12 Reasons Not To Move To Vermont

When people think of moving to the Northeast, they tend to think about all the nice attractions. This is especially true of places like Vermont, where tourists regularly flock to. Vermont is famous for having gorgeous leaves in the fall, tons of maple syrup, and for being the home of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.

While it’s easy to get caught up in the state’s New England charm, the truth is that Vermont isn’t always a Shangri-La. In fact, it’s a state that is ideal for a very specific type of person. If you are wondering why people don’t always want to move to this pastoral state, these reasons below might have something to do with it.

There’s no way to mince words. Vermont is part of the Northeast, which means it’s really close to Canada. During the summer, this means you get temperate weather that people enjoy. During the winter, you can expect to see a lot of snow and the occasional Arctic blast. A typical winter day in Vermont will be about 22 degrees Fahrenheit. For most of us, that’s a bitingly cold day!

If you were hoping for cold weather minus the snowfall, Vermont will disappoint you here. The annual snowfall averages between 50 to 80 inches, depending on where you live. We hope you enjoy shoveling because you will need to do it on a regular basis during the winter. On the upside, Vermont is a great place to live if you

In New York City, you get plenty of restaurants, theaters, and art exhibits. In Vermont, you get parks and…well, not much else, really. While each town will have a local diner, you won’t find many places where people can go out and just do things other than camping or outdoor activities.

There are few malls in the state, and aside from regular tours at the Ben and Jerry’s factory, you won’t find many indoor attractions here. If you were hoping for theme parks or highly noted art galleries, you may need to go out-of-state for anything decent. In many cases, the biggest attraction you’ll find in town is the mall—and even then, it can be quite a hike to get there.

Speaking of attractions, let’s talk about Vermont’s nightlife, or lack thereof. Vermont is not known for being a place where people regularly go clubbing. If you’re a fan of concerts or nightlife scenes, you will probably get stir crazy in Vermont. Most of the parties that occur here tend to be among friends, in the comfort of their own homes.

It’s exceedingly rare to find a headliner or major band play in Vermont, unless they are from Vermont, themselves. People who want to get good music might be able to do some partying in the summer, provided that a music festival is allowed to take over a campsite.

While Vermont does have its own bustling towns, the truth is that much of the state is rather lonely. Small, sparsely-spaced homes are the norm through much of the state. Going into town is a good way to meet neighbors, but the truth is that it can feel a little lonely. If you didn’t grow up here, you might not be able to find a way to make friends easily.

Moreover, Vermont tends to be a pretty homogenous state. People who need to have a lot of diversity might feel left out, or may feel like they stick out. It’s important to note that Vermont doesn’t have a lot of discrimination issues, but it’s still something to consider if you move out here.

Vermont is primarily a place where people enjoy life in the blue-collar world. It’s part of the whole “farm life” thing you tend to see in this state. Unfortunately, this tends to bode poorly for people who want to work in the world of tech. According to several studies, Vermont has below-average internet speeds.

If you live in one of the more rural areas of the state, you should expect to have a lot of lagging with your net. Certain internet speeds might not even be available. Moreover, some internet service providers barely have a presence in the state. So if you have a specific company you want to work with for your net needs, this might end up being a dealbreaker for you. The same can be said if you need to freelance from home.

If there is one thing that tourists love to admire about Vermont, it’s all the beautiful, rolling hills and mountains. It’s truly a sight to see, especially when the leaves start to change color in the fall. While the hills and mountains look amazing on Instagram, you might have a hard time getting onto Instagram to post that stuff.

Vermont has patchy cellular service in many parts of the state. The issue is pervasive, often to the point that people can’t even use their cellphones in town without some issue. There is some good news about this issue, though. The cellphone companies are aware of this and are currently working to improve reception.

With that said, people who are glued to their mobile devices might find this to be a pain.

Are you the type of person who loves to shop for a dress, just so that you can show off your new outfit at the next soiree? Vermont’s culture might clash with you if you are. Vermonters are a classy but casual crowd, for the most part. During the winter at ski resorts, you’ll see people in fine dining arenas wearing snow pants. During the summer, people like shorts and pants.

There are some resorts and fine dining venues out there, but make no mistake about it. The dress code is not going to be anything like Nobu in Manhattan. For some people, this is a perk. For others, it’s a pitfall. It’s up to you to determine how you see it.

Vermont boasts a very low 3.1 percent unemployment rate, but don’t rush to move here because of that. Most aspects of Vermont’s lifestyle will be higher than average. The only difference is that you will have a lower home price. Don’t be fooled by the low housing price tags, though. The property taxes in Vermont are exceptionally high.

This is not a good thing at all, since Vermont’s wages are slightly below the national average. This means that most Vermonters tend to struggle to make ends meet. However, there are a lot of perks that come with living in this area that makes it worthwhile and affordable.

Part of the problem that comes with living in a sparsely-populated place like Vermont is the issue of public transit. More specifically, there is little to no public transit to speak of. Most of the state’s cities are lucky if they have a bus system, and getting a train ride is virtually unheard of. This leaves one thing left for people to use: their own car.

If you have a car and a license, then this is not a problem. If you don’t, and want to get one, then you may have a hard time. This is a prerequisite to getting around places, at least if you don’t want to rely on Uber.

One of the lesser-discussed issues that Vermonters have is the way the state’s environment affects cars. During the winter, your car will get exposed to a lot of saltwater due to the road salting that happens around the state. In small doses, saltwater won’t harm your car too much. Over time, the sheer amount of brine your car will be exposed to will eat away at the car’s undercarriage.

It’s not unusual for Vermont cars to have higher maintenance bills as a result of rust eating away at the car’s parts. Moreover, since you will need to drive everywhere, you also will have to get oil changes, tire rotations, and other regular maintenance frequently. This makes car ownership a pretty pricey endeavor.

The icy winters of Vermont don’t just affect the cars. The roads are also a victim of winters. Because ice expands, many parts of Vermont are plagued by potholes every year. Sometimes, towns will have enough funds and patience to cover up the potholes in a fairly responsive manner.

Unfortunately, that’s not usually the case. Many Vermonters gain an eagle eye for potholes on the road because they get so bad, so quickly. Sometimes, potholes get ignored until they cause serious damage to a car’s shocks and struts. This can carry a major risk to drivers, especially when roads become icy.

Another issue tourists might not be aware of is “mud season.” This is a time during the spring and early summer where heavy rains turn a lot of the state into the mud. This includes the many, many dirt roads in Vermont’s countryside. It’s not unusual to hear of trucks having to pull smaller cars out of muddy roads during this time of year.

Vermont is a surprisingly wet state, even when snow isn’t involved. Heavy rains during mud season can also cause other side effects that people tend to overlook when they first move in: wood rot. This affects locals in two major ways. The first way, of course, is by sparking a pretty awful allergy season for those who are allergic to mold.

The second issue that crops up deals with your home. Most houses are at least partly made of wood, especially when it comes to the exterior. Wood, when exposed to excess water, will rot. This is even true if you add protective coatings onto your deck and siding. Most Vermonters see increased home repair bills, not to mention regular maintenance costs.

If you’re a regular reader of our blog, this probably won’t be too much of an issue since you might be able to do a lot of the fixing yourself.

Related Questions

Is Vermont a Stand Your Ground state?

This is actually legal grey area when it comes to Vermont. The state does not have any laws on the books that declare it a Stand Your Ground state. However, there have been cases in Vermont’s court system that show there’s no requirement to try to flee before you choose to use force in public.If you find yourself in an altercation in this state, it’s always smart to play it safe. Do what you can to avoid a direct altercation or physical fight whenever possible.

Does it rain a lot in Vermont?

It does. In fact, precipitation is pretty heavy overall in this state. A typical Vermont town will get an average of 43 inches of rain per year. If you think that’s bad, wait until you hear about snow. Snowfalls can be as high as 83 inches or more per year.To put things in perspective, the average rainfall in America is 38 inches total per year. If you are discussing snowfall, it’s safe to say it’s far less. No matter how you look at it, Vermont gets a higher-than-average amount of precipitation.

What is Vermont famous for?

Vermont has a lot of things that it’s famous for. It’s a major ski and wintersports hotspot, with multiple famous resorts to visit. This state is also notorious for excellent maple syrup, being home to Ben & Jerry’s, and for having multiple historic museums. According to locals, the state also carries a strong reputation for being a haven for people who want to enjoy the great outdoors.