Advantages & Disadvantages of Moving to Vermont

You think about moving to Vermont but want to get more information about the state, overall quality of life, living costs, housing situation, safety, job market, income prospects, climate, cultural diversity and much more before making this important decision?

Great! This article is for you since I will show you the pros and cons of living in Vermont in the following chapters.

Table of Contents

Living in Vermont – Overview

ClimateVermont offers a wet continental climate with warm summers and pretty cold winters.
HousingWhile housing shortage is not as severe as for people living in California or other more popular regions, you should still know that property prices and rents are rather high in the urban parts of Vermont.
Living CostsLiving costs in Vermont are slightly above the national average.
IncomeMedian household income in Vermont is slightly below the US average and many low-qualified people have a hard time making really good money in this region.
SafetyCrime rates in Vermont are pretty low and it is therefore considered one of the safest states in the entire US.
EducationWhile you will find some pretty decent colleges and schools in the urban parts of Vermont, quality of education may still get worse in the rural regions.
Job MarketUnemployment rate in Vermont has been pretty low over the past decades and this trend will likely continue in the near future.
CultureAlthough Vermont is a culturally interesting place, you may still not find the same great level of cultural diversity as people living in New York or other regions where you will find bigger cities and more interesting people in general.
Leisure ActivitiesPeople in Vermont can go fishing, hiking, camping, swimming and do many other nice things outdoors so they can get lots of fresh air and will find many recreational spaces to relax.
LandscapeVermont offers many nice lakes, rivers and forests where you can hang out with your loved ones and have a great time while you can also learn quite a lot about natural processes.
InfrastructurePublic transport is not great in most parts of Vermont and also medical infrastructure gets worse outside the major cities.
Level of ToleranceVermont is a pretty tolerant state where you will be welcome no matter where you come from.
NightlifeWhile you may find some decent bars and clubs in the biggest cities, you should still not expect the same great nightlife in Vermont as people living in Las Vegas or other more vibrant places are able to experience.
Total Population645,570 inhabitants.
advantages and disadvantages of living in vermont

Advantages of Living in Vermont

  1. Housing shortage is not a big problem in the rural parts of Vermont
  2. Property prices are still reasonably low in many regions of Vermont
  3. Rents are still affordable for the general public outside of the big cities
  4. Easy to find a decent place to stay in Vermont rather quickly
  5. Low unemployment rate in Vermont
  6. Easy to find a decent job for most people in this state
  7. Vermont is a pretty safe state
  8. Decent education in the major cities of Vermont
  9. You may find some solid bars and clubs in the biggest cities of Vermont
  10. People in Vermont can enjoy lots of beautiful nature
  11. You can spend lots of time outdoors
  12. Many activities to keep you fit in Vermont
  13. Decent air quality in most parts of Vermont
  14. Moving to Vermont may help you relax
  15. You can live a pretty original lifestyle in many parts of Vermont
  16. Vermont may be an interesting place to live a self-sufficient life
  17. Vermont is great for people who love nature in general
  18. Decent supply of material goods in Vermont
  19. Decent internet connection in most parts of Vermont
  20. Solid road conditions in Vermont
  21. Distances in Vermont are often rather short
  22. You can teach your kids quite a lot about nature
  23. Vermont can be a great place to raise your kids in general
  24. Vermont is not the most crowded state
  25. You will have more than enough space for yourself in public
  26. You will not run into large groups of tourists on a regular basis
  27. Many nice day trips you can make in Vermont
  28. Vermont has become increasingly popular by people from all over the US
  29. Moving to Vermont can help you slow down your life
  30. You may be able to find yourself by moving to Vermont
  31. Many free things you can do in Vermont
  32. Vermont may be a great place to retire
  33. Many people will admire you for your plans of living in Vermont
  34. Decent doctors in the major cities of Vermont
  35. You can meet many helpful people in Vermont
  36. Vermont is a pretty tolerant state
  37. Many people in Vermont are honest and genuine
  38. Easy to socialize in many parts of Vermont
  39. You may be able to make friends for a lifetime
  40. You can experience interesting climatic conditions in Vermont
  41. Decent future outlook for Vermont

Housing shortage is not a big problem in the rural parts of Vermont

One advantage of moving to Vermont is that housing shortage is not a big deal in many major cities yet and this means you will find more than enough housing options no matter whether you will search for a home for you as a single household or a big family.

Property prices are still reasonably low in many regions of Vermont

While property prices are on the rise, you will still find many affordable homes in Vermont outside the biggest cities and may not have to spend as much money for your dream home as people moving to Washington D.C. or other more expensive places.

Rents are still affordable for the general public outside of the big cities

If you don’t want to buy a home, moving to Vermont may still make quite a lot of sense since also rents are still pretty affordable for most people in this region and you may not have to spend a high fraction of your income on housing in Vermont yet.

Easy to find a decent place to stay in Vermont rather quickly

People who move to Vermont may also find decent places to stay fairly quickly since housing shortage is not a big deal in most regions and if you don’t want to live in one of the most popular places of Vermont, you will likely find a place to stay within a couple of weeks while people moving to San Francisco or other much more popular regions often have to search for many months or even years in this regard.

Low unemployment rate in Vermont

You should also know that unemployment rates are fairly low in many parts of Vermont so you will likely find a new job rather quickly and also don’t have to worry about losing your job much since even in case this happens, you will have other jobs lined up for you, at least if you have decent education and skills needed in the job market right now.

Easy to find a decent job for most people in this state

In general, as long as you have solid education, conditions in the Vermont job market are not bad at all and you will therefore be able to succeed in many different industries and may be able to start a fancy career.

Vermont is a pretty safe state

You should also know that Vermont is considered one of the safest states in the US and this is great news since your risk of getting involved in serious incidents will be rather low so you can leave your home without having to worry too much in this regard which can really boost your overall quality of life.

Decent education in the major cities of Vermont

As long as you move to the biggest cities of Vermont, you will also find some decent schools and colleges and can therefore make sure that your kids get proper education to increase their chances to get a decent job later on and to succeed in life in general.

You may find some solid bars and clubs in the biggest cities of Vermont

While you may not be able to enjoy the same great nightlife as people living in Chicago or other major metropolitan regions, you should still know that you will find some solid bars and clubs in the urban parts of Vermont where you can have a great time and meet many interesting people.

People in Vermont can enjoy lots of beautiful nature

Another upside to moving to Vermont is that you will also find many nice lakes, forests, and rivers where you can hang out and can enjoy the atmosphere so you can reload your batteries and may be able to stay emotionally balanced in the long run.

You can spend lots of time outdoors

Since there are many nice nature reserves in Vermont, you can also spend lots of time outdoors which gives you the opportunity to get lots of oxygen so your body and your brain will likely work quite well so you may be able to stay on top of your game in your professional but also in your private life for quite a long time.

Many activities to keep you fit in Vermont

Since you can go hiking, fishing and do many other nice things in nature and some of those activities help you burn lots of calories, you may also not have the need of going to the gym as many other people have to do to stay in shape and you may be able to spend more time on nicer things instead.

Decent air quality in most parts of Vermont

Another benefit of moving to Vermont is that you can also enjoy pretty decent air quality in many regions and this is not only great since it improves your overall quality of life and gives you the incentive to spend lots of time outdoors but it may also be great for your overall health in the long run.

Moving to Vermont may help you relax

Since there are so many nice natural places where you can spend your leisure, Vermont can also be a great place to move to in case you feel stressed in your life right now and search for a place where you can reload your batteries, rebuild yourself and become more relaxed in general.

You can live a pretty original lifestyle in many parts of Vermont

Since you will be surrounded by nature, you will also be able to live a pretty original lifestyle, including foraging for food and other nice and productive things so you may be able to preserve some noble and valuable knowledge your ancestors may have handed over to you.

Vermont may be an interesting place to live a self-sufficient life

Also in case you no longer want to be dependent on society, Vermont may be a great place to move to since you may be able to move to the rural parts of Vermont, buy a piece of land and grow your own veggies, fruits and so on so you may no longer have to rely on stores for most things of daily life which may be a great feeling and may also help you become more confident and independent in general.

Vermont is great for people who love nature in general

Since there are so many nice natural habitats, Vermont is also a great place for people who just love spending lots of time in those natural environments.

Thus, if you are the type of person who just doesn’t want to experience big city life and the unpleasant things that may come along with it, you may be better off moving to Vermont or other rather relaxed and original places.

Decent supply of material goods in Vermont

In most regions of Vermont, you also don’t have to worry about running out of important material goods but will rather find most things you need for daily life pretty close to your home.

Decent internet connection in most parts of Vermont

As long as you move to the urban parts of Vermont, you will also be able to enjoy pretty decent internet connection and this can be pretty helpful for your professional as well as for your private life since you may be able to work from home and can also get important information about what happens in the world on an almost real-time basis.

Solid road conditions in Vermont

In many parts of Vermont, road conditions are pretty decent and this enables you to get around by car in a pretty efficient and convenient manner in case you want to visit your friends in other parts of the state.

Distances in Vermont are often rather short

Since distances in Vermont are rather short and it is just not the biggest state, you will also be able to get from A to B within a pretty reasonable period of time and may be able to manage your life in a pretty efficient manner.

You can teach your kids quite a lot about nature

Since there are so many nice things you can do in Vermont nature, you will also be able to learn quite a lot about our environment and can also teach your kids quite a lot about those natural processes and by having these experiences, chances are your kids will become more responsible once they turn into grownups and may be more eager to make the world a better place.

Vermont can be a great place to raise your kids in general

Since Vermont is a pretty safe state and there are many nice things to do outdoors, it may also be a great place to raise your kids since you may be able to give them lots of freedom and your kids may also be able to grow up in a rather peaceful atmosphere without seeing all the unpleasant stuff that is happening in many bigger metropolitan regions.

Vermont is not the most crowded state

Another advantage of living in Vermont is that it is just not the most crowded state and this makes it easy for you to get around since traffic jams will not be a real problem most of the time.

You will have more than enough space for yourself in public

Thanks to rather low population density, you will also find enough places to hang out in public on your own during times you just may not want to have company but need time to think about complex problems that need to be fixed without being distracted by others.

You will not run into large groups of tourists on a regular basis

Since Vermont is not the most popular place for tourists, you will also not get distracted by other people as much as in many other states and may be able to really focus on yourself so you may be able to live your life in a pretty efficient manner.

Many nice day trips you can make in Vermont

Since there are so many nice places in nature, you can just make many nice day trips in Vermont and even in case you may get bored at home, you will still find many nice things to do in other parts of the state.

Vermont has become increasingly popular by people from all over the US

You should also keep in mind that Vermont has become pretty popular by people from all over the US over the last decades and many people from other states think about moving to Vermont sooner or later and in case this happens, this would likely make Vermont an even more interesting place to live and overall quality of life may increase even further.

Moving to Vermont can help you slow down your life

Also in case you have been pretty busy over many years, have achieved some success but never had the time to really enjoy your wealth, moving to Vermont may also be a smart move since you may learn how to slow down your life and may also find many hobbies instead of just working all day and night long so you may become more balanced and may also be able to do good for your health in general.

You may be able to find yourself by moving to Vermont

Since you can spend many hours alone in nature, you may also be able to really find your inner self and your real character since you will not be distracted by others all the time as people in many busier regions but may be able to really focus on yourself and what really matters to you so you may become much happier in the long run.

Many free things you can do in Vermont

Thanks to the many nice things you can do outdoors in nature, you also don’t necessarily have to spend a fortune on nature activities but may be able to do many free things which can be really great for your finances and may also give you a nice feeling in general.

Vermont may be a great place to retire

Since there are so many nice things to do for people of every age group and there are many nice natural habitats, Vermont is also a pretty popular place for retirees since they are able to get in touch with many like-minded people and can also do many nice activities that may help them stay fit.

Many people will admire you for your plans of living in Vermont

Since Vermont has become a pretty popular state, many of your family members and friends may also really envy and admire you for your plans of moving to Vermont and you may therefore be able to get a pretty high social standing among your peers.

Decent doctors in the major cities of Vermont

Another upside to living in Vermont is that you will also find many solid doctors in the urban parts of the state and you will be able to get decent medical treatment in case you catch the flu or suffer from more serious health conditions.

You can meet many helpful people in Vermont

Since most people in Vermont are pretty helpful, you will likely also find many people who are willing to help you out during your first days and weeks when you might not be familiar with your new environment yet and may need some support to become a valued member of society as quickly as possible.

Vermont is a pretty tolerant state

Since Vermont is a pretty tolerant state, you also don’t have to worry about your background at all but will be welcome no matter what part of the world you come from.

Many people in Vermont are honest and genuine

You should also know that you will be able to meet many genuine people in Vermont so you will often get honest feedback on what you are doing and this can be great since you can work on your weaknesses and become a stronger person in the long run.

Easy to socialize in many parts of Vermont

Another benefit of living in Vermont is that you will also have a rather easy time getting in touch with people and this can be great since you will be able to make many new social connections fairly quickly and will have more than enough people to hang out with so you don’t have to worry about getting socially isolated.

You may be able to make friends for a lifetime

Since you can meet many great guys and gals in the Vermont region, you will also be able to make many really great friends who will often stay with you for quite a long time and sometimes even until the end of your life.

You can experience interesting climatic conditions in Vermont

Since you can experience warm summers and pretty cold winters, you will also be able to go swimming in summer and skiing in winter and you may just have a more interesting time in Vermont compared to people moving to Florida or other regions where it may just be warm all year long.

Decent future outlook for Vermont

Thanks to rather low unemployment and crime rates and since Vermont has many nice things to offer in general, its future outlook is pretty decent and chances are overall quality of life will be pretty high in this region for an extended period of time.

As you can see, there are many reasons for moving to Vermont.

However, it is still not all sunshine and we also have to talk about the drawbacks of living in Vermont in the following so you will be better able to decide for yourself whether you still want to move to Vermont or want to spend your life in Arkansas or other interesting regions instead.

Disadvantages of Living in Vermont

  1. Income level in Vermont is slightly below the US average
  2. Property prices and rents in Vermont have skyrocketed over the past decades
  3. Living the American dream in Vermont becomes increasingly difficult
  4. Many people in Vermont have to worry about money
  5. Public transport is not great in many regions of Vermont
  6. You may need a car to get around in an efficient manner
  7. Medical infrastructure gets worse outside of the big cities
  8. Nightlife is not great in many rural parts of Vermont
  9. Hard to experience big city life in Vermont
  10. You may miss great shopping options in Vermont
  11. Vermont is not located at the coast
  12. Not many entertainment options in the rural parts of Vermont
  13. Vermont may just not be the most exciting state
  14. You should love nature before even considering moving to Vermont
  15. You may get bored with your life in Vermont in the long run
  16. Vermont may not be the greatest place for students
  17. Really cold winters in Vermont can be annoying
  18. Vermont may just be too quiet for you
  19. Many young people consider the rural regions of Vermont
  20. Hard to get to many regions of Vermont
  21. Public infrastructure is not great outside of the big cities of Vermont
  22. Natural disasters will become more common in the future
  23. Costs of homeowners insurance in Vermont are on the rise
  24. Not many great museums in Vermont
  25. Hard to find decent art scenes
  26. Not many great sports teams in Vermont
  27. Vermont is a rather small state
  28. Hard to meet many international tourists in Vermont
  29. Level of cultural diversity may be rather limited in Vermont
  30. Vermont may be an overrated state

Income level in Vermont is slightly below the US average

One downside to moving to Vermont is that the overall income level is not really great and while people living in Vermont may be able to make more money compared to people living in Missouri or other low-income regions, you will still not have the same great income prospects as people living in San José or other regions where income levels are higher.

Property prices and rents in Vermont have skyrocketed over the past decades

While property prices and rents have been reasonably low over the past decades, things seemed to change over the recent past and housing has become more expensive and may become even more expensive in many regions of Vermont in the future.

Living the American dream in Vermont becomes increasingly difficult

Since living and housing costs are about to increase, also living the American dream becomes increasingly expensive since many people are no longer able to afford nice homes anymore but rather have to rent and owning a nice car may also no longer be affordable for many people in this region.

Many people in Vermont have to worry about money

Due to high living and housing costs, many people in Vermont also have to worry about money quite a lot and those worries may turn into serious emotional problems in the long run.

Public transport is not great in many regions of Vermont

Another problem with moving to Vermont is that public transport is not really great in most regions and you may therefore not be able to rely on buses or trains to get around in an efficient and reliable manner.

You may need a car to get around in an efficient manner

Since the overall public transport system in Vermont is not great, you may urgently need a car to get around and this is pretty bad for our environment and may also cause serious problems for people who are just no longer able to drive and may just get stuck at home.

Medical infrastructure gets worse outside of the big cities

While you may find some decent doctors and hospitals in the urban parts of Vermont, things change in many rural regions where you may have to drive quite long distances to get the medical treatment you may need to cure serious health conditions.

Nightlife is not great in many rural parts of Vermont

You should also know that nightlife in Vermont is not comparable to the nightlife you may be used to from other bigger metropolitan regions and you may just not find enough great opportunities to party and to explore yourself in many rural regions of the state.

Hard to experience big city life in Vermont

Another disadvantage of moving to Vermont is that you will also not find really big cities at all and you may therefore miss out on the special feeling that often comes along with being surrounded by skyscrapers and many other nice things bigger cities have to offer.

You may miss great shopping options in Vermont

You should also not expect the same great shopping opportunities as people moving to much bigger cities and may also not find as many fancy boutiques as you might have hoped for so staying up-to-date with latest fashion trends may be harder in many parts of Vermont compared to many other regions in the US.

Vermont is not located at the coast

Since Vermont doesn’t have a coastline, people in Vermont are also not able to go surfing or relaxing at the beach on a regular basis while people moving to the coastal regions of other states may be able to enjoy much higher quality of life in the long run.

Not many entertainment options in the rural parts of Vermont

You should also keep in mind that your overall entertainment options will be rather limited in many rural parts of Vermont and if you need action and adrenaline 24/7, you may be better off moving to NYC or other more vibrant regions.

Vermont may just not be the most exciting state

Another downside to living in Vermont is that it may just not be the most exciting state in general and if you are still young and want to make as many nice experiences as possible, you may be better off moving to a bigger metropolitan region.

You should love nature before even considering moving to Vermont

People who don’t love nature will also likely not get happy in Vermont in the long run since many social activities are done in natural environments and this may be a crucial part of your life if you want to become a valued member of society.

You may get bored with your life in Vermont in the long run

Since there may not be many exciting things to do outside of the big cities of Vermont, you may also get bored with your life in Vermont in the long run and may want to move to more vibrant places sooner or later.

Vermont may not be the greatest place for students

Since nightlife in Vermont is often not great and it may also be hard to find really good education in many regions of the state, Vermont may also not be a really great place for students and students in Los Angeles or other bigger cities may just have a much better time.

Really cold winters in Vermont can be annoying

Another problem with living in Vermont is that you will also have to deal with pretty cold winters on a regular basis and in case you can’t stand cold weather at all, you may not get happy in this region and may rather want to move to New Mexico or other warmer regions instead.

Vermont may just be too quiet for you

You should also not forget that Vermont is a rather quiet state and in case you are the type of person who wants to experience as much as possible within a pretty short period of time, you may just not get happy in this region in the long run.

Many young people consider the rural regions of Vermont

Since entertainment options in the rural parts of Vermont are often rather limited, many people in those regions also consider leaving smaller towns and villages and want to move to bigger cities in other states and you may therefore have a hard time hanging out with the young generation in Vermont in the future since many young people will move to other locations.

Hard to get to many regions of Vermont

Another disadvantage of living in Vermont is that there are also not many big airports and you may therefore have a pretty hard time traveling the world and your loved ones from other parts of the US may also have a rather hard time getting to your home so you may just not have as many guests as people living in regions that are easier accessible.

Public infrastructure is not great outside of the big cities of Vermont

In general, you should also be aware of the fact that public infrastructure is often not great or even non-existent outside of the big cities of Vermont and you may have to drive long distances to get what you need in case you move to one of the remote rural regions of the state.

Natural disasters will become more common in the future

Due to climate change, also natural disasters will likely become more common in the future and in case you are unlucky, one of those extreme events may destroy your home or even your entire life.

Costs of homeowners insurance in Vermont are on the rise

Due to the increasing risk of natural disasters hitting you in Vermont, also the costs of homeowners insurance will likely go up in the long run which will make living in Vermont even more expensive than it already is.

Not many great museums in Vermont

You should also not expect to find many really great museums in most parts of Vermont and may not be able to see as many nice and renowned pieces of art as in many other regions.

Hard to find decent art scenes

Also in case you are an artist and want to hang out with many other like-minded people, Vermont may not be the greatest place to live for you since you will just not find as many great artists in this region as in many other bigger metropolitan regions.

Not many great sports teams in Vermont

You should also know that there are not many great sports teams in Vermont and you may therefore not be able to watch as many great sports teams in Vermont as in many other regions live in person.

Vermont is a rather small state

Since Vermont is a pretty small state, you may also not find as many interesting places to visit as people moving to Colorado or other bigger states where you may just find more nice things to do in the long run.

Hard to meet many international tourists in Vermont

Since Vermont is not the most popular place among international tourists, you may also not be able to meet as many interesting people from remote parts of our planet and may miss out on many exciting conversations with them.

Level of cultural diversity may be rather limited in Vermont

You should also know that while you will be able to experience different cultural influences in the biggest cities of Vermont, you will still often not have the same great level of cultural diversity people moving to Seattle or other big and diverse cities are able to enjoy.

Vermont may be an overrated state

Since living in Vermont has become increasingly expensive in the recent past and the state has become quite popular all over the US, it may already be overrated and there may be other cheaper regions where you may be able to experience similar quality of life at a lower price tag.

Top 10 Moving To Vermont Pros & Cons – Summary List

Living in Vermont ProsLiving in Vermont Cons
Vermont offers lots of beautiful natureLiving costs in Vermont are about to increase
Interesting climatic conditions in VermontRents and property prices have become more expensive
Low unemployment rate in VermontSignificant financial pressure for people living in Vermont
Vermont is among the safest states in the USVermont doesn’t have a coastline
Vermont is a pretty tolerant stateMany people in Vermont complain about cold winters
You can live in line with naturePublic transport is not great in most parts of Vermont
Moving to Vermont can help you slow down your lifeNot many big airports in Vermont
Decent supply of material goods in most parts of VermontHard to find really good medical treatment in the rural regions
Reasonable road conditions in many parts of VermontNightlife is not really great in most parts of Vermont
Vermont is a pretty popular stateVermont may already be overrated
Advantages & Disadvantages of Living in Vermont

Is Vermont A Good Place To Live?

While Vermont can be a great place to live since it is a pretty safe state, unemployment rate is pretty low and you can also raise your kids close to beautiful nature, you should also know that Vermont may not be the most exciting state and overall public infrastructure gets significantly worse once you get to the rural parts of the state.

In the end, it is on you to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of living in Vermont on your own so you can make a profound decision regarding whether you still want to move to Vermont or rather want to live in a different region instead.

Most Popular Cities To Live In Vermont – Comparison

Living CostsProperty PricesIncome LevelInfrastructure
Burlingtonmoderatehighmoderatedecent
Essexmoderatehighmoderatedecent
Colchestermoderatemoderatelowpoor
Rutland Citylowmoderatelowpoor
Benningtonlowlowlowpoor

Alternative States To Live

If you no longer want to move to Vermont, you may also want to have a look at the following articles:

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Utah

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Tennessee

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Texas

Sources

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/VT

About the author

This site is about living, moving and traveling to various parts of our fascinating planet.

My name is Andreas and when I was younger, I traveled the world and learned a lot about different cultures and countries.

Thus, I want to share my experiences with you so that you can benefit from them and avoid common mistakes in this regard.

In my articles, you will find everything you need to find the best location for a happy and successful life.

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