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I have seen many news articles about how our population is holding near flat. Young adults leave the regions seeking high-paying jobs, and older adults migrate back home. The end result is that our total populaiton holds steady.
Some journalists / authors spin this as a bad thing, others spin it as a good thing.
To me it says that we have a weak economy, low pay and low COL.
But how does this speak of the 'disaffected'? I have no idea.
It is heaven for low-income retirees and subsistence farmers.
What I've read is that Chittenden County has seen small increases that offset the small decreases in the rest of the State, keeping population flat as you say.
Many of the older folks moving into the State are fairly affluent. Some are moving into what had been their 2nd homes, all are coming for lifestyle. These folks are an important part of the rural & small town economies given the infusion of money they represent.
As you say it can be heaven too for low income retirees. Uncle Sugar will pick up the tab for their healthcare and the State will cover a major share of their property taxes, and with a graduated income tax rate they pay a low rate if they pay anything at all. Still, VT is a much more expensive place to live than going to the Southern States and so I doubt many would come here for a better economic deal.
We do seem to attract some young people who come for back to the land type lifestyles, and of course Chittenden County is a different kind of lifestyle draw where they can get modern economy type jobs.
Something I have noticed in the larger towns over the past couple years are more young family transplants from urban centers (NYC or Albany perhaps) that I assume are coming to VT for a safer place to raise their kids.
The "best" locations will never be named by people who have found them to be exactly what they want. They might tell their family but maybe not haha.
Nothing beats driving around and seeing a place first hand, getting a feel for it and seeing it in all seasons. We did that 8 years back. First talked about which states we'd consider after quickly discarding the idea of leaving the US.
Buy a used or new RV and take some time driving around this great country. If you still work you'll do it on vacations but if you're retired you've got all year, no rush. Worthwhile hobby.
We are not preppers (just want to be prepared) and going through an average hurricane in SW Florida was eye-opening seeing how ill-prepared the local government was. We knew that was not a good place to remain and moved.
What I've read is that Chittenden County has seen small increases that offset the small decreases in the rest of the State, keeping population flat as you say.
Many of the older folks moving into the State are fairly affluent. Some are moving into what had been their 2nd homes, all are coming for lifestyle. These folks are an important part of the rural & small town economies given the infusion of money they represent.
As you say it can be heaven too for low income retirees. Uncle Sugar will pick up the tab for their healthcare and the State will cover a major share of their property taxes, and with a graduated income tax rate they pay a low rate if they pay anything at all. Still, VT is a much more expensive place to live than going to the Southern States and so I doubt many would come here for a better economic deal.
We do seem to attract some young people who come for back to the land type lifestyles, and of course Chittenden County is a different kind of lifestyle draw where they can get modern economy type jobs.
Something I have noticed in the larger towns over the past couple years are more young family transplants from urban centers (NYC or Albany perhaps) that I assume are coming to VT for a safer place to raise their kids.
What about New Hampshire? If I wanted to live in New England (I don't) probably NH would be my choice - the only significant tax is property tax, if you live in a modest home, you should be set.
I don't pretend to understand why, but NH tends to be a lot more conservative/libertarian to VT's liberal/libertarian. At least in my limited experience.
What I've read is that Chittenden County has seen small increases that offset the small decreases in the rest of the State, keeping population flat as you say.
I am in Maine, where the population has been flat.
Quote:
... Many of the older folks moving into the State are fairly affluent. Some are moving into what had been their 2nd homes, all are coming for lifestyle. These folks are an important part of the rural & small town economies given the infusion of money they represent.
Tourism is our biggest industry. Wealthy tourists from out-of-state bring lots of money here.
Quote:
... As you say it can be heaven too for low income retirees. Uncle Sugar will pick up the tab for their healthcare and the State will cover a major share of their property taxes, and with a graduated income tax rate they pay a low rate if they pay anything at all. Still, VT is a much more expensive place to live than going to the Southern States and so I doubt many would come here for a better economic deal.
My pension includes healthcare, regardless of what state I retire to.
I do not get any state subsidy on my property taxes. Property taxes are pretty low here anyway.
I do not pay any income taxes, state or federal. This year they also decided to make many pensions exempt form taxes here.
Quote:
... We do seem to attract some young people who come for back to the land type lifestyles, and of course Chittenden County is a different kind of lifestyle draw where they can get modern economy type jobs.
I see some of that here too.
While the number of farms nationwide is in decline, the number of farms in Maine has been increasing every year. Farming in growing in Northern New England.
Quote:
... Something I have noticed in the larger towns over the past couple years are more young family transplants from urban centers (NYC or Albany perhaps) that I assume are coming to VT for a safer place to raise their kids.
I can see that.
The big draws here are low crime, low COL, low taxes, and low population-density.
While the number of farms nationwide is in decline, the number of farms in Maine has been increasing every year. Farming in growing in Northern New England.
Biker53 said:
"We do seem to attract some young people who come for back to the land type lifestyles, ..."
We get some young people, and some older people up here too. Who come here for the 'back-to-the-land' lifestyles.
We easily see some of that happening here, just as Biker53 is saying about down South in Vt.
The low land / home prices, low COL, the rural nature of the culture and the near ideal climate for farming, all combine to make great conditions for 'Back-to-the-land' movement farmers.
The number of farms nationwide is in decline.
The number of farms in Maine has been increasing every year.
Farming in growing in Northern New England.
In a thread on "best relocation", it is easy to see that anyone who wants to be a farmer in the 'Back-to-the-land' lifestyle, with a low cost start-up, can relocate to a local culture where it is happening for lots of others.
Stop rubbing it in about how great Maine is. We get it that you can buy 80 pristine acres on a river for $30k and all your neighbors are small startup organic farmers, that there's so much farmland that you don't even need to buy any if you want to start out, that you can drill a 20 foot well and have unlimited water gushing out at 80gpm, that there's no crime whatsoever and it's like a northern Mayberry utopia if you ever happen to come across an actual town in between miles and miles of untouched forests. I've never been to maine, but you guys should be realtors or on the chamber of commerce or something by how great you make it sound.
Hopefully my sarcasm came across successfully, I do enjoy reading and learning about maine from you guys.
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