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Vtguy802812 t1_iyjwms8 wrote

I’m from VT and moved to Maine during the pandemic (I know I know). VT and ME to me share a lot of common traits. Maine just feels like a bigger version of VT with ocean front property. Burlington area = smaller version of Portland Montpelier = smaller version of Augusta Manchester = smaller version of Freeport

VT is conservative once you get out of the cities and a few liberal towns scattered about. Just like Maine, you’ll be viewed as an outsider but most people will be polite and help you if you ask and reciprocate.

VT cost of living is about the same as ME when you compare apples to apples. Taxes are generally higher in VT than most of Maine and all of NH. Job options are somewhat limited in VT - if you work in the tourism industry or retail there are plenty of jobs but don’t expect great pay. VT like Maine is losing more people than there are coming in and has an aging population. One of the key benefits of living in VT is that you are generally less than an hour away from a decent ski mountain pretty much everywhere in the state and there’s some quality fishing throughout the state.

Housing is just as tight as it is here in Maine and if you’re moving to Burlington area, the windchill coming off the lake can blow. Since we’ve moved the temperature isn’t that much different, but going back to visit family that wind can make things chilly.

If you have any questions about VT or a particular part of VT, I’d be happy to answer - I can’t speak to NH.

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[deleted] OP t1_iyl56dp wrote

Montpelier is a whole lot smaller and cooler than Augusta. It's like... Brunswick in the mountains.

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joeydokes t1_iynmr35 wrote

I see (some) simularities between Burlington and Bangor

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frogyoubuddy t1_iyk4i0e wrote

I did the exact same thing during the pandemic and just moved back a few months ago, I'd have to really agree with what you said about the similarities between ME and VT. Maine definitely seems to have milder winters for sure and that depends on which part of Maine you live in. I have a reasonable job working for the state and it pays decently with full benefits, in Maine I had a job making close to $19 an hour with rent that was cheap around $750 a month, but on the other end of things food and gas was more expensive. You can say the same thing with Vermont when it comes to the cost of living it just depends on where you live within the state.

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joeydokes t1_iynmnej wrote

Your take is spot on! After decades, I left the Eden area in 2021 to be a happy PFE here

VT is ME's poor cousin - unless you're stupid rich; then its a state of mind :)

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FredTheCrankyCat t1_iyjv4rj wrote

Southern New Hampshire is #1 for jobs, then Southern Maine, then Vermont. Once you get north of Portland latitude in either of 3 states it gets harder except for Burlington Vermont area which may be decent. Maine to NH can give you a 25% or more pay bump.

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TarantinoFan23 t1_iykl14y wrote

Just look where the government contracts are and you will find all the well-paid businesses.

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petrified_eel4615 t1_iymif1h wrote

can confirm. Moved back to NH from Maine in 2020, got an instant 30% raise, and no state income tax on top of that.

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Yourbubblestink t1_iyk8cvn wrote

NH is MUCH more influenced by Mass/Boston than Maine is. More rat-race. More money. More conservative and uptight.

Vermont is rural, small, towns of people that know each other. It's more liberal and isolated from the drama of the rest of New England in a way similar to central and northern Maine, but small towns can still be trumpy. But the landscape there is hilly and different, so it hits different. Much less rat race than NH, less money and more poverty in small towns, much more liberal and laid back.

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whogivesashart t1_iykax7i wrote

Here's a troll... New Hampshire is New England's Florida.

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whogivesashart t1_iykbjw6 wrote

I guess what I mean is... Vermont is Awesome. Maine is Awesome. New Hampshire is okay. If New Hampshire didn't have the White Mountains then it would be severely downgraded. It has no range and loves Trump.

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IamSauerKraut t1_iykc1v9 wrote

I like Wilton. Does that count?

Windham, NH, is wankertown. Don't @ me.

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Weird-Tomorrow-9829 t1_iyl1pfv wrote

I hate Trump.

I think you’re forgetting that Trump won the 2nd congressional district. Twice. He won most poor rural counties in the US. Candidates like Trump will continue to win those areas.

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Goon207 t1_iyo6snw wrote

VT sucks bags of dicks. Especially the Upper Valley.

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Notmystationbro t1_iykjyxb wrote

Guess what? People love Trump regardless of where they live

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costabius t1_iykm2io wrote

Yeah, you can find hicks and wankers just about everywhere these days.

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Notmystationbro t1_iyknbey wrote

And you can find condescending hypocritical liberals everywhere too

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Rickthepickle33 t1_iykrfpc wrote

You sound butt hurt.

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Notmystationbro t1_iykt5y4 wrote

Enjoy your Biden presidency hey at least no more mean tweets right? Y’all liberals would never admit fault. You’d rather cut your nose off to spite your face

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Rickthepickle33 t1_iyktjxl wrote

Yup. Butt hurt. Your days must suck. Keep projecting. Happy holidays.

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moxie-maniac t1_iyn7tgc wrote

NH is like two different states.... Southern NH, from Greater Manchester on south, contains half the population is a a far suburb (or ex-urb) of Boston, while north of Concord, it is much more rural. Maine is a little like that, Greater Portland and south along the coast, vs. the rest of the state.

But ME, NH, and VT suffer from a "brain train," there are fewer opportunities for well educated people, and maybe half of the college-educated people leave. As one of my mentors frankly put it, You'll make more money in Mass.

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outer_fucking_space t1_iyncmz2 wrote

If you’re a tradesperson you’ll make a lot more money in Maine than Vermont. I can’t comment on New Hampshire since I’ve never lived there.

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The_Stein244 t1_iympkdm wrote

I grew up in Seacoast NH and now I live in Portland. Way more opportunities here and I love it. Obviously the 6% income tax sucked when it first hit, but you get used to it.

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ppitm t1_iyn292m wrote

Maine and New Hampshire are culturally very similar. Vermont is bit removed from the other two in this sense, but it's still New England.

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[deleted] OP t1_iykl2q2 wrote

[deleted]

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