Are You Living in a "Vermont"?

There are places we fall in love with—places that feel timeless, scenic, safe. Vermont is one of those places. Rolling hills, maple trees, charming towns that look like they belong on a postcard. But sometimes the story we’re telling ourselves about a place is stuck in the past. It’s disconnected from the present and, even more alarmingly, poorly positioned for the future.

The question is: Are you living in a "Vermont"?

Signs You Might Be Living in a “Vermont”

During the pandemic, Vermont briefly boomed. Remote workers moved in. Real estate heated up. It felt like a second chance for a small, aging state. But the glow didn’t last. People are leaving again—not just because of winter, but because of deeper challenges that Vermont hasn’t resolved: tight housing, high taxes, healthcare gaps, and a shrinking working-age population. As the Wall Street Journal reported, Vermont's net migration has turned negative again, and the state is falling back into long-term decline.

You may not live in Vermont, but you might recognize the symptoms:

• You love your town’s charm, but your kids can’t afford to stay.

• Taxes keep rising, but services aren’t keeping up.

• Starting a small business takes years of red tape.

• You’re surrounded by beauty, but can’t find a doctor, a plumber, or a full-time neighbor.

• Hospitals and clinics are dated and struggle to attract or retain top talent.

The Personal Becomes Universal

In the WSJ article and reader comments, personal stories echoed this pattern. One homeowner shared, “Our taxes tripled in ten years. We’re now looking in North Carolina.” Another wrote, “I own similar homes in Vermont and Michigan—but pay twice the tax in Vermont.” A third described it simply: “A lovely state, with many memories… but one that has taxed and regulated itself into being little but a game preserve for rich New Yorkers.”

This isn’t just a Vermont story. It’s a story about places that look good on the outside but are falling short for the people trying to build real lives inside them. That might mean a town with too few jobs for young people. Or a city where regulations make housing or business growth nearly impossible. Or a rural county where healthcare access is slipping further away. Or a place that can’t retain talent and innovate for the future in an increasingly complex world.

In these places, it gets harder to stay. But it’s also hard to leave, especially when your connection to place is emotional, not just practical.

Geography Isn’t Destiny Unless You Let It

That’s why the metaphor matters. Vermont may be beautiful. But beauty doesn’t fix broken systems. As one commenter put it: “You could have essentially the same landscape five minutes across the border in New Hampshire—without the income tax, the sales tax, and the permitting hurdles.” Another added, “It’s not the mountains that make the difference. It’s the mindset.”

If your town or state feels like it’s becoming a place for fewer and fewer people—especially people like you—that’s worth paying attention to. Robert Frost once wrote that Vermont and New Hampshire are essentially the same, “excepting they differ in their mountains.” But now, New Hampshire is growing and vibrant, while Vermont is shrinking and strained.

Sometimes the better place isn’t across the country. Sometimes it’s just across the river.

Place Shapes Your Future Self

The harder question is the one for each of us: Are we staying put out of love—or out of habit?

Where you live doesn’t just influence your lifestyle—it shapes your opportunities, your relationships, and even your health. The right place can energize you, challenge you, support you. The wrong one can slowly wear you down. That’s why the decision of where to live isn’t just practical—it’s deeply personal and profoundly strategic. Especially as your needs evolve, it’s worth asking: Is this place still helping me become who I want to be?

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