[joe moving]

I count on 17.5 cents per KWH. 14 cents might be the rate, but by the time you add in all of the fees it is 17.5 for me, obviously will depend on your usage.

Heat pump heat is the cheapest $$$ per BTU to heat in VT on the grid, excluding things that are not "set it and forget it" like wood, coal or pellets, but very few homes use heat pumps in VT so far. Since you are renting, the chances of seeing a heat pump are nearly zero.

I'd say that you are likely to see a Rinnai propane unit. That is a pretty efficient setup (rated at 86% but acts higher due to no ducts or piping) but you will want to ask how much propane is going to cost you. A good rate on propane is something like $2.25/gallon or less. Is the homeowner responsible for obtaining the propane or are you? How big is the tank, etc. If you end up having to refill in the middle of winter you can really get dinged. I hear all the time of people paying $4.00+ per gallon of propane in the middle of winter.. that is definitely going to take a toll on the heating bill.

If it's oil you probably want to know the same--what kind of boiler or furnace is it and how efficient. Size of tank and how much does it cost.

You might want to know how the water is heated too.

What about a wood stove--if it has a wood stove and you can put in the time then you can heat for less that way. 3 chords seems to be average for what people burn at maybe $250/chord for dry wood.

[Flashback]

Heating costs vary wildly based on how well insulated your home is. My place built in 1930 had little to no insulation. Pays to find out before buying or renting.

[Hopes]

My girlfriend spends 2k at the beginning of each winter to fill the oil tank for her rural rental in Pennsylvania. She uses pellets too. Something the OP needs to consider is many of these rural fuel sources require a huge purchase. It's not like a monthly bill like when there's a gas or electric company supplying energy for heat.

[Ellwood]

Son uses pellet stove to heat a 4 bedroom cape. Has oil furnace for hot water only.

[jackmccullough]

The state publishes a monthly report on fuel prices: Vermont Fuel Price Report | Public Service Department

I think it's great as far as it goes. Unfortunately, for your purposes, the individual characteristics of where you wind up buying or renting are going to be so variable that you can't use the fuel price report to get an accurate estimate of what it will cost you to live where you wind up living.

[voyager977]

Look for a rental that is WELL insulated and then spend $65 or so to join VT Farm Bureau for member pricing on propane and oil. Just filled our 500 gal propane tank at $2.17 gallon. We rent in the Champlain Islands and having a very well insulated place makes a huge difference compared to our neighbors when it comes to heating costs.

The salary you mentioned is going to make for a tight start, but if the job is right and you like the state, I'm sure you'll make it work.

We moved up from RI several years ago and don't regret a thing. Winters are long, but we get outside and enjoy every aspect of it. It's a great place to raise kids and most people really do care about their neighbors, despite the comments about rich out of staters ruining the place. (In many towns, those part-timers pay higher tax rates that help to keep things livable for those of us earning our livings here!)

Good luck and welcome!