vermont4runner t1_jbbtd8q wrote on March 7, 2023 at 10:26 PM

Vermonter here. Jobs are really fucking scarce, especially ones that pay enough to live here. Bring your job with you or be independently wealthy. I’m really not kidding.

Housing is absolutely insane right now. We’re looking to move in a few months to a different school district and house prices have literally doubled since 2020. I wish I was kidding but ours went from $190k to damn near $400k since we bought in 2019.

Crime is spotty and generally not that bad. We have constitutional carry here so I recommend exercising it and not worrying anymore. Most small towns people don’t lock their doors or cars because everyone has a gun on them or readily accessible in their home.

Schools are not good here in general. We’re talking a mid 40% proficiency rate for math and reading. Some towns are sub 20%…

You will likely have little to no social life for years. This is a very insular state and people. If you’re not “in” the small town club, you’re semi shunned.

If you don’t have roots here, don’t come here. There are far better places in this country to move.

I’m staying here because the in-laws live nearby in VT, we have their only grandkids, and I’m fortunate to have a very well paying job. I’d recommend southern NH if you want that New England fix without most of the problems I mentioned above. I grew up there and it’s amazing the differences in such a small geographical leap.

xohannasunx OP t1_jbethap wrote on March 8, 2023 at 3:20 PM

Thanks so much for your honest take. We don't have ties other than a love of the land and Vermont's closeness to the upper Northeast. We want to establish community and make friends, but not being a native probably sets us back, especially if one of us has to work remotely to live there. Every other post in this thread mentions insane housing costs and scarcity, and we are now considering NH much more seriously. The states are so small, I'd almost rather visit VT every weekend and skip across the border than surrender my savings account to the VT renting situation.

Do you recommend any areas in southern NH? We were looking at Keene and Concord. I'll probably get banished for asking.

vermont4runner t1_jbeujk7 wrote on March 8, 2023 at 3:27 PM

No by all means ask! I lived in NH for 21 years.

Keene is way out there. Not close to anywhere and not anything to really do. Not my cup of tea but is for some.

I’d look more around the southern lakes region. Plymouth and Tilton if you don’t need access to Boston. More outside of concord or Manchester if you do need easier access to Boston. Avoid Rochester and Manchester for housing like the plague.

If you have good remote or healthcare jobs I’d look in or north of the lakes region. Cheaper housing and more rural lifestyles.

Necessary_Cat_4801 t1_jbgnsb2 wrote on March 8, 2023 at 10:21 PM

Not sure why this gets down voted, other than the gun thing. VT is not scary at all, no need to be armed. It's Church St, not Bakhmut. Everything else about this is spot in.