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.

Call up Vermont Federal Credit Union. Been with them for five years- quite happy. The experience is as a bank should be- but you know you’re keeping your money in the community. They’ll be better able to answer your questions.