if you like going to the dentist or the dr, vt is not the plave for you lol

if you are a dentist or gp, please come here

Why’s that? Are there fewer of them there than other states?

Wait lists everywhere. Couldn't get my teen daughter a primary, nor could the hospital recommend anywhere to start. We definitely have a shortage of both Dr's and dentists. Oh- and I hope you don't need in-person therapy, either- WAIT LIST GALORE!

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!

That’s good to know, thank you both!

my 2.5 year old daughter and my 8 month old cant get a dentist.

mine retired 5 years ago and i still dont have one

i also dont have a go i just go to the clinic it sucks

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.

Vermont is lovely, and I think you'll enjoy it here. Also, depending on what you do for work, you may find a new position reasonably quickly (especially if you are a nurse!).

The only negative side IMO is housing, so could you make sure to account for that as you plan your move? Again, it is a great place, with just a few housing opportunities - hopefully, that will change in a couple of years as more people make their way up north.

Welcome to VT!

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.

if you believe Bernie bs then you will get rounded up by the locals and tarred and feathered with maple syrup for being such a fool hearted communist

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!

Bernie sanders is not a good way to judge vt. He’s a politician like any other. With that being said Vermont is great. Make sure whatever you do for work has an industry up here as we have so few. Also housing is a mess right now and I don’t really have any solutions for that. Also be prepared for winter via snow tires or AWD. Southerners struggle in our winters

VT doesn't do well investing in anything. We have a very small economy. Many towns are struggling to grow and our population is aging.

I appreciate the warm welcome despite the cold weather!

I’ll have to start looking at specifics when it comes to housing. Seems like if I can pin that down after a job, I’ll be winning half the battle.

Thank you for your honesty! That’s fair, I was hoping it was more along the lines of people align more ideologically with him.

Is there anything that is super expensive or scarce that I could start collecting now to help with the winters up there?

Please take into consideration that Vermonters are much friendlier in person than they are on reddit.

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.

Not really. Firewood if you burn wood. Heating costs are soaring right now. It’s more just being prepared. There’s a lot of posts on here of people trying to fix their heating systems or winterize their homes when it’s too late. We have limited services so you’ll see things get booked out months at a time. It’s just best to be prepared and have that stuff looked at before it gets cold because when winter comes those people get busy.

Be aware that it’s a well known problem in our state that people find jobs, accept the offer, can’t find housing, and then have to decline the job offer.

It’s a massive chicken and the egg problem. Housing has to be done in tandem with a job search.m, and you should be aware that scoring housing is very hard.

It sounds like you’re a few years away from this move, so things may change between now and then.

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!

Good to know, I haven’t had to deal with a harsh winter yet. I will have to do a deeper dive into everything that it entails!

That’s good to know! Where I’m at, there are more houses than people, so that’s a new problem I’ll have to learn to work with before I go.

It’s really not terrible. It could be much worse but it could get bad not knowing what you’re getting into. Best of luck!

I read this and it sounds like something I would have wrote. I live in a southern state and am sick of the extremist right wing politics that control so much down here. I’ve visited Vermont two times now in two years and adore it and think of it often. I would consider moving there, but I’m a caretaker for one of my parents and can’t move. I also know that winters would be a huge challenge for me having only lived where it never snows or gets icy. That, and housing is especially outrageous there (and I would feel bad adding to that problem with how much I love Vermonters). I am wishing you the best of luck but with a word of caution - there are extremist politics everywhere in this country (and more growing globally now too) and it’s impossible to escape now with all of us so connected to each other technologically. As you mention, you want more local investment in people and the best way to do that is to find community. Sometimes that’s within a like-minded political hub, but that could happen in a lot of places that’s not Vermont too.

Anyway, I truly wish you the best ahead and hope you find somewhere and some community that you love. This is definitely me projecting at least a little bit, because I know I have an romanticized version of Vermont that this sub has helped me balance into something more realistic. I’ll admit though, I am still totally smitten with the state.

Thank you, I think sometimes all the red makes me see red. It’s been something I’ve thought about for a while, just feels like my state is a lost cause. I’m tired of fighting and feeling like things only get worse.

I’m for sure not looking for perfection or paradise. Just somewhere that at least tries to move in the right direction. Thank you for the reality check tho, no where is perfect. But I am looking for better!

I totally understand. I have two friends looking to move out of my state from the same reason. The mourning for our country would still be there for me if I moved, but having a more reasonable governor in whatever state you live seriously makes difference too! The current Vermont governor is R, but he appears rather moderate (which is unheard of in the south right now). I recommend you look into past threads about local politics on this sub because I learned a lot!

I'm not near Burlington, about an hour South in Addison County. I had no trouble finding and getting into see a good dentist in Middlebury. I also had no issue getting established with a GP at Porter Medical (part of UVM health). The healthcare availability in Chittenden County, near Burlington, sounds like a much different story. Just wanted you to know there are other parts of Vermont where you might have different experiences. Not sure what kind of work you're looking for, but check out the Middlebury, Vergennes, or Brandon areas, housing is still challenging to find and expensive, but better than Chittenden County.

Thank you, I’ll comb through them!

I’ll have to looking into the job opportunities outside of Chittenden County, Thank you!

I moved from AL five years ago. Yes, VT has its own problems, but all in all, the atmosphere is a vast improvement over the south.

Housing will be a problem in the Burlington area, but things can be found. I live south of BTV in Addison County; lots of folks here commute up for work. A relative just found a good deal on a rental about 25 minutes from BTV on short notice- it helps to be in the area and able to look around.

Yes, there’s a wait for doctors, but I found the same problem in AL. Just like many portions of the country, labor markets are tight. Services take a while sometimes. Not to say you wouldn’t be able to get them in the event of an emergency.

Getting used to the expense of winter is something to consider. Food is about the same price up here (and unlike AL, they don’t take groceries). Gas is a good bit more expensive. But VT is a truly rural state at heart, so things are sometimes a little less convenient.

Overall, glad I made the move. I don’t miss the megachurch right wing politics, the rampant strip mall construction. Plenty of outdoor activity up here, good restaurants and arts scene. Lots of quirk you can’t find in the homogenized south.

There’s a wait here for PCP, but urgent scares are everywhere. Strip malls will be the death of me! Seems like a new one goes up every week and sits empty for years.

I do not mind a commute at all, as my commute rn is ~50min. I’ll have to look at Addison County because 25min sounds like a dream commute!

It's also a massive problem that everyone moving in has remote jobs and overpays for housing, flooding out the locals and upending the already difficult housing economy.
That said, yes, Bernie. We love him. We keep voting him in because the vast majority of us agree with him. I also think Brattleboro still has a warrant out on George W. Bush; they announced that if he ever set foot in their town he would be arrested for crimes against the constitution. (The news said it was a joke. The town countered and said it was not a joke.)

You're welcome. Feel free to DM me if you have more questions!

Some of it is lack of housing and pay that's too low for the cost of living. When a nurse can't find a house, especially if she has kids, what's the point staying here? UVMMC is working on apartments for staff, but the pay also needs to increase. I was looking at one job (renal/dialysis) and they're starting training at $15 an hour and going to $17 once trained and licensed. It's not great pay when a small home (1,100 sq. ft) in my area sold (as-is condition and terms) for $350k and dialysis is something I think is mandatory. My own doctor left, so now I'm back to starting all over a waitlist again and with whoever they give me. I was lucky with a dentist as my mom passed away and I was taking her to all of her appointments and loved how well they did with Alzheimer's patients and asked her dentist if they could take me on. But, I know many others who are on waitlists for dental care.

If you're in Chittenden county at all, try Dr. McClean on Williston Road. He's great (at least from what I've experienced for my elderly mom and I) and it seems to me that they've been accepting new patients.

bah i live in bennington county :( way less options outside of the burlington area but ty!

What's 200 yards long and eats potatoes?

Communists in a line to receive their government issued portion of meat.

There should be a social worker at your PCPs office who can easily and quickly connect you with a therapist. Once you get a PCP that is….

Exactly...that in itself is a feat. I haven't been able to get my daughter one since the pandemic, so nevermind finding a therapist for her....

Spend your time buying long underwear instead of listening to whiners. Been here 53 years and love it. I’m in Washington county not far from Montpelier and there is affordable housing near by. Speak to some realtors in person. Face to face is always the way to go. There are cretins everywhere but generally folks are really caring up here. Hopefully you like outdoors because nearly everyone recreates outside. Politics are as blue as blue can get, love that! Food from local farmers is fabulous. I get fresh lettuce all year round from a hydroponic near by. Local meat, dairy products, bakers, if you like locavore food you’ll love it. Go to website: niche.com. Good comparisons. Good luck.

Thank you! Good to hear such a stellar opinion!

You should definitely visit any area you are considering, even if the state seems to be ideologically aligned. No state is homogenous.

r/NewToVermont

Howdy, neighbor! Agreed, not only have I been pretty successful finding care in the Middlebury area but it has been excellent. This town is great for having all the essentials covered with Burlington in close distance for anything else. We didn’t have our sights set on this area when we first landed in VT but ended up here after a year and love it!

PS: subscribe to sevendaysvt.com

It depends where you end up. Closer to Burlington, rent is higher. You can commute though. Vermont is older. Girls down south are more fun. I rarely see cowboy boots and I've never seen anyone wear a cowboy hat. If you don't care about that stuff, and you care more about the politics, and can get over the Cold for half the year, Vermont is Nice. Summers are great. The cost of living will be higher. There are trade offs. It just depends on what's important to you. Generally speaking, Vermont is nice. It could be better though.

Howdy neighbor! 😊

Schools aren’t big enough right now if you have children, so keep in mind that Vermont already has too many people for it’s current infrastructure. It’s also higher cost of living compared to surrounding states. Maine has mountains like Vermont and the ocean! Go there!

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.

Sanders has been elected over and over to multiple offices by the people of Burlington and later Vermont as a whole. You'd be coming to a very progressive state that would welcome you, just be prepared for a high cost of living.

A few important things to know:

1. Be sure to have good winter boots, coat, and tires
2. It's called a creemee not soft serve
3. It's pronounced "berry" even though it is spelled Barre

Hope to see you in the Green Mountains soon!

Is that true about Bush? That's freaking hilarious!

Best strategy is call before you get here - months ahead of your move, and get doctor and dentist appointments for when you arrive.

We moved here from GA. We love the natural beauty, the slower pace of life, the climate, no traffic, small towns - but there is a price, literally. You will be absolutely raped on taxes because, you know, socialism. Politically speaking it is only being driven more and more towards darkness and death.

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I second this. It's a friendly state, from my experience.

Oral surgeon here. Would I enjoy my life in VT? Love to ski and visit but it seems lonely up there

i like just hanging with family but i have alot of golf and fly fishing buddies and i can do unkimited of each of those within 15 minutes of my house. i plan on teaching my oldest to ski next year when shes 3 and that will be a 30 minutes ride to night skiing.

i also find alot of people to play guitar with up here. vermont is going to be a "be what you make it" place. you gatta make things happen ask people do do stuff and im not very shy

On Reddit or behind the wheel

Same in Central VT. Dentist impossible to find. Doctors not a horrible wait but there is a shortage

But depends on your location. My kids are at a small rural school and it’s not overloaded. OP should take time to research different areas based on their needs

I finally moved after 30 years. Most overrated state in the country. Insanely expensive, decaying infrastructure, horrible job market, garbage transportation system, etc. Whole state needs a facelift. I’ll never understand the hype around this state

You rarely see cowboy boots and you never see cowboy hats? That’s bizarre. It’s almost like we’re in the Northeast and not the South

Also might be more affordable housing. Tho I think only the Northeast Kingdom is actually (somewhat) affordable. And beware that outside of Chittenden Cty the state is quite rural!

You really aren't supposed to be transporting firewood across state lines. And from firewood has been affected by inflation a lt less than most things

Some people Don't know that. You see cowboy Boots and hats in the north west. its not just a southern thing. It's more prevalent then the bum style you see in Vermont.

Well yeah I’d assume that people know there are also cowboys in the “Wild Wild West”. I don’t think anyone associates this area with cowboys. Why would it matter anyways? Such a strange thing to mention. This is a whole different region and culture.

He might dress like that and feel weird continuing to do so when no one else is. I consider small things when I move. it's a comment on culture. Not everyone knows what Vermont culture is. It's pretty low key. Up until recently, you would only hear about Vermont in shows taking place in NYC because they'd talk about skiing or vacations in Vermont.

And it's not even a wild West thing. Pretty much rural areas outside the northeast, you'll see cowboy Boots with some regularity. It's farm and ranch culture. Vermont is rural, but has a weird farm culture. More hippie, less cowboy. Kind of boring. Heck, doesn't even seem really all that hippieish anymore. More modern. I

We have Bernie at one end and Phil Scott at the other. Everyone generally gets along. Awesome culture. Sure you have fringe idiots, but they exist everywhere.

Housing is crazy expensive and hard to find, but there is endless stuff to do if you are outdoorsy. Winters are dark and usually cold. Might be an adjustment. I love it, but have always loved this far north.

Do your teeth feel McClean after a visit?

For a 25-minute commute into Burlington, you’d have to be at the very northern edge of Addison County, which is possible, but it’s much less densely populated there. It’s perhaps more likely that you’d find something near Bristol or Vergennes, putting you more like 40-45 minutes out, or Middlebury, putting you more like 50-60. (Depending on time of day, weather, your willingness to do 60 vs 50 on Rt 7, and your luck with the dearth of passing lanes.)

It can be lonely at times, but that also has to do with SAD. In general, I've found Vermonters to have a deep sense of community. People are very willing to take a moment to learn more about you. They're very proud to know which farm they sourced dinner from. As they should be. The locally grown produce and fresh meat, diary and more are lovely.

It’s a Brave Little State 💪🏼

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OP, I spent my first 30 years in Carolina before moving to the twin cities. I began to loath the red politics in Carolina. Jesse Helms, need I say more? I've been in the Minneapolis metro for almost another 3 decades. I visited VT a couple times while living in Carolina. I absolutely love the state. Vermont would be a better fit for me than Minneapolis. Minneapolis has so many angry people. I'm very liberal, but this city has a lot of loud-mouth kids pushing almost liberal fascism. Liberals in Vermont at least have some common sense. I stopped frequenting the Minneapolis sub of Reddit, because it's full of leftist carnival barkers that remind me almost of the QAnon crowd on the right. There is no wiggle-room with some people. I've even been banned from the sub twice in the past under different monikers for speaking out against the city. A lot of college kids, or young adults with little social capital trying to control the narrative. A lot of people in this city refuse to admit we have problems. Even one person typed nothing in downtown Minneapolis has changed, even though downtown is a shell of what it used to be.

I surf real estate a lot, and yes, housing is nuts in VT. There are some mobile home parks where a person can purchase a home at a good price, but even they are few and far between. It's not like in the south where mobile homes and doublewides are everywhere. Vermont and the twin cities metro of Minnesota are a slice of heaven. When you look at rents, most include heat, so they're not really that much more expensive than renting in the south. I once had over a $200 heating bill in December in North Carolina, because the apartment used an electric furnace. I near fell over. Here, no worries of paying heating bills. You may want to consider the burbs of Minneapolis depending on what you're looking for. The world is at your doorstep here. It's an amazing place. With that said, I still romanticize about Vermont. It's on my mind every day and night. I was stoked when I learned Bravo's Winter House is filmed in Stowe, VT. Stowe is one of my favorite places. I would love to return to VT for a very long visit, or to live.

Yikes, what state do you live? I spent my first 30 years in Carolina. Glad I got out when I did around 1993.

Nice post, thanks.

Ok, but not choosing to adapt to a place you moved to willingly is kinda weird. Did this person even research anything? And calling our style a “bum” style isn’t really a good thing. I get it we’re more laid back but winters are cold so wait until you need to go out in negative 15 degree weather and maybe you’ll understand.

I also don’t know how I’d categorize vermont culture, even though I was born and raised here. Nice but sarcastic and all that stuff. When I lived out west (in college) people got offended by my sarcasm but they learned quickly that the more I give you shit, the more I like you.

but I guess I’m not “as fun as southern girls” and I have a “bum style”. Maybe I’m being salty about that. And for the record, I’ve been collecting cowboy boots since I was in sixth grade and used to wear them all the time. I have some fryes but the majority are thrift finds and I’ve always loved them. Wanna know why I don’t wear them? They don’t work in the snow

Bum style is pretty accurate. Just because it's cold doesn't mean you can't make an effort. When it's super Cold, you can layer or wear a parka. I do. I dress like a bum at home, but a little effort goes a long way in public. And it's not just winter. I see it all year. Of course not everyone, but it's growing. Look at old pictures and you see people wearing decent attire. Now you see people in pajamas at Walmart. Lots of slobs out there. Especially guys. Fat asses in stained tshirts and baggy sweatpants. I'll give girls a pass in pajamas. They usually try to make an effort.

I'm of course speaking in general terms, but southern girls are more fun lol. Laid back, like to party, don't mind getting dirty and sound as Purdy as a peach. But also try to look Good as much as possible. Maybe it's the cold, Maybe it's the culture. Vermont should share a lot in common with most other rural states, but it' doesn't. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

You might be a little more unique than others in Vermont. I don't know a lot of people who own a pair of boots, let alone multiple. You can still wear boots for half a year. That's what I do. And during winter, I wear other types of insulated boots with good vibram soles, but I only wear snow boots when I'm shoveling. There actually are cowboy boots suited for winter, but they don't match well with my parka. And I like exotic leathers that don't do well in the wet Snow. Snake skin especially. But they do with denim jackets. I'm not going to adapt to Vermont's style. I like my style and not looking like everyone else. Some people like to fit in though and feel awkward if they don't. I've lived all over the country. New England was just one of the last few regions I hadn't called home, so I picked Vermont. Almost every place has something good about it. Vermont has its charm. And not quite as gossipy as down south. Or if it is, they're better at hiding it. Down south, there's always someone up in your business.

Don't be salty though. :) What's fun to me might just be a skank to someone else. One that happens to like shotguns. To be fair, Vermont girls are probably fun in their own way. Maybe I don't know enough of them to make that judgment. And Fry Boots are good boots. And I love a good thrift find. I've picked up a number of gently used caimen, python and ostrich boots for a song. Some people buy a pair, wear them once to go to a show or wedding and decide maybe cowboy boots are not for them. It's cool. Someone has to wear Chelsea boots.

So the slobs at Walmart are what you’re comparing us to, who are people too, but that’s not our whole state… ( people go out in actual jackets and I don’t know who goes out in a “parka” haha once it’s negative 15 you’ll be changing your mind about a parka). You’ll want an actual jacket.

Also do you want to talk about attire? I can probably suggest anything you want. Gothic? Victorian? Grunge? 90s pop? Don’t worry honey I’ve got you covered. Let me know!

Yes. Customers at Walmart. And it's not just winter. It's pretty much year around. People don't seem to take as much pride in their appearance as they used To. Put on a clean shirt. Comb your hair. You don't have to dress like you're homeless. You'd be surprised by how often people don't seem to even wear deodorant. It's gross. Natural deodorant has come a Long way. You can try to make a living and still have the ability to not look like you don't bathe. There are so many places to get free clothes that aren't torn, if you're that poor. It's just that many people don't take pride in how they look. Regardless of fashion choices. Make an effort.

I know what negative 15 feels like BTW. I've lived in Vermont for a few years and other places that are just as cold. I still make an effort to not stink or look like I live under a bridge.

Can’t wait to wear my fanciest clothes out soon and also take a shower! Did you guys know that were stinky and we’re basically hobos?

To survive in Vermont you need to be flexible, as in not rigid. You need to be compassionate for others and know that your neighbor with polar opposite political views as you will be the first one to call when the power is out and ask if you are ok. And you will do the same for them. It means being flexible and adapting to the weather, the driving conditions, change in employment, and anything else that throws obstacles in your path.

If you are of a general optimistic frame of mind, who generally cares about the quality of, not only your life but others, you will do well here.

You just can’t ask Vermont to be all. And you can’t come here with buckets of money and expect Vermont to care. It won’t.

If you want to belong, you will. But that may take being flexible.

I would look elsewhere. Unless You are independently wealthy, the quality of like here is quite low. Expect very rundown housing, if you can get it, very little social interaction, and expect any job you get to be 50% understaffed, so you will be doing the work of @least two people.