Thinking about Moving to Vermont?

Are you considering moving to Vermont? Has a mountain lifestyle ever piqued your interest? While relocating to a mountain town may seem like a perfect fit, there are some factors to consider before making the shift, along with other valuable life hacks for folks planning an extended stay. I've compiled a helpful list of things I wish I had known before my move north, followed by some local knowledge acquired along the way!

1. Rural Lifestyle

It’s not for everyone, but with guidance and insight, rural living is quite fulfilling. With a well-thought-out guide outlining some contrasts discovered since relocating from an urban area, its counterpart, Vermont, especially the northern sector of the state, is rural to its core. Comprising of small towns, vast farmland, and densely forested areas. Each season bears challenges unique to the region that take time to adapt to. But don’t be discouraged! It can be a tremendous change of pace, given the proper guidance! 

2. Long Winters 

Winters are long in Vermont; the sub-freezing temps can start as early as October and last well into April, sometimes even seeing snowfall as late as May. A longer-than-anticipated season can come with some unexpected expenses and unforeseen obstacles.

• Plowing: Typically, plowing costs are factored into rent or can be supplemented through snow blowing/shoveling; if not, this expense can add up quickly, as snow is a regular occurrence throughout the state, especially in the northern regions.
• Oil/Heating bills: An unavoidable cost of living in the state during winter. With oil/propane prices fluctuating, unforeseen spikes can occur throughout the year, primarily as the winter draws on later into the season.  
• Less sunny days: With more snow days comes…. less sun. For skiers, the compromise is worth withstanding, as for those who extensively rely on a daily dose of Vitamin D; these sunless stretches can seem insufferable during the winter months. 

Some Ideas to Combat the Long Winters:

1. Budget for heating costs/ turn the thermostat down!: If you have a wood stove, stack up on firewood well before the season! There’s nothing worse than stacking wood in a snowstorm.
2. Layer up!: Break out the puffy jackets, winter boots, and thermals from the depths of your closet and onto the shelves, as they will be an essential piece of your wardrobe! 
3. Embrace the season!: Pick up a winter hobby such as skiing (downhill or cross country skiing), snowshoeing, ice skating, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and for the extreme crowd out there, even ice climbing. There are many winter activities to choose from! Just be sure to take the time to research the best practices for whichever recreation you decide to take part in.

3. Hazardous Driving Conditions

Variable weather causes hazardous roadways. It is common to see week-long stretches of snowy/rainy days. This can cause challenging driving conditions for yourself and fellow motorists. Make sure to keep the following factors in mind when navigating the state:

• Variable road conditions: Include and are not limited to ice, rain, sleet, snow, mud, and potholes. 
• Wildlife: Also a factor worth noting. The combination of slippery roadways and wildlife (Deer, Moose, Fox, Coyotes, etc)is a recipe for disaster.
• Wear and Tear: Inconsistent road conditions cause the perpetual wear of a vehicle. 
• Fellow motorists: With all drivers facing similar challenges, inexperienced drivers can become another hazard to consider. 

Things To Consider:

1. Stay up to date with daily weather conditions.
2. Stay alert! 
3. Keep up with regular maintenance of your vehicle, which leads us into an over-looked, yet highly crucial segment…

4. Is Your Vehicle SAFE?

Do you have the essential safety equipment in your car in case of an emergency? Is everything that keeps you between the road in check? I’m no mechanic, but every vehicle navigating our roadways should consider having the following: 

• Jumper cables, shovel, tool kit, warm clothes/ blanket, and even emergency snacks.
• First aid kit 
• Keep brakes, suspension, alignment, and essential vehicle maintenance in check.
• And most importantly. Quality tires: Even when owning an AWD or 4WD vehicle, having the proper tires are essential, especially regarding snow tires and winter driving!

Also Consider:

1. Buying an emergency roadside kit! 
2. Schedule routine maintenance on your vehicle and perform safety check’s before hitting the road on inclement weather days. 
3. Make sure your tires are road safe, and use snow tires in the winter!

5. Rust and Corrosion

While on the topic of road safety, To keep roadways clear of snow and ice; heavy salting is routinely applied; creating a thin layer caked to the asphalt. Safety can come at a price detrimental to a car’s longevity, stripping years off any given vehicle’s lifespan. While rust and corrosion are inevitable, there are ways to mitigate losses and get a few more years out of your car: 

Prevention Tips:

1. Undercoat: Before winter rolls in, take your car for a yearly undercoat! This is the application of a defensive spray coating to your vehicle’s undercarriage to act as a barrier against salt and debris. It is not an impenetrable barrier, but will drastically lessen the corrosion rate. 
2. Pay attention to the weather: If you can avoid driving on the days before and after snowstorms, you’ll be able to maneuver around the brunt of salting.
3. Wash your car: Another form of weather watch; If you notice a pleasant weather window, go to a local car wash. And remember to give the undercarriage some attention!

6. Employment Opportunities

On the career search front, finding sustainable jobs throughout the year can take time and effort. Seasonal jobs take precedence in places that rely heavily on tourism and resort traffic. This challenges locals to get creative in their pursuits of year-round work, which can be unappealing for prospective Vermonters. Luckily there are some methods to combat these issues.

Employment Ideas:

1. Explore remote work: As demands advance in the digital marketplace, remote jobs have emerged, creating employment opportunities across countless career channels. 
2. Embrace Seasonality: There are significant benefits to seasonal work. Through the years, ebbs and flows; slow periods of the year can present overlooked spare time. By leveraging these lulls, great efforts can be made to tackle personal projects or enjoy restorative leisure time during:

7. Shoulder Seasons

The times of the year just before winter and after fall foliage, or the early stages of spring right after winter. The former is referred to as “Stick Season,” while the latter is “Mud Season.” Both transitional periods provide time to get ahead on specific seasonal tasks, dust the cobwebs off your skis, or fetch the summer equipment out of the barn. 

8. Stick Season (arguably the tougher of the two)

• Nothing to see here: All the pretty colors of fall are in the rearview mirror, leaving us with a sea of gray. 
• Patiently awaiting ski season: Anticipation of ski season sets in. With the opening day at local ski areas weeks away, each day feels like an eternity.

Grabbing “Stick Season” by the horns:

1. Winterization: This is an opportune time to get the snow tires on, cars tuned, skis waxed, and house winterized with the snowblower on standby. Create a pre-winter checklist and get busy before it’s too late!
2. Exercise: It is an excellent way to keep warm and crucial in whichever winter activity you engage in! Get those final hikes in while you can!
3. Get the books/board games out: It’s a great way to pass the time and take your mind off the highly anticipated ski season ahead.

9. Mud Season

As the frozen roads thaw and snow shifts to rain, we are left in a soupy scramble of sorts; “Mud season.” The unfortunate occurrence happens each spring, with only one way around it. Avoid any and every dirt road! The reality is that 90% of us will face the ruts head-on, whether at your local convenience store parking lot, the physical street you live on, or your daily commute. Trust me when I say; you are not alone. And no, I’m not going to suggest lobbying with your fellow townsfolk to “just get the darn road paved.” Sorry, that’s not gonna happen! So here are some tips to try instead; not all are realistic, but they are still worth a shot.

Don’t Get Stuck in the Mud:

1. Stay put! A solution that can solve infinite problems; there are more reasonable times to go for a joy ride, but this is not one of them. 
2. Use your resources. Phone a friend, chat with neighbors, co-workers, or even the UPS driver to see which roads are passable or if there are any road closures and alternate routes. Don’t go searching yourself; it’s not worth getting stuck over. 
3. Drive slow and don’t be afraid to turn around: If owning a big truck with knobby mud tires isn’t in your repertoire of vehicles, then you are left with one other option…Drive slow, and if there’s a mud pit not worth ruining your car or day over, then don’t. You are better off taking the long way than getting stuck and not going anywhere. 

Pro-Tip for Shoulder Seasons:

If you have spare time from working a seasonal job or have stacked up days off; you can avoid these transitional periods altogether by skipping town and scheduling your vacations around these idle times! There’s no better flex than lounging on a sandy beach while your hometown is a colorless wasteland or neck-deep in mud. Choose wisely. 

10. Housing Struggles

Over the past few years, housing costs have nearly doubled, hitting our ski towns the hardest across the state. For homeowners and investors, it is unlikely to pass on the higher revenue potential of short-term vacation rentals over traditional long-term methods. This leaves fewer conventional housing rentals available paired with an overall low market inventory for those looking to settle. It is an unfortunate reality, yet one that can be managed given proper planning.

Be Sure To:

1. Think ahead: By giving yourself ample time before your move, you’ll stay on top of new listings as they pop up in your preferred area. 
2. Use your resources: Many platforms are available, and by browsing them often, you’ll be able to jump on listings as they are posted. Some platforms to browse include Zillow, Apartments.com, and Rent.com. And don’t be afraid to check out Craigslist too! Many great listings are overlooked on Craigslist; it can be a preferred method for both landlords and tenants as realtor costs/fees are cut out, often saving you some extra cash!
3. Ask a Local: There are folks in the area willing to help, some of which may have leads on places not yet listed. There are even public post boards at local country stores around town!

11. Limited Nightlife

For the social butterflies out there looking to mingle, in search of frequent “nights on the town” and a lively atmosphere, the move to northern Vermont can be lackluster. While there are semi-frequent pop-up events at the surrounding ski resorts, with a handful of aprè ski hot spots (during the winter months), an optimal bar hopping scene is limited at best. With most sites spread out, night clubs non-existent, and a dating scene compiled of familiar faces or ones you may never meet again, times can be tough for those new to the kingdom. But with a bit of creativity, some adventurous friends, and a working vehicle, not all is lost…

Try:

1. Burlington, VT: If you are up for the drive, Burlington, VT, will surely fill the void. The small city has everything from nightclubs, to laid-back breweries and a slew of bars to explore, all within walking distance of each other!
2. Montreal, QC: A quick hop over the border to the Canadian metropolis is well within reach for those seeking a big-city experience. With a vibrant music scene and many festivals held throughout the year, in addition to the countless amenities you’d expect of a big city, Montreal is worth considering to get all the partying out of your system!
3. Make the best of your surroundings: Meet locals, stay up-to-date with events in the area, and embrace the local scene!

12. Long Commutes

Welcome to the new norm for those unaccustomed to “taking the long way home” or an hour loosely considered a “short drive” amongst peers. Whether it’s your weekly drive to the grocery store, daily commute to work, school, the gym, or just taking the kids the soccer practice, plan on getting acclimated with the confines of your car. Throw the occasional snowstorm in the mix, and you see where this is going…I digress. Added time behind the wheel has some serious drawbacks, but depending on your optimism, some good can come out of these rides.

Disadvantages Include:

1. Frequent trips to the pump
2. Earlier wake-up times and or running late due to inclement weather 
3. Less room for error when day planning 

Advantages/Tips Include:

1. Scenic drives: An hour’s commute isn’t so bad when cruising through scenic areas throughout the state. 
2. Turn drive time into alive time: Listen to a podcast or e-book, utilize the allotted time to mentally prepare for the work day ahead, or have an extended jam sesh! There are many ways to leverage an extended commute; pick something that works for you and roll with it! 
3. Car Pool: It is more than likely that a friend, family member, or co-worker is in the same boat, minus well float together!

13. Convenience

Hand in hand with longer than usual commutes comes convenience, or in this instance, inconvenience. Gone are the days of Uber Eats, Door Dash, or 24-hour Taco Bell. (Insert sad face here). Need a late-night Lyft ride? Fuggedaboutit! This is Vermont. Not New York, Chicago, or anywhere remotely close. When choosing to move to rural Vermont, you throw those conveniences out the window. Sure, you can grab a frozen pizza or McDonald’s, but that dream dies around 10 pm, along with pretty much every other establishment. And while on the topic, just because the Google machine says the local country store is open isn’t always the case…Don’t fall victim to the trap. 

Not much needs to be said besides the following:

1. Call ahead: Before making a trip to the local store, restaurant or bar, give them a ring! It can save you an unnecessary drive that is likely in the opposite direction of your next best option.
2. Stock up: Rather than shopping for one week, try planning your list for two. Who needs a food delivery service when you’ve already meal prepped and have back-stock in the pantry!?
3. Take the early route: The early bird gets the worm, or in this case, the wine. Stores close early; you don’t want to be on the wrong end of a store’s operational hours.

13.5 Public Transportation

Unless you’re at a ski resort, in Downtown Burlington or at the Airport, public transportation in rural Vermont is scarce. Smaller operations, like “Rural Community Transportation,” offer limited localized routes, but beyond that, there isn’t much of an established infrastructure yet… This makes navigating an already spread out region even more difficult for those reliant on public transportation.

14. Internet Connection/Cell Service:

Basic amenities often overlooked in urban areas are beginning to gain traction in the north. Depending on where you reside, access to high-speed internet and stable cell service can be sparse, which is usually a dealbreaker for folks new to the area. Luckily on the internet front, “Starlink,” the latest satellite internet company on the market, whose goal is to “deliver a global high-speed internet service,” has finally become available in many remote areas across the state. This is excellent news for those who’ve struggled to function on inadequate services over the years. Check to see what services are available in your area before pulling the trigger, as some locations can be left in the dark on the high-speed internet front. As for cell service, the signal is spotty at times. A reliable carrier can be hard to find in your area, depending on your cell provider and whereabouts. Make sure to research which mobile companies have better coverage in your area. And always be cautious of accidentally connecting to Canadian towers, especially near border towns, as it is easy to run up your phone bill unexpectedly.

15. Medical Emergencies

On a serious note, it is always wise to consider the unexpected. For most, proximity to the nearest hospital/ medical center is pivotal when relocating. With fewer hospitals and generally further commutes to each facility, it can be unsettling for those with health concerns. The time it will take for first responders to arrive on the scene of an emergency can vary depending on factors such as; weather, road conditions, and proximity from dispatch. While I am not a medical professional, it is good practice to be cautious by keeping these factors in mind while being vigilant of medical emergency warning signs. Having first-aid essentials readily available, a nearby neighbor on speed dial, with plans set in place for emergencies, you can be more prepared for the unexpected.

Moving to Vermont: The Bottom Line

Whether you are interested in relocating to Northern Vermont or just joining us for an extended stay, there are some essential things to consider before packing your bags. While most of these suggestions are in place to combat struggles associated with the area, significant advantages lie beneath that can be applied in similar rural regions. Stay tuned as we uncover more of what makes this place we call home so special and why local living is vital in our community.