[gonzoo]

Hello guys, this is my first post here. Sorry if it is long and ranty.

I am a young legal secretary and night student from New York City looking to move to Vermont, possibly for grad school and definitely for a change of lifestyle within the next 3-4 years (I'm a long-term planner by nature). I've been to Burlington on several occasions, and once stayed in the NEK (St Johnsbury) with a friend's family for a while. Vermont really seems like the place for me. I know a lot of people who say Vermont doesn't have much "going on", some say it's backwoods, and the job situation seems to be consistently poor from what I've heard. But the point of moving there for me would be to settle down to do some honest work and simple living for a few years and possibly longer. VT seems ideal for me because I have (friends who have friends) there, I've loved it every time I've visited, I may be interested in pursuing my studies at Goddard or UVM, it's not very far from home distance-wise but it is worlds away to me.
I'm beginning to plan very early because it will take me a while to save enough to purchase a vehicle, put down a deposit on an apartment house, and put together some savings to get me started. I also want to get input from Vermonters, native or otherwise, about whether my conceptions of what it's like to actually live there are true or false.
Why I'm leaving: living in New York on my own is a nightmare for me. It seems like the only place I can afford to live on my own is the ghetto. It's dirty, and noisy, and scary, and I'm growing tired of the cost of living outweighing the quality.
I admit I have some American Pastoral fantasies about VT. Please clarify this for me somehow. What's it really like to live there? I am definitely not some rich transplant or snooty artiste looking for a getaway. I am looking for a serious lifestyle shift. I do not expect life to be any "easier in the country", living isn't easy for normal folks anywhere. However, this big city life, the people, the attitude, the rat race, it all is a drag to me.
here are some specific issues on my mind right at this moment:
Location: Where? I'm a pretty reserved person looking for a serene place to live. It doesn't have to be fancy, in fact, I prefer that it isn't. Probably due to problem no. 3 I will find myself in Burlington or environs. Are there towns in Northern Vermont that are relatively more affordable to live in? I have been renting an apartment in New York for two years. I pay $775 and I get a small room in a fifth-floor walk-up that I share with another woman. I have no idea what that would get me in Burlington, or if my budget would even be comparable in such a way.
Driving: I don't even have a license yet, but I will remedy this soon. Is a 35-45 minute commute to work by car ridiculous? Are roads terribly treacherous in VT winters? Maybe that's a dumb question but all I've ever had to worry about was the subway.
Working: I'm worried about finding employment. Would it be difficult for me to find *any* kind of decent-paying job there with several years of professional experience in New York under my belt? I am not averse to hard work or trying a new experience and I'm not even worried about getting a little dirty or "downgrading" from the "prestigious" field of Law. I don't even want to be a lawyer.
Living: I heard the cost of living in VT in relation to the average salary is quite high. Also, is the renting process much different there than here? Can I expect to learn how to manage my own heating, shovel snow, deal with waste management etc all the homeowner things that NY'ers take for granted? That's ok, I want to, anyway.
Lots of other questions, but I have no idea where to begin planning this...
It all seems like a bit of a pipe dream at the moment, so sorry if these questions are disorganized. Any comments are highly appreciated!

[arel]

I moved from NYC to Vermont almost 2 years ago, after almost 2 years of research.

I did much of my research right here on this forum.

When I had a question, I started a thread, just like you just did. I got lots of thoughtful replies from people who already lived here, both native and not.

Most were positive, although they were tempered by concerns about the economy.

I just have to say, though, that I moved to southern Vermont and you are expressing interest in northern Vermont. Although there are common issues, northern Vermont is different from southern Vermont. And northwestern Vermont is different from northeastern Vermont.

Many who responded to my questions are from northern Vermont.

Also, I am not the only NYC transplant on this forum. There are others.

So there is a treasure trove of information and insight for you right here.

Welcome!

[68vette]

Vermont sounds like a good fit for you. If you read through the forum you will see all of the positives as well as negatives of living here.
You are paying a cheap rent. One of the big issues with Vermont is affordability. People will tell you on the forum that this is not an issue here, but the proof is out there. Don't just rely on this forum. You can Google information about housing costs, jobs, income, etc, etc. Every report that is put out by the state, Fed, etc, post them online. Since you were looking for info on housing and wages, here are a few. Vermont's high cost of housing highlighted in new housing affordability report | Vermont Business Magazine
http://www.vhfa.org/documents/housing-wages-2010.pdf In the Burlington area you will be looking at around $1000/month. Depending on what you will be doing for work will dictate what you will make as an income here. Housing is expensive in the whole state, but Chittenden County is the most expensive area. On the other hand, incomes in Chittenden County will also be higher. Best advice that is always offered. Don't move anywhere until you have a job. Especially in this economy. Jobs data that was released this AM is very disappointing. If your plan is to be in the Burlington area and you are a new driver that is thinking of commuting 30-40 min. to work. I would stick closer to Burlington until you get some experience. Driving in Vermont is not at all difficult. You will be a new driver and in my opinion, it takes time to be a good driver. You need to know what you are doing when driving in the snow. You don't only risk injury to yourself, but others as well.

[BigCur]

Could do the same in Upper Midwest, WI, MN, ND with much lower costs and higher wages.
More authentic there too.
VT is a low-wage ,high cost playground for Wall Streeters to a large extent.

[gonzoo]

Thanks all for your replies.

68vette, I am pretty worried about the employment situation. Especially if I want to continue my studies, it seems like economically it would just be very difficult to manage it all and I'm afraid I'd end up crawling back to New York with nothing gained after a while. On the other hand, I've got a few years of good professional experience as a paralegal and other administrative work. I wonder if that combined with a shiny new Bachelors would be enough to snag any kind of decent wage in a city like Burlington, but I'm not very optimistic about it. The thing is, that I've heard that UVM has a pretty decent program in the field I'd like to enter and it is on my list of places to consider.

BigCur, for other considerations such as proximity to certain family and friends in the NE, I wouldn't want to stray too far from this area of the country, at least for now. I believe what you say about the Wall Streeters and that is sort of sad, the yuppies take over everything everywhere. I currently make relatively low wages compared to my expenses here as well, but on the other hand I don't need much extra to get by. I don't necessarily want to trade a borderline financial situation for a really bad one especially with no rich folks or trust funds to fall back on.

[BigCur]

Originally Posted by gonzoo

Thanks all for your repl

BigCur, for other considerations such as proximity to certain family and friends in the NE, I wouldn't want to stray too far from this area of the country, at least for now. I believe what you say about the Wall Streeters and that is sort of sad, the yuppies take over everything everywhere. I currently make relatively low wages compared to my expenses here as well, but on the other hand I don't need much extra to get by. I don't necessarily want to trade a borderline financial situation for a really bad one especially with no rich folks or trust funds to fall back on.

It's quicker and little more expensive,not to mention safer, to fly from say, Minneapolis or Milwaukee to NYC than drive there from Burlington.

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by BigCur

It's quicker and little more expensive,not to mention safer, to fly from say, Minneapolis or Milwaukee to NYC than drive there from Burlington.

Flying sucks. Speaking for myself anyways.

[BigCur]

Originally Posted by arctichomesteader

Flying sucks. Speaking for myself anyways.

I agree, car wrecks suck even more.

[ctr88]

VT is a lot prettier IMO than Upper Midwest, WI, MN, ND....mainly b/c of the hills.

[PAblackbear]

VT is prettier than most of ND. But it's not prettier than the Theodore Roosevelt NP aka ND badlands.