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greeneyedbandit82 t1_j18vej1 wrote

I love it here; it has really grown on me (not a fan of winter- and it feels endless), but now that I actually want to stay, I feel like I can't. Trying to afford housing here has gotten out of control. It used to be that if you wanted affordability, you move to the outskirts/more rural areas where you might have a commute to work. Not the case anymore! Priced out of just about everywhere within a one hour radius of my office. In a lease on a house now until June, and then no idea what will happen. So, just make sure the housing is something you can take on. Jobs don't pay that well, either.

(I am in northern Vermont- I do think it looks a little cheaper the more southern you go, like Springfield area)

Good luck!

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Away_Papaya_1875 OP t1_j18x2vm wrote

Thank you for the info! Housing is the thing I’m probably most nervous about because my state is pretty cheap if you stay away from big cities. But with my degree I need to be close to one.

My research says rents around Burlington are averaging 1600 per month. Is this an accurate number in reality? Especially with the crazy inflation going on, I’m not sure if I can trust old numbers.

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BeefcakeRenigus t1_j190yg9 wrote

I’m renting for $1755 (will be $1805 next year) in the New North End of Burlington for a two bedroom, about 600 square feet, with a “big name” landlord who hasn’t had the building inspected since 2015 and can’t be bothered to do some pretty basic repairs. The apartment below me is listed for $2100. We love the area, but we won’t be staying. It’s just not feasible. We’re looking into southern Vermont or western Massachusetts.

I’ve been on wait lists for in person licensed therapists since we moved here a year and a half ago. UVM is the worst for medical care. If you have a pet, you may need to have a sob story to get in with a vet (from my experience with my diabetic cat). I can’t speak to other areas, but Chittenden County is fucked.

That being said, I moved from a red area and the atmosphere here is way more in line with my beliefs. There are pockets of assholes everywhere you go. Burlington wants to be progressive in theory, but in practice they do not have it figured out at all.

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Away_Papaya_1875 OP t1_j191led wrote

Thank you for all the information and specifics, I do have a dog, so I’m glad you mentioned vets.

Good luck with your possible move though, I hope it goes smoothly!

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greeneyedbandit82 t1_j18ycfb wrote

Maybe for a small 1 bedroom or studio; the closer to Burlington, the more it will be. I live in South Burlington, and we got really lucky years ago when we started renting our very under market house that could easily go for $500 more a month than we pay, had the landlords been more experienced. That is literally the only reason I can afford to live in SB. A lovely community, but I just saw a townhouse on the market for close to $700,000. A TOWNHOUSE. No land. Not on the lake.

I don't know if you'll be looking to rent or buy, but I recommend keeping an eye out on Zillow to see what's actually out there and if that aligns with whatever salary range you're realistically expecting once here.

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Away_Papaya_1875 OP t1_j18z907 wrote

That’s enough to buy a mansion where I’m at!

I’ll have to go through some Zillow listings later today, thank you again!

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nomadicbohunk t1_j1agud8 wrote

You better have deep pockets. It's everything is expensive here and the jobs generally pay way less. I was making 1/2 I would have anywhere else. The feds keep bumping up the COL allowance for the Burlington area.

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