[MTK1]

This is a very interesting research report on VT from St. Michaels College. It covers many topics such as land use, crime, economy, affordability, etc. I suggest to the many people interested in relocating here give it a good read. The affordability section is quite an eye opener. Recent data from the report have VT as now being the 9th most expensive state in the U.S. to live.

St. Michael's Research Report: "Vermont in Transition" now available | Future of Vermont

[Summerz]

I'm hoping to relocate OUT of state someday soon lol.

[biscuitdad]

I'm with you. I've had enough of the high property taxes, long winters and ridiculous roads.

[flu189]

This report basically underscores what we already know and what has been reported from other research and statistical reports. The future of Vermont basically revolves around the ability to attract people who already have earned the means be able to afford to live here. The new stimulus money will just delay and prolong by two years a major future budget crash. One thing is for sure that the COL will not get any lower. We will now witness an arm wrestle match between the governor and legislature. A shame though, that the governor still sticks by his mass layoff scheme to save $17 million out of a $4.2 billion total budget, but he is powerless to enact real cuts where they would make the most difference.

[mustmove]

Been saying for years that VT economy is a pyramid scheme of folks moving in with money earned elsewhere- some run out and some don't. Regardless wealth is consumed in VT not created. The low home foreclosure rate gets touted as evidence that things are ok buddy of mine was reading some banking reports that had VT as tops in bankruptcies. Happy to be gone.

[pabear]

Thank you for posting this link. We plan to read it start to finish. This is part of doing the "homework".

Originally Posted by MTK1

This is a very interesting research report on VT from St. Michaels College. It covers many topics such as land use, crime, economy, affordability, etc. I suggest to the many people interested in relocating here give it a good read. The affordability section is quite an eye opener. Recent data from the report have VT as now being the 9th most expensive state in the U.S. to live.

St. Michael's Research Report: "Vermont in Transition" now available | Future of Vermont

[ex-springfielder]

Vermont has been in decline since the administration of Madeline Kunin and her ideas of turning Vermont into a national park. Vermont has been totally anti business, preventing new companies from moving in and forcing existing companies to move and coupled with the decrease in good paying manufacturing jobs throughout the country due to foreign competition has hurt the middle class deeply. I was born in Vermont and lived there for over fifty years but last year after going through yet another layoff at my manufacturing job I decided to look elsewhere and moved. Vermont offers nothing to companies not involved in tourism and uses Act 250 as the vehicle to control who is allowed in and where. This has changed vermonts economy from manufacturing to low paying service jobs. I raised three sons, all are college graduates and all are employed in NH. Vermont is becoming a state with a shrinking middle class who has to bear the tax burden to support the sate while the poor class grows and brings the associated crime with it. Vermont is far from the state it once was and unless you're very well off financially and have your heart set on Vermont I'd look elsewhere.

[flu189]

The reference to college education is interesting. Vermont likes to boast it's demographic statistic of having such a high ratio of college educated population. What good is it when a significant proportion of young or middle aged college degree holders are perpetually underemployed. My family of five currently here in Vermont (including a daughter-in-law) range from age 22 to 48 and we collectively have eight degrees from associate, bachelors, to a masters. Totally useless in securing commensurate employment. We have all decided that despite the national picture being poor, there is a greater liklihood putting our education to actual use elsewhere so now we are basically focusing on a two year transition to prepare to move. It would be sooner, but my upcoming deployment kind of throws a wrench into the gears time wise, but it will provide the economic "stimulus" (I'm really starting to loath this word) to make it happen. Reluctantly we have come to the conclusion that even when things improve that jobs, income, and cost of living factors will keep us standing still here. On the other hand, should conditions worsen over a prolonged period then we need to be able to live somewhere each and every dollar can be stretched further.

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by biscuitdad

I'm with you. I've had enough of the high property taxes, long winters and ridiculous roads.

Me too. I'm also sick of the lack of congestion, natural beauty, and cooler summers. Let's go!

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by ex-springfielder

I was born in Vermont and lived there for over fifty years...

These never end well