"Just avoid the NEK" is a bit unfair. Yes, there are areas of the NEK that are incredibly conservative, MAGA-hat wearing, and - unfortunately - racist, however that's not true about the whole region. We live in Wheelock and my wife's school is in St. Johnsbury. She has biracial students and BIPOC families that love living in the NEK (that's "The Northeast Kingdom" which describes the areas of Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties.) They even had a trans girl of color who the school supported in whatever ways possible. I can't speak to being a person of color, since I'm not, but I can speak to the experience of immigrants (my wife and son are Russian) and of being gay in the NEK, and both have been incredibly positive. However the NEK is far from Killington, so it's a moot point - just don't be afraid to visit the NEK when you move here!