Housing vs Income - 7/30/2007

Cost of living in Vermont has skyrocketed since 9-11. People from outside Vermont have are purchasing property here at extremely high prices, raising the average price for a home or lot. In the North Eastern part of the state a house on the lake sold for $100,000. Now, the cheapest ones are $200,000 and they are less than 900 sf with long stairs down to the water and absolutely no parking off the road. Homes that are livable are typically in the $400,000 range. New homes with custom features are between $500,000 and $800,000. This area has no real industry and local people are now priced out of the market. Typical income is less than $25,000. Even if people can afford the homes, the taxes are very high. A $300,000 home is taxed about $5000 or more per year. In the western part of the state, there are jobs and housing but these home (2,500 sf) are between $300,000 and $400,000 with taxes in the $4000 to $6000 per year range. Income in this area is closer to$40,000 and a livable wage in Chittenden County is now over $13.50 per hour (most hoursly people are not paid this level.) So, Vermont is now ranked as the highest taxed state per income percentage and is in the bottom third of the states as worst states to do business. It is a beautiful state with much natural beauty, but be prepared to pay a lot for that aspect if you decide to move here.

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beautiful but expensive - 6/23/2007

I was born in Vermont and it is so beautiful...all 4 seasons, no real congestion, lots to love. But, property taxes, housing etc are pretty high. The state is not real business friendly - if you do not care about having a city real close, it is nice. It just isn't want I need right now.

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beautiful state - 6/7/2007

If you like 6 and 6, meaning 6 cold months and 6 summer months then you would love vermont., once the winter gets it's idea to move on, it takes the atmosphere time to listen, the mountains are still holding on to late spring storms, and when the wind blows, here comes the cold air off the mountains., then when all the snow has melted, the air warms up a little more, until such a time when the air comes from the North, where there is yet still more snow up there., so finally, it warms up, but the nights are still cold until June or so, and alas there is warmth...and you soak up the warmth from about June, July, Aug. now the days are getting shorter, and the nights cooler and you know what's coming again. otherwise, if you're young, and love the cold, Hey, vt. is the state for you.

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You can't eat the view - 4/23/2007

Vermont is undeniably a beautiful state. I enjoy the views and hikes, the quaint cultural events. What I don't enjoy: higher cost of car insurance, car maintenance, lack of public transportation, heating fuel, electricity, education, housing, limited choices of public recreation, high ticket prices for most events, lack of career advancement opportunties... Climate wise -- it stinks! I love the snow - but the perpetual cloudy days -- uggh! The living expenses are quite high in comparison to potential wages. Vermont is a great state for those who are rolling over huge house equity from a more expensive market (even if the bubble is leaking); they'll be able to find something decent in the market. Most new housing is in the "McMansion" category. Vermont also has the 2nd largest growth of 2nd homes in the country, i.e. rich folks from NYC, Boston, Philly coming here to build their pastoral dream. While the governor's focus has been on lowering income & property taxes to retain young people (Vermont is an "aged" state, demographically), no one has addressed the lack of affordable housing. My husband and I bought a small home (3 bed/1bath/slab) on a dirt road 10yrs ago. On our wages, we would not be able to qualify for a loan to purchase it now. We'd like to move back to town, but can't afford it. Our property taxes are about $3500/year for 1400 sq ft ranch. Part of the problem is low population density. There's a big economic tradeoff for the increased tranquility. School expenditures are among highest in the country. That doesn't translate into more services or better outcome for students, but is simply how expensive it is because of low student census and fewer people to share the costs of running a school. Skiing, boating, etc. is fun, but too expensive for most people who live here. The university is quite good, with excellent faculty (somewhat underutilized by many of the students who party a bit too much), but it doesn't have as much going on for the community as been my experience with other town/gown communities. Overall, the quality of life is high for those who can afford it, but a drive around the state will reveal how many people are struggling. Federal poverty levels are inadequate measure when one figures in the high cost of living. My husband is not an occupation that has much mobility, so we'll hang on by our fingernails, and hope that we can retire someplace ELSE a little cheaper, sunnier w/ access to good hea

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Vermont in general - 1/7/2007

I've lived here all my 46 years,it's hard to make an honest living,not enough housing for the average person,If your into social services, great place to get experience on alcohol/drug addiction and depression.Weather is dark and cloudy 85% of the time, it seems.The majority of people here now are from the big cities,trying to escape.It's rough to start a new business considering all of the taxation,property tax is sky high,enough about the negatives, and there are more! here's some positives ,the landscape is beautiful,fishing and hunting are good ,skiing is great when we have snow . I am moving in eight months ,I'll let you people know if I come back to Vermont.

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