Remember those times when you might have wanted to leave everything behind and go live in the wilderness? Moving to Vermont is a compromise on that feeling, as in, you won’t be leaving civilization behind, but you would have the opportunity to be living in the middle of plenty of greenery. Vermont is also known as ‘The Green Mountain State’ and if you have any plans to move here, keep reading to get an idea of what you can expect when moving to Vermont.
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What Should I Know Before Moving To Vermont?
What you should know is that Vermont is the only state in the New England area to not border the Atlantic Ocean. It is the 6th smallest state in the United States and is as large as 9,616 square miles (24,923 km2), of which 382 square miles (989 km2) is water. It is also second to last in terms of population of the states, with a total of 623,989 residents, as of 2019.
Vermont has a somewhat artistic culture that blends with its lowkey rural vibe. The state has quite a few festivals throughout the year like the Vermont Maple Festival, the Apple Festival, Vermont Brewers Festival and others.
Burlington, which is the least populous city of the country to hold the position of the most populous city of a state, is where the Vermont International Film Festival is held annually. There is also a strong culture of volunteering in the state and it also holds the enviable distinction of being the healthiest and fourth most peaceful state of the country.
One of the best things about the state is the food, which truly embodies the sophistication of its simplicity. The first thing you should try are the artisanal cheeses that Vermont is so famous for. And don’t miss the Lake Champlain chocolates that are a true speciality of Burlington. Or you might try the fiddleheads that are good enough to have a whole festival dedicated to them. There’s a possibility that the border Vermont shares with Canada is why Maple Crème is so popular there, especially in the summer. Bison burgers and venison are local favourites and to top it off, have the sugar on snow as dessert which is as true a Vermont delicacy as can be.
Vermont is the state people who love the outdoors and lead active lifestyles fall in love with. There are quite a lot of parks, camps, and national and state forests where you can have your fair share of outdoor activities and picnics. It is something about the air of the place that makes you love the state the moment you step into it, which makes you never ever want to leave.
Crime Rate In Vermont
According to the data taken from NeighbourhoodScout, the rate of crime in Vermont per 1000 people is 2.02, which means that one’s chances of being a victim of a violent crime are 1 in 494. This is far lower than the national crime rate of 4, meaning that Vermont is one of the safest states in the country.
In regards to property crime, the crime rate is 14.24 per 1000 residents bringing one’s chances of being a victim to 1 in 70. The national median rate of property crime is 21 per 1000 people. Again, Vermont shows that it’s definitely one of the safer states in the country.
Also See: Top Safest Cities of America
Vermont Weather
Vermont happens to be known as the ‘four season state’, which is obviously derived from the four distinct seasons it experiences. Its climate has been classified as ‘humid continental’.
Summer usually lasts from June to September. The season is generally on the warmer side with a few days of intense heat, the temperatures on those days reaching 90°F (32.2°C). The heat comes with its share of humidity making for generally sticky weather. These are also the months when Vermont experiences frequent thunderstorms that are accompanied by rain and hail.
Winter in Vermont is from December to March. The winters in Vermont can be quite strong and tend to often overstay their welcome. While the winter tends to vary in Vermont from region to region, the average temperature hovers around 22°F (-5°C). The average snowfall tends to be about 71.8 inches (182.37 cm) though the range would be from 60 inches (152.4 cm) near Lake Chaplain to 120 inches (304.8 cm) in the mountains.
Springtime is more often than not termed as a muddy season, since this is when the snow starts melting. Sometimes, due to the resultant flooding, life gets disrupted as schools and workplaces have to close down until the situation passes.
The residents of Vermont consider autumn to be the most beautiful time of the year for the state. The whole state becomes colourful and the hills start showing their orange and gold colours due to the foliage. This time before winter is perfect for picnics, nature walks and the kind of winter fashion that has nothing to do with winter.
Of late, Vermont has started experiencing the effects of climate change quite keenly. As a state that has quite a dependence on its ecosystems, climate change has impacted the economy and public health in very noticeable ways. To the state’s credit, they have acknowledged the problem and are actively trying to combat it. One of the most important steps taken by them was back in 2006, they became the first state in the country to adopt goals for the control of greenhouse gas emissions.
Is Vermont Expensive To Live In?
Cost of living is constantly on a person’s mind each time they take out their wallets to pay the bills. It is that cost exactly that determines whether the life one has in a particular place is worth all that. When planning to move to Vermont or any place for the matter, it is only natural to assess the effect it would have on one’s pocket.
Let us begin by informing you that the government will cover the moving expenses for quite a few full-time, locally employed people. Now, let’s look at taxes.
The income tax in Vermont ranges from 6.60% to 8.75%, depending on the income. The average homeowner pays a property tax of 1.86% and the sales tax is 6%. Now, let us assess the cost of living.
Cost Of Living In Vermont
In Vermont, the monthly expenses that an average family of four would have, excluding the rent, amount to $4,140 on average. The same for a single person would be $1,148. The cost-of-living index stands at 95.2. If you compare it against the 100 set as the benchmark for the US National Average, Vermont’s cost of living is certainly cheaper. In fact, that ties well with the median household income of $61,973.
Basic grocery shopping would have you spending $1 on a litre of milk, $4 on a loaf of bread and $3.5 for a kilogram of potatoes, according to Numbeo. When you crave a break from the kitchen or are just not that much into cooking, you can head to mid-range restaurant where a meal would cost $17 and a meal for two people would be about $75.
When it comes to healthcare, Vermont takes it quite seriously and the residents spend 16.7% of their money on health which is more than the US expenditure of 13.2%.
Buying A House
The median price of a house in Vermont would be $279,119. While this figure is specific to the average middle-tier homes, the price of homes in the state has seen a rise in the last year, which makes it a great place to invest.
Renting A House
Considering the number of visitors Vermont pulls in every year, rentals are in demand all the time. The average price of an apartment in Vermont, as per Zillow, is $1,500.
Utility Bills
A household living in an average apartment can expect to spend $17,062 per month on utilities like electricity, water, garbage, heating and cooling. A basic Internet connection with an unlimited plan would cost $83.75.
As far as transportation is concerned, a one-way ticket on the public transport costs $1.50, whereas a monthly pass would be about $50. If you are more of a taxi-person, the base charge is $7.5 and the cost per kilometre thereon is $2.49. Vehicle owners would pay $0.69 for a litre of gasoline. This should give you an idea of the basic spectrum of the cost-of-living in Vermont.
Vermont Economy And Employment Opportunities
Vermont, contrary to what might be the general perception, happens to have quite the diverse economy. It’s something that the state has developed by cleverly putting its natural resources and terrain to use.
Agriculture is a contributor to the economy to the degree of 2.2%, employing about 3% of the state’s population. It is, however, dairy farming that is the main source of agricultural income. While dairy farms have reduced in number, milk production has increased. Organic farming is a big deal here, with around 543 organic farms, 23% of which are the vegetable farms and 20% were dairy farms. Vermont sells a lot of its milk in Boston, for which it has acquired the certification of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts sanitary standards. Vermont was responsible for 66% of all the milk produced in New England in 2019.
Forest produce has another permanent place in the economy. It takes up 1% of the total gross state output and 9% of the manufacturing. The reducing number of farms has brought about an increase in the forest area. A wide range of products derived from Vermont forests are exported.
Tourism is a huge industry in Vermont. The summer camps, some of which are Camp Abenaki, Camp Dudley and others, pull in a lot of people and money. 89% of the money comes from out-of-state visitors and the industry is responsible for almost 30,000 jobs. The tourism industry also pays for a lot of the housing units that people visit for ‘occasional and recreational’ use.
Tourism doesn’t just include housing and sightseeing, but also a significant amount of shopping for things that are exclusive to the place. Vermont is known for its artisanal and fancy foods and other items, things that are traded in the name of the state’s brand. Some of these are Cabot Cheese, Vermont Teddy Bear Company, King Arthur Flour, Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream and others. 2019 saw Vermont producing the most amount of maple syrup in the country. The state also has 14 wineries in place to enjoy while you are there, and to take back home with you as well. Also, some of the best ski areas in the country are found in Vermont. Burke Mountain, Bolton Valley, Stowe Mountain resort and others see a huge influx of tourists during the winter months.
Health and manufacturing sectors have their own distinct players in the market with the University of Vermont Medical Center being the largest employer in the state and the manufacturing plant of Global Foundries being the largest private employer.
Education
Vermont gets consistently ranked as one of the smartest states in the country. The government of the state spends a good amount of money on education, more than $21,000 as last seen in 2017. Interestingly, 91% of the state’s residents have graduated high school and it can be safely said that at least 34% have a Bachelor’s degree, both these numbers being higher compared to the overall country. It is a huge brownie point in Vermont’s favor that the ratio of students to teachers is the lowest in the country.
The Vermont State Colleges system takes care of five colleges and thirteen other private universities. Some of these are University of Vermont, Goddard College, Vermont Law School, Norwich University and others.
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Getting Around Vermont
Air Travel
There are two airports in Vermont, them being the Burlington International Airport and the Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport. The former features regular flights to Denver, Washington and pretty much everywhere. This is also the place where the 134th fighter squadron of the 158th fighter wing is placed.
Rail Travel
Concerning rail travel, Illinois is taken care of by Amtrak’s Vermonter and Ethan Allen Express that run along the New England Central Railroad, the Vermont Railway and the Green Mountain Railroad. The Ethan Allen Express stops at Castleton and Rutland as the Vermonter stops at Essex Junction, Waterbury, Windsor, White River Junction and others.
Bus Travel
Greyhound Lines, Megabus and Vermont Trans lines are the companies that provide intercity bus services. Local transport within cities is taken care of by a host of services like BeeLime in Windham County, the Green Mountain Transit Authority (GMTA) in Washington County, Addison County Transit Resources (ACTR) in Addison County and many others respective to the city.
Road Travel
Vermont has one car per person, an average similar to the rest of the country in terms of vehicle ownership. This is the preferred mode of transport for the most part. Also, the state runs 2843 miles (4575 km) of highways.
Best Cities To Live In Vermont
1. Newport
Newport is the place to be if you are seeking financial stability and looking to increase the numbers in your bank account. It also doesn’t hurt that the city offers scenic views, a solid economy and ample breathing space and pollution free air to its residents.
The cost of a house in Newport, as per Zillow is $166,912 and the rent for the same is $1,000 on average.
2. Lyndonville
If you are someone with an entrepreneurial spirit and is planning on having their own start-up, Lyndonville is ideal for your temperament. Since a college was built here, the place has been expanding leading to a wider market and incredible scope for growth.
The cost of a house, on average here is $120,000 and the rent for a similar house would be $800.
3. North Bennington
North Bennington is worth living in for the low cost of living, the cheap housing and the very short commute time with other cities should your job not be in the city. It is also quite nice that there are a lot of manufacturing companies here, so the economy is quite strong.
The cost of an average house in North Bennington would be $180,000, as per Zillow. If you were to rent, the price would be $1200 on average.
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Is Moving To Vermont A Good Idea?
While Vermont is a desirable place to live considering its low cost of living and the quality of life it provides, it is the true outdoor loving person who is able to make the city their own. When signing off on the final verdict, make sure you have all the details in front of your eyes, as it is pivotal that you have the complete picture of the life in Vermont before you. Having said that, it is considered a given that life will be good in Vermont. And we are happy to have provided the information for you to solidify your decision, if it makes sense for you of course.
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