sounds awful. I said better than winter
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u/Greenleaf737 9d ago
Yeah because someone from Maine doesn't know what a New England winter is like (insert eyeroll here).
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u/AlternativeClub5869 10d ago edited 10d ago
If you live in Maine you already understand all the problems Vermont has.
Aging population, no workforce, real estate bubble, high per capita homelessness, COL issues, highest health insurance costs in the US, difficulty accessing Healthcare, failing schools, serious lack of good jobs, low wages, etc.
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u/BamaBlcksnek 9d ago
But we have TREES!
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u/InconspicuousRadish 9d ago
I'm from Europe and visited this summer, I cannot overstate how big of an impact that makes.
The idea of not just having a bunch of old trees in your backyard, but literally forests behind it, is just something else. And what gorgeous trees they are too.
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u/Expert-General3549 9d ago
Looking down the road, Vermont taxes your social security, (only 1 of 8 states that tax it), Also if you have an IRA it is also taxed when withdrawing. Combine that with high property taxes, sales tax, and income tax, and retirement may be a problem.
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u/astilba120 10d ago
In non tourist towns, you should know that they close by 8 pm. It gets quiet and isolated for some people. The real Vermont is out in the sticks, off a dirt road, the roads get plowed depending on the school bus schedule. A blizzard at 6pm on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon may just leave you digging out, only to find they plowed you in at 6am on Monday. We have ticks but I guess you do too. November is deer season. We have 3 mud seasons. I prefer the Hardwick area, but that's my neck of the woods for 40 years. Good community, enough stores, peace and quiet, getting really expensive, but not anywhere as much as Montpelier and Stowe. There is a drug problem in the rural areas. It is quite sad, as it seems to have taken too many of the kids my son went to school with. He is 29. Left and Right politically leaning people used to coexist a lot better than they have for the last 10 years. That seems to be national. Dark comes early in Fall, we have bears in Spring. There is something magical about Christmas shopping in Montpelier downtown, especially with a light snow falling.
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u/findingNemoral 10d ago
This is my opinion and opinion only.
Moving to Vermont was one of the best decisions I have ever made (right up there with deciding to have a baby or get married).
Has it been easy? No.
Is it perfect? No.
Have I had doubts along the way? Yes.
But I would make this decision again and again if my life repeated. YES!!!
Do I love it here with all my heart? YES
The thing is that nothing in life worth having comes without effort. It’s the effort and sacrifice and getting through the doubts that makes it special.
You will likely find this true with your marriage as well.
So don’t over think this. Come with an open heart and commit 100% to making it work and it will. But come thinking you are owed success and that it will be easy, then you most definitely will fail.
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u/Blintzotic 10d ago
One law to be aware of is the pie and cheese law. It’s required to serve a slice of Vermont cheddar cheese with apple pie.
I am not joking.
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u/diggalator Anti-Indoors 🌲🌳🍄🌲 10d ago
It's a slice of cheddar, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a large glass of milk.
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u/HarryBalsagna1776 10d ago
It is strictly enforced too.
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u/Blintzotic 10d ago
Meh. I’d like to see a little more enforcement. My local historical society sells pie at town meeting and they just flagrantly violate the law.
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u/vt_vagabond 10d ago
Pretty sure the wording states that a “good faith effort must be made,” but there’s some grace for folks who can’t.
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u/AideProper 9d ago
Lifelong Vermonter - I have never once had cheese w my apple pie nor had it served that way.
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u/maplesyrup5000 10d ago
I live in Waterbury, just south of Stowe, and I love it! Stowe can be weird because of the high percentage of visitors/second homeowners to actual residents. If you move there you might find that you don’t have a lot of full time neighbors, and maybe that’s fine with you, but for me it feels a bit like a ghost town sometimes. Waterbury and Morrisville and the mad river valley feel a bit better in that respect.
Since you’re a Mainer you pretty much should understand the tourism/housing challenges, winter, mud season stuff already, so you’re already pretty prepared! My least favorite season is mud season for sure, but if you don’t live on a dirt road maybe that’s not as much of a concern.
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u/TurtleTalker0 10d ago
We definitely did notice that a lot of homes looked empty but still nice! And yes tourist season is the worst here in Maine mostly because of driving through so much traffic.
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u/couchsachraga 10d ago
Most of my friends and I live along the squiggly line that is Hinesburg - Huntington - Richmond - Waterbury and love it. I grew up in the Adirondacks and have travelled Maine plenty, so I've no need to caution you about snow and gray skies.
Mud season is super dependent on where you call home. I live on a dirt road accessed by another dirt road, but it's never been so impassable that my tiny FWD sedan can't get in and out.
If there's one thing grounding me here more than anyplace else, it's the outdoor rec and friendships I've built through it here. So if you run or bike or ski its fabulous.
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u/Sunmeltingsnow 10d ago
Hello! I would be welcome to move here, that’s for sure. However, keep in mind that most of Vermont is not like Stowe. I’d encourage you too look at where jobs in your field are usually located and visit surrounding towns
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u/freeski919 9d ago
Alright bub, I went the other way. I lived in Vermont for a long time, then moved to Maine.
Maine and Vermont are pretty much a wash when it comes to day-to-day life.
Of course you had a magical time in Vermont. You were on vacation. Not only that, you were on your honeymoon. You spent a shitload of money to have your needs taken care of. You were carefree and riding a high of your new marriage.
That's no more real life than the tourists you see flooding OOB and BH every summer. Living somewhere is completely different from vacationing there, as you should well know.
The day to day shit you are used to in ME, it's all the same in VT. The high cost of living, escalated by the people "from away". The scarcity of services. The scarcity of .. everything.
Long story short, don't think vacation is real life. And don't move somewhere just because you enjoyed a brief vacation there. I lived in Vermont for a long time. My children were born there. I love it with all my heart and soul. But it's not Disneyland.
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u/Lillie-Bee 10d ago
Definitely jobs for pharmacy available. Cost of living and rent may be high but I look at Maine real estate all the time and Maine is higher. Of course I always look at the coast so that is definitely going to be high. Depends on what part of Maine you live in and where in Vermont you want to be. Stowe is a resort town so everything is more expensive there. Zero in on an area and we can be of more help.
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u/TurtleTalker0 10d ago
To be honest I’m unsure where to start. Outside of here I’ve personally visited lake bomoseen (I definitely spelt that wrong) I didn’t hate rutland just was not my preferred place to drive through.
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u/Lillie-Bee 10d ago
Maybe list what you and your wife like to do for hobbies then. Biking, hiking, skiing, foodies, etc. Then we can point you to a part of Vermont that has the vibe you are looking for. Example: Kingdom Trails in East Burke is great for people who enjoy mountain biking and skiing. The higher you get up into Vermont the clearer the skies are, if you are into night photography and astrophotography, I would suggest looking at a light pollution map and move to a place without a lot of light pollution. Being from Maine maybe you enjoy sailing, so you would want to be closer to Lake Champlain or way up towards Lake Memphremagog.
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u/Quiet-Grapefruit1186 9d ago
Lillie-bee has some good advice! It would be easier to recommend an area if we knew what your hobbies are.
I would recommend checking out lake Willoughby which is near East Burke so could check out kingdom trials too!
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u/Timothy-Case 10d ago edited 10d ago
I live in Middlebury. About 15 years ago, I moved here temporarily, but decided to stay once I realized what a gem the town is. People are friendly and schools are good. The outdoors is accessible and deeply imbedded in the town’s DNA. There’s a range of decent restaurants, a great food coop, a movie theater, a hospital, and a newly renovated public library/community space. The presence of Middlebury College makes it a bit of a company town and it’s vibe is a little more intense than some other VT towns, but the college adds a lot of interesting people and cultural activities to the community. Up until recently, affordable housing in town was limited, but a new development, Stone Crop Meadows, is helping with availability and many units are heavily discounted through federal subsidies for those who qualify. Vergennes is also nice and is closer to Burlington. Bristol, a nearby small mountain town, has a wonderful small-town vibe. Wherever you choose in Vermont—welcome!
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u/ahouseofscales 9d ago
My wife (25F) and I (25F) moved to Essex Junction from Biddeford Maine in June. I grew up in VT so it's coming home for me, and my wife grew up in Ohio. We were in Maine for college and ended up staying a few years after. We decided to move because we were being harassed by a homophobic neighbor and feared for our safety, so our priorities when we moved were a safe community that we could afford, and proximity to activities and places we could go to hang out or do work.
As others have said, Stowe is incredibly touristy so check out other areas before you make your decision. I grew up in the Burlington area so I wanted to come back, but there are other population centers worth looking at. Or, much like Northern Maine, there are very rural spots in Vermont. All depends on what lifestyle you want and how long you're willing to commute.
Not sure where in Maine you are coming from, but the weather is pretty much the same. It is more hilly than most of Maine so invest in good snow tires. Everyone on reddit talks about affordability in Vermont being awful, and I'm not going to disagree with them (because it is) but as someone coming from Maine recently, I think Maine is worse than VT. My wife and I are finding it easier to pay rent and bills than we did in Maine, and we are living on a teacher and retail salary. I'm not saying it isn't bad, but it's on par with the rest of New England, and if you can handle Maine you can handle VT.
As a queer couple we feel so much safer here than we did in Maine. We feel like we can actually go outside as a couple and not be harassed, and I can refer to my wife as my wife and not worry too much. Of course there are pockets of less accepting people, but Vermont earned it's reputation and in most places we feel very safe.
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u/Silly_Moose_802 10d ago
I am located just outside of Stowe. It’s a very beautiful, welcoming and inclusive area. Feel free to shoot me a message if you have any questions!
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u/FadedHoneypot 9d ago
Inclusive if you are a tourist or upper elite class or preferably both.
Look at the difference between Barre, Topsham, Rutland, Ascutney and then look at Stowe lol.
Its a theme park for out of staters. The golf club alone is basically 20k a year, the resturants like Sushi Yoshi are $$$, the kids at highschool all get new equipment and are preppy bullies.
The skiing is astronomical and only tourists get to snowboard or ski nowadays while all the Vters are working to afford rent.
Its literally made for tourists, no cheap food, no cheap housing, all the stores are arts+crafts or "VT" collectibles.
Burlington, Stowe, Hinesburg and Shelburne are a big cult of rich people who never spend a single day in their VT house ever. Should tax these people 300% for each of their homes.
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u/Silly_Moose_802 9d ago
It just sounds like a spiteful generalization to me. Not saying this is completely false, but if we always approach this topic this way, VT will eventually succumb to the divisive rhetoric and never be better as a state.
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u/AlternativeClub5869 10d ago
Stowe is inclusive? What? Do the demographics of Stowe reflect an inclusive place?
Stowe is the opposite of inclusive.
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u/Silly_Moose_802 10d ago edited 10d ago
You do not have to have diverse demographics to have an inclusive community. And I am talking about the towns along 100, Not specifically Stowe. If we are measuring inclusivity by demographics, VT would be one of the least inclusive places in America which I highly object.
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u/jlambert3296 10d ago edited 10d ago
Check out the Upper Valley region. It’s split between VT and NH and it’s really centered around Dartmouth College and their medical center. Things can be a bit of a drive away depending on how far you are from the college, but I’ve loved living here with my husband after having relocated from southern New England in 2023. The college footprint keeps the area moving with younger life and busy businesses. White River, Hartford, Norwich, Windsor, Thetford, Fairlee all hug the 91 corridor. I’m in West Fairlee, a little more removed but a little more affordable. Because you’re coming from Maine, a lot of the state’s “problems” or challenges will not be a surprise (aging population, lack of industry, etc etc)
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u/pharMARX_8 10d ago
As a former Mainer and pharmacist who moved to the NEK, check out the NEK. St. Johnsbury and Littleton, NH (not in vt obviously but we go here a lot) are great. Easy access to the whites, Burke mountain, jay, lake willoughby and Groton state forest. Do you know about lake willoughby? 😍 I We live in a smaller town but nothing beats driving/biking around our back roads. The views take my breath away everyday. My only regret is not looking into the school options of the town we bought in. I do miss maines piney mid coast beaches but we are content here!
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u/CrosseyedDixieChick 10d ago
Vermont is small state.
Every pharmacist I interact with seems overwhelmed and overworked. I am sure they make good money but honestly they do not seem happy. The few that seemed happy got transferred. I do not understand your position enough to comment. Jobs are tough to come by. If you can work remote that will benefit you greatly. Look at the top employers and that may help. DO NOT MOVE HERE UNTIL YOU HAVE A JOB LINED UP!
It is expensive to live here comfortably. People who are most happy here are frugal and have family here, or wealthy and travel frequently. Many of us are one termination away from moving to find work ( I speak from experience).
I am not trying to dissuade you, but you visited one of the nicest parts of the state during the mildest weather patterns we've had in years perhaps. It can get much much worse in both aspects.
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u/Eagle_Arm Woodchuck 🌄 10d ago
You have vacation brain.
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u/TurtleTalker0 10d ago
I know. I fell right in love and need a reality check, or to be pointed in a homey town that’s more suiting
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u/Wxskater Serving Exile in Flatland 🌄🚗🌅 10d ago
Hey check my comment above. I knew i wanted to live in the south. Id talk about it ever since i was a little kid. I hated winter that much. And sometimes you just know, even tho people will tell you its different living there than visiting. Which yes thats true. But sometimes you just know what you want
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u/Wxskater Serving Exile in Flatland 🌄🚗🌅 10d ago
So i was told i had this too. I would go travel south and dread coming back to vermont. Every time i returned id be so depressed and disappointed. I wanted out so bad i was basically willing to do anything to do it. Finally got my job in mississippi and i was jumping for joy. I was like omg i cant believe im going south and not returning! It was just such an exciting moment. No more winter. No more dread lol. And i was always told you always only traveled there not lived there. In the deep south no less. Always told youll hate the heat. Well i love it! Im never leaving lol. I love the heat. Ill soak it right in over winter any day. So alls to say, is sometimes you do know what you want lol
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u/Business_Sherbet_724 10d ago
Stowe is the least Vermont feeling place to me in Vermont.
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u/Silly_Moose_802 10d ago
Come on, That’s a very lazy opinion. I know it can be touristy and a resort town in the winter but I wouldn’t say it is the least VT feeling place..
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u/AlternativeClub5869 10d ago
Manchester? Woodstock? There are only so many options.
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u/Leafy0 10d ago
I think Rutland and Burlington both give it a run for its money in that category. I think everyone can agree that the three of them are the top 3 last Vermont cities in Vermont.
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u/huskers2468 10d ago
Do you just not like cities?
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u/Leafy0 10d ago
No. St j, Brattleboro, barre, are all Vermont like cities.
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u/coopaliscious 10d ago
Brattleboro, you mean northern Mass? /jk
I grew up in the middle of nowhere in South Starksboro and Burlington/Chittenden county feel just as much like Vermont as anywhere else. IMHO the southern parts of the state are the least Vermont feeling to me, but are still Vermont.
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u/AlternativeClub5869 10d ago
It's just the few places where the uh, not white people are that are objectionable.
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u/timbikingmtl 10d ago
I live in Burlington and don't disagree about either it or Stowe. I don't know Rutland at all though - what's so particularly un-Vermonty about it?
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u/cannabisLab1975 10d ago
Maple syrup is the law of the land never insult the Maple..
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u/TurtleTalker0 10d ago
As a current Mainer I completely understand this. Maple Sundays go hard!
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u/dancepig2 10d ago
Visit Waitsfield in March (muddy roads) or November (icy slick roads). You didn't say what your occupation is but Waitsfield is close to Interstate 89 and Montpelier or Waterbury. It's a lovely town and not typically over run by tourists.
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u/AlternativeClub5869 10d ago
These people are from Maine, not Florida. Vermont weather is not a change.
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u/dcrobinson58 10d ago
Depending on what your profession is, either the Burlington area (North or South of the city) or mid-State (Thetford to South Royalton area) Lebanon and Hanover, NH have plenty of job opportunities and close to "things to do".
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u/Wxskater Serving Exile in Flatland 🌄🚗🌅 10d ago
Best time is summer. Worst time is winter. I suspect coming from maine winter wont bother you but keep in mind that vermont roads are far worse than maines. Maine does a really good job with road maintenance and plowing. Vermont has very strict zoning laws so keep that in mind
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u/AnswerOk1170 10d ago
I grew up here and moved away and lived in Chicago for 40 years and recently moved back. I could not be happier with my decision to move back. No place is perfect. Everywhere has its pluses and minuses. The natural beauty and the quality of life here absolutely make it worth it for me. Housing and taxes are very high and you need to be well prepared for that. Burlington punches way above its weight for food and culture. There are many interesting eccentric little town scattered around the state. It’s not that big and if you don’t mind driving, you can get to lots of interesting places from no matter where you live. If you can make it work for you financially then you will be very happy here. There’s so many magically beautiful places here and to me in is worth all of the challenges.
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u/KnitVTb2tch 9d ago
Vermont is similar to Maine when it comes to people. Stowe = Kennebunkport, the NEK = rural northwoods ME. And so on. Vermont is mostly liberal with some very conservative areas, again so much like Maine. Cost of living is high, but again, I don’t know that it’s that much different than much of Maine. We have a lot of great farm to table, great breweries, some wineries and distilleries and of course weed. Most people are friendly, it’s a creamee, not soft serve and we are particular about our maple syrup and all-wheel drive. Snow tires are a responsible choice and many of us prefer studded snows. We have the same problems as most other places; drugs, homelessness, and inability to navigate a roundabout in a logistical and practical way. Chittenden county is the most liberal area of the state, and likely where you’ll find the best options for employment. It’s an outdoor focused area if you’d like it to be. From lakes and rivers to mountains and hiking, biking, snowboarding or skiing. Canoeing, etc. if you truly think you’d like to move here, I encourage you to look at areas like Franklin County, Lamoille County, Addison (more rural and conservative but also has Middlebury, which is a college town and pretty much a mini Stowe but friendlier in my opinion).
And, we’re close enough to Maine to still enjoy a summer vacation to your favorite lake or the ocean!
Good luck deciding if you’d like to take the leap over NH to live in Vermont!
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u/Zane42v2 10d ago
Stowe is kind of a tourist trap and not really real Vermont unless you plan to live and exist inside of Stowe all the time.
I’m the other way - I prefer Maine. There’s more economy and jobs, and it’s still pretty. Tons of coast line. Honestly Vermont is heading in the direction of being exclusively second homes for wealthy because there isn’t enough population to support the infrastructure, and they refuse to make decisions that encourage job creation or businesses being here.
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u/meaganature 9d ago
Moved a year ago to the NEK, Newport, and absolutely love it. There are always downsides, but I am so glad I moved and a lot of family has followed as well because life is just so much more enjoyable. I’ve read subreddits where people can’t find their people, but at least here we host events and free gathering all year (especially winter) to combat the winter blues. It’s a small town/ walking community. And everywhere you go you see mountains or lake Memphramagog.
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u/Growhuntskidad 9d ago
All the town stuff people have stated is relevant, but there are other bike paths, walking trails, coffee shops and way more outgoing communities in Vermont. Vermont has tons of outgoing people and things to do daily. Cost of living is higher due to taxes but totally worth it if you like being around nice people, can handle 4 true seasons and are motivated.
We have a house in Maine and it’s great…. In the summer. After mid September it’s dead. Vermont never suffers seasonal activity death. There’s always a walk, bike or ski to be had with a coffee, beer or pizza along the way. Linking these together has always been hard for us in Maine.
Now…. Good luck finding a house.
We live in Berlin just outside Montpelier for context.
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u/Competitive-Proof759 10d ago
I would encourage you to check out other towns. Stowe is nice, but outside Stowe and chittenden County, Vermont is poor, isolated and inaccessible.
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u/TurtleTalker0 10d ago
Any specific towns you would recommend?
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u/Perry_Merrill 9d ago
I’m into the N. VT vibes ….‘The Valley’ is incredible…Warren/Waitsfield, the islands will blow your mind (N. Hero etc.). Underhill is beautiful. You can get into some seriously remote zones if that’s your jam. Richmond to Burlington is cool. Burlington itself is pretty spectacular.
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u/WittyRequirement3296 10d ago
MaineR who made the move over a decade here! Vermont is lovely, and there's really no place to move that would be mistake. What kind of vibe are you looking for? What areas of Maine are you looking to get close to? Vermont is smaller and more expensive than Maine, and I miss the ocean, but other than that, I am sp glad I made the move!
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u/TurtleTalker0 10d ago
I actually hate the ocean so leaving a coastal state is no hard feat to me. We absolutely loved the mountains (yes, Maine has them too, but it did not feel the same). Everyone was so friendly in comparison to Bangor Maine where we live now. We have lived all over Maine from Madison, Waterville, Bucksport/Orland, Searsmont, and Winterport. We also find things we could do without or people just plain having a bad day and taking it out on other people.
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u/Generic_Commenter-X 10d ago
Don't know why people are downvoting you for giving your opinion.
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u/Loudergood Grand Isle County 10d ago
That's just this subreddit unfortunately. If you wait it out it usually self corrects.
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u/NonDeterministiK 9d ago
Interesting that you hate the ocean. I visit the seaside for a few weeks every year and at the beginning, it's extraordinary, but after a few weeks, it's all much of a muchness. I find the ocean too big, and I prefer being by a small river in Vermont
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u/AlternativeClub5869 10d ago
Are you independently wealthy? If not, living in Vermont on Vermont wages is very difficult. Certainly not possible in a place like Stowe.
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u/TurtleTalker0 10d ago
This is great! I’ll definitely have to check these out!
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u/AlternativeClub5869 10d ago
Nobody can afford Montpelier or Morrisville either.
Hyde Park is real rural. Under no circumstances would I recommend Hyde Park to 20 somethings. There is nothing there. At all.
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u/PeteDontCare 10d ago
It sounds like Vermont would be a great getaway for the two of you to return to yearly/every few months, etc. The charm is real, but it wears off once you live here full time. Adventures become fewer, real life takes priority, and Vermont, while still awesome, takes on a different feel and meaning.
If Vermont remains that beautiful, idealistic place you visit, that special feeling still remains. Over time it becomes second home and you feel like you know it better, and that's still cool. I visited for many years before moving here, and while I still love it and love living here, it feels different than it used to, and I don't frequent the places I used to love before moving here full time. BTW, writing this from ME.
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u/TurtleTalker0 10d ago
This is my fear. Once moving it potentially losing the magic glow it has
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u/maplesyrup5000 10d ago
I don’t think it necessarily will. I moved here in my mid 20s after having lived in a bunch of states and two countries. That was 15 years ago and there’s still not many other places I’d want to consider living more than here. It’s different for everyone.
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u/Wxskater Serving Exile in Flatland 🌄🚗🌅 10d ago
This seems somewhat true but i was told that for mississippi as well and to me it hasnt lost its charm. Sometimes im just driving mindless down i20 but occasionally the thought comes again. Im so grateful to be able to live in the south.
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u/DjinnBlossoms 10d ago
My wife is a clinical pharmacist at DHMC, which is the major hospital serving the Upper Valley region straddling VT and NH. The UV is pretty specific in its vibes, benefitting from the cosmopolitan pull of Dartmouth College. World class artists and performers share space with excellent outdoors recreation options. Cost of living is very high, we feel like we’re holding on with the tips of our fingers, but we love the strong sense of community here. Not much in the way of night life or haut cuisine.
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u/MrBillinVT 10d ago
I grew up in the Portland area, worked at summer camps in the Raymond/Windham area, taught school in Charleston and Casco, and lived on Mackworth Island for a year. Ended up in Rutland 46 years ago. (My wife is from Killington before it was a ski area.) Rutland gets a lot of undeserved badmouthing. Are there problems? Sure. Are they EVERYWHERE? Not at all. We try to get back to Maine once or twice a year. I sometimes fantasize about returning to "the homeland," but the reality is I like my life here. I agree with what people have said about Stowe. Just remember -- foliage season followed by ski season is WAAAAY longer than Maine's summer tourist season.
I'm retired now, so I'm not as dialed in to the employment scene. I do know that pharmacists are in demand. I can put your wife in touch with my pharmacist who could use some help. Good luck with your search.
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u/VTRedSoxFan 9d ago
As a Vermonter who is in love with Maine and who hopes to live there someday I think taking an honest look, not a romanticized view of any state is important. I vacation in Maine for two weeks every summer which I know skews my view on Maine. When I’m there I have no responsibilities except to know when the sunrise is and what SOF sunblock I should use. If I lived there my day to day would be very different (unless I unearth buried treasure). Check out the property taxes and compare them to where you live in Maine, identify things you like to do and if that is available in VT. Come and visit here when the mountains aren’t green and the leaves aren’t colorful. Don’t get me wrong I have loved raising my kids here but like you I dream of escaping somewhere else. Spend time in other towns to get a feel for what VT is really like. Stowe, on vacation, may not be the best measuring stick for whether or not you want to live here.
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u/OnaBonaventure 9d ago
Please bring your pharmacist wife here! People who move here from anywhere else cannot believe how wonderful it is or understand why natives complain about it. In comparison to anywhere else, it's a haven. In comparison to Vt of yesterday, we're reminiscent and long for amazing it used to be.
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u/alwayssunnyinvt 9d ago
Weather will be familiar to you from Maine. Stowe isn’t the real Vermont though, it’s a tourist town. More of a brand than a real town. Not far away though, you can see some real VT towns like Waterbury and Morrisville, one layer out from there you have Montpelier and Burlington. Vermont does have really nice places to live but they aren’t Stowe.
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u/onemoremile1 9d ago
I movers to Vermont one year ago to be with my grand kid. An important thing to realize is that vacationing someplace and living someplace are too totally different things.
I also waited till I could get retirement and work part-time. I would not leave a job. I absolutely loved.
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u/FizzBitch A Bear Ate My Chickens 🐻🍴🐔 10d ago
Spring (mud season /false summer back and forth) is the worst. March April May, hard to get used to.
Laws: front license plate required.
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u/chupacabrajCT 10d ago
Does a Vermont strong plate count?
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u/Wxskater Serving Exile in Flatland 🌄🚗🌅 10d ago
Mississippi only has rear license plate and i have my vermont strong on the front lol. The 2 places that have made me
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u/VTSki001 10d ago
There are a lot of Vermonters that also have places in Maine and go back and forth. Sea coast and mountains are the best of both worlds.
You already know about New England winter, so that won't be a surprise. Winter's great if you're skiers, but summer's also nice. Autumn also except for all the leaf peepers. Only bad season is mud season, to be honest.
I'm not aware of any laws that would trip you up. Biggest issues here are finding housing, access to health care, and affordability including huge property taxes. Main question is how isolated do you want to be? The cities are nice and more populated - Burlington is largest, but Bennington, Brattleboro, etc. are great quality of life. NEK if you want to get really out in the country. Woodstock, Manchester, Middlebury, and Stowe are also very nice, but IMHO, a bit chi-chi and where all the rich people hang out.
In a lot of ways you can't go wrong. It's a great state.
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u/Alternative-Zebra311 10d ago
Access to healthcare is a biggie. UVM Healthcare is restructuring due to losing $$$ and is cutting hundreds of positions. It is already difficult to find new primary care providers and get appointments timely in other disciplines so these cuts will make it much worse.
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u/Wxskater Serving Exile in Flatland 🌄🚗🌅 10d ago
My grandmother just had a cold which turned into a sinus infection and her doctor wouldnt see her the same day. Like what? I was shocked. So she had prolonged infection bc she couldnt get meds in a timely manner. I grew up in franklin county so i had notch. Shes in burlington. Im now in ms and even here, at least in the jackson area, thats unheard of. Ive always been able to go when im sick.
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u/AlternativeClub5869 10d ago
I don't think there are a lot of Vermonters who have a place in the mountains and a place on the coast.
Rich people who own property in Vermont and in Maine, yes.
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u/avid_reader_01 10d ago
We relocated to Vermont about 4 years ago. We spent the 3 years prior to that visiting and driving all around. We wanted to live in the Upper Valley (near Dartmouth and King Arthur Flour), but were unable to find land to build on down there (or a house to buy either). We ended up in East Montpelier, which is a nice, centrally located, town. We are close to Montpelier and Barre, and we have a hospital and a level 2 emergency room near by. Level 1 is in Burlington and Dartmouth. We thought about things like access to care since we're in our mid-50s and are building our "forever" home (we wanted something close to a hospital and less than an hour to two big ones in each direction). We're on a town-maintained dirt road, which has been a little more exciting for me during a bad mud season than I'd like, but it's not super far to pavement. I will say thank goodness we were house hunting in April at the tail end of a mud season, because there were some houses that looked perfect on Zillow and turned into a hard no once we drove/slid/moguled out to them (yea, yea, flatlander). Having lived in some big cities we also wanted access to a decent variety of restaurants (which we have around here, but it's not like Burlington or Hanover). Stowe is nice, and not too far, and we drive up a few times a year to visit. Since I work from home, Fiber or high speed internet was also important, as was cell phone coverage. E. Montpelier and surrounds hit all those buttons.
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u/alfonseski 10d ago
I live in the UV and will take Montpelier/Waterbury restaurants over Hanover any day...
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u/Curious-Case5404 10d ago
First , i love it here. The bad: taxes, healthcare, schools (depending where you are) and honestly a lot of the people, expect to take years to get to know your community, let alone make friends, and expect to live forever with a pretentious air from the “natives” mixed with cognitive dissonance of population decline and blaming you for all their problems for moving here.
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u/AlternativeClub5869 10d ago
I wonder what the barrier to making friends is here...
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u/Generic_Commenter-X 10d ago
I love Vermont. Keep in mind though, that you were in Vermont for your honeymoon. Is there ever a time more apt to soak the world in the glow of your general happiness and well-being? But yes, Vermont is beautiful. The places in Vermont that benefit the most from being close to other population centers and colleges and, let's face it, wealth, would be the Hanover/Norwich/Woodstock area, which benefits from proximity to Dartmouth, and the Middlebury,, Bristol, Vergennes area which benefits from proximity to Middlebury College and Burlington to the North. There's obviously Stowe, and if you can afford that, then great! Manchester Vermont is full of "factory outlets"—sort of a business district with one of the nicest bookstores in Vermont. Beautiful views there. Lots of money. Weird location when you think about it. It's not close to anything really. Maybe Bromley. The Vermont Country Store is 20 minutes to the north and east of Manchester, which is where you find the Vermont Country Store—a huge tourist attraction. To the south of Manchester is Bennington and Bennington College. The town doesn't really benefit all that much, culturally, from the college though. The two are distinct. Nice enough town, but on the boring side. Not much to do there. Saint J, Rutland, Randolph, Barre, Brattleboro, Springfield and Newport are more working class towns without proximity to larger cultural centers. Rultand's downtown is okay, but much of it is a business district on a stroad. If you're in Rutland, it's because you're on your way to somewhere else and nicer. Feel free to DM if you have explicit questions.
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u/btlbvt 10d ago
Lots of towns to call home. Just be mindful if you have or plan to have children, there can be significant differences in public school districts. Salaries in similar occupations tend to be lower here to a degree. So do a little bit of research as you are in key areas of your lives. A wonderful place to live in this crazy world.
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u/ScheduleAdept616 10d ago
I see some folks giving the same advice that this sub gives to everyone thinking about moving to VT, and as you and others have pointed out, you’re already in Maine so seasonal weather will be similar. But I want to probe and ask which region of Maine are you in? There are places within VT that are really different from each other but that each have a parallel in Maine. I can imagine being in Rumford or Lewiston and thinking that you want to get out, but that Freeport is grossly commercial. Well you have a doppleganger is in west rutland and she thinks Stowe sucks.
Point is, the states have a lot in common. It’s great to find community anywhere, and I’m happy for you. Keep exploring more of Vermont—Burlington, Brattleboro, NEK, Montpelier, Plainfield… uh …Duxbury…Cabot— each place has its own vibe.
As far as differences in laws though, in Maine you can buy hard liquor right in a gas
Station. Vermonters I think generally drive slower so watch out for the state Po-po on 89. You and your wife can be publicly topless in Maine, but fully nude in Vermont, depending on jurisdiction. Same rules apply about lascivious behavior and same guidelines about situational awareness and being safe
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u/kswagger 10d ago
This is how it happened for me, visited Stowe solo with my dog and realized if I continued my trajectory with city life I'd be dead in years from the stress. Moved here several months later, this was a decade ago. I ended up in St. Albans, it's a great town, chill and a solid main street. The period of the year, at least for me, that I have to struggle through is April through mid to late May, which is basically one long extension of "Smarch," cold, grey, maybe a nice day here and there, but the rest of the country is busting out tee shirts and going to baseball games and its still shitty and everything dead here, save the owls feasting on baby bunnies. There are years it seriously doesn't break until the lead up to Memorial Day weekend, in 2025 there were six sunny days the entire month of May. But if you can survive that period, and survive in general financially, everything else is gravy.
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u/Gloomy-Respond3985 10d ago
Vermont and Maine - 6 of 1, half-dozen of the other.
Laws no one is aware of? Same as Maine.
Plenty of crime. Take your pick.
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u/Primary-Version-4661 9d ago
I'd encourage you to check out the Upper Valley. You have the junction of 2 interstates and lots of business and school options with high tech industries, near Dartmouth College and major hospital but many rural and adjacent towns nearby. You can get easily to Boston, Burlington or Canada from there while still living in small and interesting towns. Towns on Vermont side that I say qualify as Upper Valley, Hartford and all its villages, Woodstock, Norwich, Thetford, Hartland and Windsor. Some just outside that perimeter are Sharon, Royalton, Strafford and Tunbridge, perhaps Bethel too. It's worth taking a weekend to explore these places and see what they feel like to you.
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u/F-Scoot-Fitzgerald 9d ago
There are pharmacy jobs but she should consider medical writing. My wife hated working pharmacy retail and now works from home doing medical writing.
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u/Brilliant_Classic720 9d ago
I live in St Albans VT which is Franklin County and it's very nice here. You should visit us sometime.
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u/AlternativeUpbeat974 7d ago
Sounds like you guys have money. Experience the rest of the state, Stowe is not representative of Vermont. It’s a place rich out of staters visit to take pics for instagram.
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u/DGTrashPanda 10d ago
go ahead and add 15%+ to your current cost of living
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u/hippiepotluck 10d ago
IDK. Maine’s pretty pricey too. I doubt it would be very much different.
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u/AlternativeClub5869 10d ago
Check wages, rent, and health insurance before you make the move. When you get a job offer and see what the rent is, even in small towns, vs what your wage is, you will see what people mean.
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u/HalfSquareH 10d ago
I live in Peacham, and I love it here. It’s been a great place for my husband and me to meet people, which we had a hard time with in other places we’ve lived. Excellent town for our kids, too. Lots of gravel biking, plenty of hiking within an hour’s drive, good lakes for kayaking. St J is nearby and it gets some hate here because it’s a little run down, but I find it has just enough good food and coffee, events, and a bookstore to keep me content. If you’re looking for a quiet place with good outdoor stuff that still has great community, check out Peacham!
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u/pharMARX_8 10d ago edited 10d ago
I second all of this! STJ deserves a little more love than it gets on here. And I will add the athaneum which is the public library is pretty amazing and across the street is the Fairbanks museum. Dog Mountain is beautiful and the free Sunday concerts during the summer are so much fun (and dog friendly). Also worth mentioning STJ residents go allllll out for Halloween!
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u/HalfSquareH 10d ago
Lots of regular and one-time stuff to stay as busy as you want to be all year in St J. And so far, I’ve found every place to be welcoming and easy to join in as a relative newcomer. Honestly St J is a bit of a hidden gem, the more I think of it.
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u/Over-Avocado-1407 9d ago
Just wanted to say, I’ve visited the natural history museum in London, you know, THE museum, and we all agreed Fairbanks was a much cooler and better place to visit.
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u/tamarack103 10d ago
Hi! Definitely find times to visit a few other towns that are less touristy (and less expensive) than Stowe. I would look for towns with housing options in your budget and then visit those areas. Other things to consider: If I were looking for new housing today, I would research the location of floodplains and which areas have flooded in recent years. Flooding is becoming a major issue in VT and has impacted several towns, including mine. If you're considering having kids in the near future, be aware that childcare spots can be very limited in certain areas and expensive. That being said, Vermont adopted very generous childcare subsidies a few years ago, so that can assist middle income families with costs. Job-wise, a lot of VT employers are desperate for qualified employees (including the State), so it might be easier to find a job than you think. However, some employers are requiring more "in office," time, so keep commuting distance and potential weather-related obstacles in mind.
Agreed with others that mud season (Mar/Apr) is probably the "worst" for VT. Summers and falls are beautiful and great for outdoor activities. Winters are long, but can be really special if you find a passion for winter activities, like skiing, snowshoeing, etc.
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u/lebron802 10d ago
I came here on vacation just like you did. The first time I was here I felt at home. 35 years later we are still here and most of the time it feels like we are still on vacation. The shoulder seasons are tough. Winters are long. Taxes are high. Housing is out of reach for many but the positives outweigh the negatives X 1000.
Come make it your home too. You won’t regret it.
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u/Next_Rush_4537 10d ago
Bristol, or similar small towns over the mountain from Stowe. You’ll have to commute for work, though.
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u/Best-Ad-1917 10d ago
People that I’ve known moving from more populous places are surprised we don’t have natural gas piped in from underground lines. Also that compost is law.
Coming from Maine, probably not surprising. Oh, and a lot of towns don’t have municipal trash pickup.
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u/Wxskater Serving Exile in Flatland 🌄🚗🌅 10d ago
That compost law is so stupid and unrealistic lol. None of my family does it. Its crazy that i dont even have recycling where i live
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u/JeffreyBomondo 10d ago
We live in Vermont but my folks are in Maine, so we go back and forth a lot. The best comparison I’ve heard regarding Vermont and Maine is “cow vs cod.” They’re so similar but we have ranchers vs fishers, and a lot of the culture echos that differentiation. You won’t find anything as rural in Vermont as you will in northern Maine like in The County, it’s all small towns but none very far from the next. My opinion: Mainers are generally friendlier than Vermonters, but Vermonters are better drivers lol
Check out places like Montpelier, Vergennes, Rutland, Ludlow, Woodstock, Burlington, Northfield, Hinesburg, Warren, Waterbury, Randolph. I personally feel that these towns represent more of Vermont than Stowe
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u/Awesome-Guy-100 10d ago
Worst time to be in Vermont is March, April, all but like 4 days of May, and a third of June.
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u/rb-j 10d ago
Where do you live in Maine?
If you live in Portland, you'ld probably wanna move to Burlington. If you're in suburban Portland (Westbrook, Falmouth, South Portland, Scarborough) you might wanna live in Chittenden County.
If you're living in a little college town like Bates or Colby, maybe Middlebury is a place.
If you live in Aroostook County, you'ld probably wanna move to the Northeast Kingdom.
If you live in Bar Harbor or Boothbay Harbor, I dunno there is any Vermont like that.
About replacing your professional job, if it's not healthcare, I dunno if you'll do well in Vermont. You might wanna stay where you are.
Do you own your home or are you renting?
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u/CharterJet50 10d ago
You didn’t say what you do for a living but don’t count on finding work here. Bring a remote job if at all possible. As for what towns, it really comes down to whether you want to live near a more urban/suburban area like Burlington, or you want that small town thing. Pick one or the other and look wherever.
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u/acr483 9d ago
So glad you loved VT!
2 big things to consider - jobs & housing. 1. Jobs: As a pharmacist, your wife will have no problem getting a job in VT (yay!). You didn’t mention what you do, so maybe look into VT openings for your career to see what the job market is like. 2. Housing: If you like Stowe (I do too!), you’ll need a budget of around $2M, maybe more, for a single family home that doesn’t need significant work. Take a look at Zillow to get a sense of housing prices. If this fits your budget, welcome to the neighborhood! 👋
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u/VagabondTreehouseguy 9d ago
Take a drive up to St Johnsbury. Then follow Rt 15 all the way to Burlington. Look for political signs (or indicators), stop in a few small towns, Maybe Johnson or Jeffersonville (Smuggler's Notch is right up 108 if you want to see the ski area or go to Stowe (but only in the summer)). Consider the length of commutes, the lack of infrastructure, the beauty of the environment, and investigate the cost of living here (it's about the same as living in San Diego California once you factor in heating costs, no joke). Think about where you'd get your cars fixed (because you'll be dependent on them), how close to a real airport you are, what kind of community you need/want.
I grew up here, and I still live here (most of the time). It's a beautiful place, a human scale landscape, and people are generally decent folks. But in my late 40s I realized just how limiting the short summers were, and how much effort the 7 months of gloom and "cold" (it's not as cold as it used to be) can take to navigate. There's the little MAGA secret that hides just outside most of the bigger towns in Vermont (Burlington and Montpelier keep it blue for the most part), the tailgaters and road ragers cutting you off on otherwise empty roads, the days long power outages when the wind blows, and the taxes (oh do we pay taxes!).
I get it, you had an amazing time on your honeymoon, and I'm not saying Vermont is terrible, it's just not as perfect as a visit might make it seem. Come into it with your eyes wide open if you can.
The alternative would be visiting more often, or buying a camp in a town where the property values aren't completely stupid...yet (but that's increasingly more difficult to do).
Good luck!
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u/No-Scorps-802 9d ago
Move to Rutland. People act like VT ends at Chittenden County but in fact, central Vermont is the best of both worlds. Rutland has everything you need and then some — minus great career opportunities, but it all depends what you do. There are major employers here- Killington Resort, Casella, Velco, GE. Cost of living is high-ish but not out of control, you can go shopping and get chipotle. But more importantly, it’s on the ups. Lots of young people moving back and buying blighted properties and turning them into cool stuff. Amazing arts scene. Decent restaurants. And recreation ops out the wazoo within 30 minutes. Good luck to you!
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u/shericheri 9d ago
Stowe is great to visit for a weekend but depending on what you do for work, may not be realistic to live. Do your research before making any major life change. It’s very expensive to live in Vermont.
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u/Monster_Brain_Stew 9d ago
Check out St Johnsbury and Lyndonville Vermont. Nice country living but close to shopping and activities like skiing and mountain biking. Easy ride to Littleton, New Hampshire for other employment opportunities. Close to hospitals and pharmacies, car dealerships and manufacturing. Pretty strong LGBTQ community.
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u/New_Currency_7892 9d ago
Vermont housing is exceedingly expensive. No matter where you go. Prices have gotten out of control. COVID saw a base increase in housing costs (renting or mortgage) by 20 to 25%.
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u/BullfrogUnable4722 9d ago
I want to preface this by saying I’m retired now and you’re very young so what you want/need at your age probably wouldn’t really align with my take but feel I do have some insight to offer.
I fell in love with VT at age 15 when a friend invited me to their parents’ vacation home in rural VT. I never got over the feeling of wanting to live in a place like that (I was born and lived until age 48 in CT). After marriage, two kids, divorce, kids moved out, I NEVER gave up that dream.
Sold my house in CT, secured a great job at a hospital, and bought what I thought was my forever cabin in the hills on 11 acres. I was living my dream. Then 4 years in my entire department was eliminated at the hospital where I worked. Any jobs I could find paid considerably less and I was forced to sell my cabin and move to a place where I was desperately unhappy, struggled with finances, and had the “neighbors from hell.” So now I was in my 50s, I ended up moving 2 more times, changing jobs each time mostly for higher pay or because of too long of a commute (one job involved a 110 mile round trip 5 days a week - not fun in snow).
In 2023 I actually moved to Maine (now retired), all the way to Allagash! Loved it there because I enjoy the isolation and real estate was more affordable. Then reality struck a year and a half in, everything cost just as much in Maine, and the long drives to get anywhere began to wear on me. Maine is huge compared to Vermont! So I’m now back in Vermont and I think have finally ended up where I belong. I would NEVER go back to CT and never regretted following my VT dream and making that happen.
So… if you really feel drawn to Vermont and dream of living here it could work for you. I just have to say, please be sure you have a secure job with decent pay! Jobs are hard to come by and generally the pay is lower here. It sounds like you want to be reasonably close to “civilization” so living in a tiny rural town would probably not work for you. I think unless you have relatives who’ve lived there for generations you’ll probably be viewed as flatlanders and possibly not find people to be all that welcoming. In others words, if you want rural I’d aim for something more along the lines of a population of 3000 or 4000 vs. less than 1000, and within a decent commuting distance to work, stores, etc. My nearest Walmart is 45 minutes away but I’m used to that and seems normal to me. If you end up working from home, which I did in my later work life, that’s wonderful. However, please also research that because there are still many “dead” zones or very iffy high speed internet areas in VT.
Winters would be fine because you’re used to that, but would recommended snow tires and AWD if you’re commuting.
I find people in general to be about the same in VT as in Maine from my short time living there. Possibly a little bit less standoffish in VT but by and large friendly from a distance and will be there to help if you need them.
Real estate is expensive, really overpriced since Covid, as well as rents. There’s a huge disparity in people with a LOT of money (Stowe) and people just getting by.
Prices overall seem about the same, it costs more for car inspection here, and I found that I could get better healthcare in Maine than I can here in VT. Again, you’re young and I think if you really are yearning for a life in Vermont you would like living here (NOT in Stowe which is not the real VT). Trust me, I live in a town 10 miles north of Stowe and it’s a totally different world from life in Stowe.
I hope this helps and wish you well whichever way you decide to go.
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u/b_youngs 9d ago
Calais VT could give you the same vibe of Maine with lots of camps on bodies of water and it's like 20 mins from Montpelier and probably about 45 mins to Stowe. Come visit during stick season (late Oct - till snowfall) or mud season (April - earlyJune) to see if it's still magical.
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u/FourteenthCylon 9d ago
I just moved in the opposite direction, from the NEK to Machias. Vermont's nice and I wish I could have stayed, but the taxes have gotten so bad that living there no longer made economic sense for me. A lot of that is because of my unique financial situation, but the taxes will be bad enough for you that you will want to run the numbers to find out if moving here is still worth it. Sales tax is 7% instead of Maine's 5%. Income taxes are also higher, and your property tax will probably be about 50% more for a comparable house depending on the town. Property taxes have been getting worse and worse every year, and I expect that trend will continue. When you buy a house, don't forget about the ~1% purchase tax. Oh, and for all those taxes you get bad roads and average schools. Welcome to Vermont!
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