I've been looking for a new place to move, and Vermont keeps coming up...

[Joebert]

Hi there,

I'm adrift in a sea of Red out here in Colorado. I live in the town with the worst state rep, the worst US Rep, etc. Ugh.

The scenery is nice, but not enough to keep me here. I'm actually thinking of buying some land out there, and moving on to it as soon as I can.

If you have any suggestions or things I should know before even contemplating this further, please let me know.

I am not afraid of snow, I've lived in North Dakota, upstate New York, Colorado, etc.

Any info would be greatly appreciated,

JoeB

[chaska]

1. I had the same thought....

I went and toured the state.

All the towns except for Burlington are small and a little depressing. Prices are high (especially rent in Burlington).

I would still consider Burlington, which is a fantastic town, but otherwise, I couldn't hack it.

Edit: No, it was a lot depressing. Lots of poor people, lots of smokers (pet peeve), the only industry is tourism which means that the poor residents have to go to the walmart across the river in NH because of the high prices of the touristy places.

[Joebert]

4. Good info

We're on our way there in Colorado. I don't know who has all this money, but with these huge houses and malls popping up, somebody's doing ok here.

I want to go tour the state, but do you drive there and ring up major gas bills (even in a hybrid) or fly there, ring up huge gas bills...

:-)

[gorbal]

8. Did you go to Brattleboro/ Bennignton?

I lived near Brattleboro, there is somthing magical about that place. I'm not sure what it is exactly, but I feel like there must be some sort of vortex to magic cookie land around there somewhere...maybe it's all the hippies.

One original thing about Brattleboro, If you go into a store or other establishment it seems you are expected to have a conversation with the person at the register or you are considered rude.

:)

[Tace]

2. Hey Joe, I've Been Thinking The Same Thing For A Few Years

You'll find some relative bargains in the "Northeast Kingdom." What's cool to keep in mind is that Vermont is a tiny place compared with most other states.

So you might be "way out there" in the Northeast Kingdom, and still be 30 minutes from Burlington.

On edit: here's a link to a neat little real estate vendor in the Northeast Kingdom. There's a lot more available. But, this should give you an idea about the part of the state I'm talking about. Chrs.

http://www.joesbrook.com/

[Joebert]

3. Thanks for the link...

How funny, his one land offering there is right in the area I've been looking.

My goal is to try and find some underpriced acreage, build an energy efficient house w/ solar & wind, and take it easy.

Thanks again!

[Tab]

14. Depends where you are

but the Northeast Kingdom is not "30 minutes" from Burlington.

You can spend 45 minutes (or more) just trying to get to I89. It's all back roads.

That said, it's a wonderful place to live if you're telecommuting, but don't think it's a 30 minute drive to Burlington.

[cali]

17. no way you could be thiry minutes from Burlington in the NEK

I've lived here for 28 years. The closest you'll get to Burlington is Montgomery area and that's still over an hour. I live in Caledonia County not far from Hardwick and it's at least an hour and a half.

[Bluerthanblue]

5. its beautiful.... kind of a playground for the rich, but

lots of good people. As a native NHite, i'm kind of predjuced about my neighbor- it's a HARD place to make a living, if you are used to high paying 'city' jobs.
If you are a self-employed person, like a writer, computer person, you should do well, but job opportunities are tough.-
Vermont, i think has alot more.... 'alternitive lifestyle' immigrants than NH- we have a lot of Mass. spillovers in southern NH, but Vt. is mostly Natives, and newcomers-
Great skiing- but pricey- You'll notice a MARKED difference between Vt. and NH- Vt hills are rolling mounds- NH is very ..sharp edged, and rock faced.
Bernie Streeter, and Dean are too very positive aspects of VT.- i envy that. Burlington, Brattleboro, are pretty good cities.-

You should come check it out- especially in 'leaf peeper' season-
One thing to keep in mind about ALL the NE states, we are kind of like the 'tailpipe' of the US- alot of 'acid rain' and problems from coal burning plants, which tend to drop the load on us- Cost of living is pretty high- especially petro products. But, don't know much about what Colorado is like.

good luck-
blu

(long winters- nov-april snows) black flies in the spring, but NO poisonous snakes)

[Joebert]

6. As close as NH is to VT, nobody ever seems to mention NH.

I should take a closer look at NH as well.

I had read about the acid rain, that is a shame. As far as making a living, my plan is to do so ahead of time, and then move.

I've been making good money in the computer industry for a while, but can't stand the outsourcing of friends, etc.

If I can find the right spot and telecommute into a job, I'd be set. If not, I just need to get creative.

Any spots in NH I should avoid, or definitely look at?

[Tace]

7. I'm Very Fond Of The White Mountain Area

I go camping and hiking every summer at the Dolly Copp state campground just north of Mt. Washington. Shhhhh. Don't tell anyone. : )

[gorbal]

10. The Keene area is kinda nice.

I like Keene, it's not far from Brattleboro and has a nice vibe. I'm not to fond of the "White River Junction/Hanover" area however. My least favorite places are those where you can sense the huge gulf between the rich and the poor.

Of course, that dynamic is getting more and more difficult to elude, whereever you go in the US. I get so sick of hearing my well-off relatives complaning about money, while planning at least four trips overseas every year and having their entire house refinished. Meanwhile, I hope I can afford oil heat this year:(

[catdancer]

9. And I had entertained the idea of Colorado...

I live in the hinterlands of Virginia, incredibly provincial
place and much too warm and flat for my taste. Interesting I
had considered Colorado but am concerned about some of the
more conservative religious fundamentalists out that way. Love
the west coast, love the snow and cold and mountains. I fell
in love with Vermont when I visited in college. I am composing
a short list of re-location options and Vermont is up on the
top. I am a grant manager and will be getting a MS in Reading
Instruction in May 2005. Suggestions, ideas, employment
opportunities, I am open to all.  Actually, I had thought of
Canada. . .I've heard upstate NY is beautiful as well.  Have
you visited "Find My Spot" an interesting web site,
you answer a ton of questions and the result is numerous
cities throughout targeted areas of interest with links. 

[newyawker99]

15. Hi catdancer!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[david_vincent]

11. See previous posts

Others are also thinking of moving here. Not all of the towns are depressing, but you have to reconfigure your expectations. Stay away from Rutland. Aside from that, it's probably too late to find any underpriced land, as the influx of rich people from Boston, NY, etc. has driven prices way up. Nowhere in the Northeast Kingdom is only 30 minutes from Burlington, I should add. All of the housing options will be priced with "flatlanders" in mind. Even in hamlets with very few facilities, you'll now find houses with asking prices of $350 - $400K. My understanding is that even five years ago, prices were very much more in line with historical reality. We were patient, and eventually found a very ordinary house in a great location for just $150K, although a year later, the realtor tells us it's now worth about nearly $200K (and he's not aware of the improvements we've made). The advice you've been given about making a living here is accurate. Don't bring big city expectations to Vermont. People here consider themselves to be doing pretty doggone well if they're earning $40K. A LOT of people aren't earning that much. There's a lot of hardbitten Vermonters still around who have spent their whole lives engaged in really hard work, and they're used to being poor by city standards. Most of the towns in VT will seem run down to you unless you adjust your perspective. On the other hand, there are a lot of rich people who just have second homes here for skiiing, and they have basically colonized the state, causing a predictable backlash among the natives. Higher education is the state's third largest industry -- not everything revolves around tourism. And yes, from a political standpoint it's far, far more tolerant and progressive than Mosesville, Colorado.

[david_vincent]

12. See previous posts in this forum

Others are also thinking of moving here. Not all of the towns are depressing, but you have to reconfigure your expectations. Stay away from Rutland. Aside from that, it's probably too late to find any underpriced land, as the influx of rich people from Boston, NY, etc. has driven prices way up. Nowhere in the Northeast Kingdom is only 30 minutes from Burlington, I should add. All of the housing options will be priced with "flatlanders" in mind. Even in hamlets with very few facilities, you'll now find houses with asking prices of $350 - $400K. My understanding is that even five years ago, prices were very much more in line with historical reality. We were patient, and eventually found a very ordinary house in a great location for just $150K, although a year later, the realtor tells us it's now worth nearly $200K (and he's not aware of the improvements we've made). The advice you've been given about making a living here is accurate. Don't bring big city expectations to Vermont. People here consider themselves to be doing pretty doggone well if they're earning $40K. A LOT of people aren't earning that much. There's a lot of hardbitten Vermonters still around who have spent their whole lives engaged in really hard work, and they're used to being poor by city standards. Most of the towns in VT will seem run down to you unless you adjust your perspective. On the other hand, there are a lot of rich people who just have second homes here for skiiing, and they have basically colonized the state, causing a predictable backlash among the natives. Higher education is the state's third largest industry -- not everything revolves around tourism. And yes, from a political standpoint it's far, far more tolerant and progressive than Mosesville, Colorado.

[david_vincent]

13. sorry

I got a "did not post" error message from DU instructing me to post it again, so I did.

[gorbal]

16. Here is a great video someone made on Brattleboro

I was looking for another thread to post this on but they were archived-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnADw0-GWfQ

I haven't been there in a while; a real nice place.

[Tab]

18. I grew up in Vermont, now live in NH

I love so many things about VT, but would love to live in Boulder or Colorado Springs.

Nevertheless, if you want to move to VT, it really depends on how you intend to make your living.

The eastern side of Vt is a bit on the more desolate side. Burlington is wonderful, like a San Francisco of the east. Places like Middlebury are nice. Manchester and the central south are more resorty - you can live cheaply - in fact, my mom's putting her house up for sale if you want to check something out.

Also nice is Norwich, VT, which is literally across the bridge (and it's a short one) from Hanover / Dartmouth. That's a great area.

I don't know much about the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont - I've lived all over the state except for the Northeast Kingdom.

New Hampshire has better business opportunities, being more on the track to Boston, but it prostitutes itself in ways that Vermont never will. New Hampshire has billboards - you won't (unless they changed the law) find them in VT. It's a subtle difference. New Hampshire has NASCAR, Vermont has antique car shows. New Hampshire has state liquor stores at the highway rest areas (literally).

Vermont is more to my personal liking, but pragmatically (for work reasons) I have to be based in New Hampshire for now.

You can PM me if you want more info. Vermont's a great place, but don't discount Colorado Springs unless you're just looking for a change of scenery.

[MDEnvguy]

19. Dreaming of the North

Hi all, My wife and I are seriously considering ditching the mid-atlantic for a more laid back lifestyle up north in VT. This involves a 2 - 3 year plan as we save up money and I finish my MS. I was wondering if anyone had a sense of the opportunities for someone working in the environmental field to make a living up that way or if it is wishful thinking for me to even consider such a thing. Also, my wife is a CPA so we will have potential for double income.

Right now, I work for the state of MD and would love a position in the state govt. up there, but view that as highly doubtful at best. I was hoping for Montpelier or Burlington as I would prefer to be able to bike to work and wanted your opinions on how realistic my expectations are.

Also, I'm a huge proponent of local foods and was wondering if those are valid options in these cities?

FYI - I come from the land of taxation and expensive living, property values around here are way above the national average and we've managed so far.

[southern_belle]

20. We've been talking about Vermont for

a couple years now. We're down in embaressingly (sp?) red Louisiana and the nuts running the state and Jindal's proud announcement he would rather let people die than get money from the federal government to add 100's of thousands of people to the Medicaid rolls as well as allowing the people of the state pick their policies from an exchange! We don't have a lot of money. We live on Social Security and Medicaid/SSI and cannot work. Any suggestions of where to look and where NOT to look would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you for any suggestions.

Sincerely,
southern_belle