Life Work Balance
10 Reasons to Move to Vermont#1
state for Quality of Life
#1
safest state
#1
maple syrup producer in the u.s.
#2
greenest state
10 Reasons to Move to Vermont for Life Work Balance
Amid the rolling mountains and stunning landscape of Vermont, you’ll find a vibrant, thriving state that can be 100% ideal for those who want a career, but also want a life. Check out some of these top reasons to think about a move to Vermont as you prioritize what matters in your life.
1. Space to grow
Vermont has one of the smallest populations in the country, so you can stretch out physically and mentally and not worry about having a crowd in your way. Plus, with fewer people competing for jobs and careers, you’ll find the odds are in your favor when you’re seeking your next opportunity. In fact, Vermont has tens of thousands of open jobs in multiple sectors including aerospace, renewable energy, healthcare, non-profits, hospitality, and more.
2. You can get there from here
While well known for its remote setting and comparative lack of crowds and traffic, Vermont is also accessible to major metropolitan areas. The state is bordered by New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and New York, sharing its northern border with Canada. Burlington is a two-hour drive from Montreal, where the Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport is a global hub. Boston is two and a half hours from southern Vermont’s Brattleboro, and New York City about four and a half hours. The Amtrak Vermonter Line offers connections from several Vermont towns to and from Washington, D.C. and points south, while the Ethan Allen Express runs daily service between Burlington and New York City, stopping at four Vermont downtowns in between. The Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport offers direct flights to several U.S. locations, as well as connecting flights to larger ports.
3. Outdoor recreation year round
All four seasons in Vermont invite you to come outside and enjoy the show. In spring, the wildflowers erupt across forests and hillsides. Summer offers hiking, biking, fishing, camping, and more. In the fall, the epic changing of leaves plus the local harvest make every journey outside unforgettable. And in winter, take your pick of skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, and more.
4. Safe communities
Vermont is home to safe and vibrant communities, and the state has consistently ranked No. 1 safest states. Safe to explore, you’ll find parks dotted through the cities and towns, beaches framing the lakes and ponds and a community of people who love to make the most of them. With low occurrences of crime, you’ll find a peace of mind that lets you enjoy that life work balance that is so important to you and the people around you.
Learn about life in Vermont
5. Yes, there are cities
Sure, Vermont has plenty of back roads. Follow them long enough and you’ll find bustling downtowns. Power lunch among state house officials in Montpelier – just don’t expect something you’ve seen before, since Vermonters pride themselves on their support for local, independent restaurants. Or stroll Burlington’s Church Street for the kind of eclectic mix of restaurants, live music clubs, and unique shops you’d expect from a quintessential college town. But it’s not all play. At the innovation districts, incubators, and co-working spaces across Vermont, startups work late into the night. And in Burlington, one of the first U.S. cities to source 100% of its electricity from renewable sources, they do it cleanly.
6. Vermont is really good at making really good food
In Vermont, local is always the focus when it’s time to set the table. Enjoy locally crafted pure maple syrup, cheese and ice cream made from Vermont milk, locally grown produce, and so much more. Vermont brewers have made a global name for both taste and sustainability, with more than one named World’s Best Beer. Cider made with local fruit, cold-hardy Vermont-grown wines, and distilleries named best in the world round out the Green Mountain menu.
7. Put life before work
What is the quality of life like in Vermont? Vermont takes pride in offering a unique opportunity to live well while still passionately and enthusiastically pursuing a career. Truth is, there’s no need to be nose-to-nose on a subway or stuck in a cramped apartment in order to justify a good job. Up here you can have the good job, along with a good life – and that’s a great lesson to pass on to the next generation, too. No matter where you choose to live in Vermont, the unique combination of rural sensibilities and metropolitan opportunities will surround families with a strong sense of community and possibility that will last forever.
8. Small businesses are the state’s backbone
Montpelier is the only U.S. capital with neither a McDonald’s nor a Starbucks restaurant. Instead, people focus on local, independent dining, and that ethos carries through to small businesses cross-sector, from farms to retail to outdoor recreation. In Vermont, neighbors support neighbors; whether you relocate to start a business or support the ones close to you, it’s rewarding to join in.
Vermont Businesses Are Hiring
9. A different kind of workday
Is Vermont a good place to work? Your job will always be a big part of your day, but in Vermont, it doesn’t have to consume your entire day. The Vermont mindset encourages you to hike a trail near the office, ride a bike path at lunch, or simply take a break from the screen. What’s more, many companies invite you to use your workday as a volunteer day, giving back to the community as you join others in making a difference.
10. Green goes beyond the state nickname
Vermont has been ranked the second greenest state in the country, with top scores in environmental quality and eco-friendly behavior–Vermont has the lowest carbon dioxide emissions per capita, along with the highest number of electric fuel stations per capita. . What’s more, the city of Montpelier is committed to becoming the first U.S. capital to reach net zero carbon, and Green Mountain Power was the first power utility to become B Corp certified.
Find Your New Neighborhood
The Green Mountain State unfolds at its own pace in each of Vermont’s regions. From the state’s most rural region in the northeast to its deepest history down south, each region is an experience all its own.
Addison County
Farmlands wrap around historic downtowns in Addison County, nestled in central Vermont on the New York state border. The third largest Vermont county, Addison’s landscape is characterized by Otter Creek, Lake Dunmore, and the Green Mountain National Forest, its skyline scored by Mount Abraham and Lincoln Peak. Historic downtowns Middlebury, Bristol, and Vergennes, Vermont’s smallest city, are the county’s hubs.
Bennington County
Surrounding historic downtown Bennington, Bennington County is home to almost 36,000 people and is enveloped by the lush Green Mountain Forest, its skyline punctuated by the Taconic Mountain Range. Nestled in southern Vermont, Bennington is an ideal home for those seeking more space in a bustling historic downtown, and nearby Manchester is home to a plethora of shopping and dining options.
Chittenden County
Home to Vermont’s biggest city, Burlington, Chittenden County makes an ideal destination for those looking for urban life set among mountains with a lakefront view. Easily walkable and bikeable, Burlington is home to USA Today’s 2022 No. 1 public square in America. Nearby Essex, Williston, and Shelburne offer the convenience and amenities of city living with the picturesque views and close access to outdoor recreation that characterize life in Vermont.
Lamoille County
Mount Mansfield’s rugged profile, Mount Elmore and its companion lake, and the stunning Smugglers Notch frame Lamoille County. Stowe is home to a 5-mile paved path that winds through the downtown, as well as scores of local shops, breweries, and restaurants. Nearby Johnson is home to Northern Vermont University, and in Morristown, enjoy close access to the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail and a thriving Restaurant Row. Elmore’s one room schoolhouse is the last one to operate in the state.
Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom
In Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, small, tight-knit communities are strung together by scenic byways and back roads alongside lakes hewn by glaciers and the high spine of the Green Mountain range. The state’s most rural region, the Kingdom offers residents immediate access to outdoor recreation, a people-powered arts and culture scene, and ample opportunities for a fulfilling life/work balance in a place where both individuality and community are celebrated. Former governor George Aiken gave the Northeast Kingdom its name during a speech in Lyndonville in 1946.
Rutland County
Life in Rutland, Vermont is characterized by its close access to opportunity in an urban center that still feels like a small town, as well as the variety of recreational spaces amid Vermont’s natural beauty. With a population of about 15,800 people in 2020, Rutland is Vermont’s fifth most populous city. Killington and Pico mountains elevate Rutland’s skyline, with the city nestled in a wide valley between the Green Mountain and Taconic ranges. The Cold River and Otter Creek cut through surrounding Rutland County, Vermont’s second largest county by area. The county is also home to parts of two nationally protected natural areas, Green Mountain National Forest and White Rocks Natural Recreation Area.
Vermont’s Capitol Region
The golden dome of the Vermont Statehouse presides over Vermont’s capital, the only one in the U.S. without a McDonald’s or Starbucks. Nestled where two rivers meet and sheltered by surrounding hillsides, discover ample recreation opportunities, independent shops, a rich history of stone quarrying that informs downtown Barre and Montpelier, and natural beauty in the capital region. Nearby, Waterbury has earned a reputation for being a foodie and outdoor recreation town.
Windham County
Windham County is a nexus for both Vermont life and access to Boston and Manchester, N.H. Brattleboro is located within 15 miles of the state lines of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Brattleboro is the largest town in Windham County and serves as an artistic, economic, and historic anchor for the region. The Round and Black mountains bring texture to the region’s skyline while the Connecticut River rushes through a downtown lined with storied architecture.
Franklin County
Agriculture and lake life is at the heart of Franklin County. Boating, swimming, hiking, and biking abound on nearby Lake Champlain. One of Vermont’s northernmost cities, St. Albans borders the lake and is just over a 30-minute drive from both Burlington, Vt., and the Canadian border. A year-round pool and public parks make it attractive for families.
Grand Isle County
Sparsely populated Grand Isle, Vermont’s smallest county, is considered part of the greater Burlington area, offering rural life with urban access. Four of its five towns are situated entirely on islands. Isle La Motte is one of Vermont’s quirkiest areas, home to attractions like the state’s own fossil reef in a lakeside community that stewards the region’s history.
Windsor County
The Ottauquechee River and the Quechee Gorge, Vermont’s “Little Grand Canyon,” which drops to 165 scenic feet, characterize Windsor County near Woodstock, known for its picturesque beauty and classic New England charm. Mt. Tom, the trails at the Woodstock Inn, two national forests, and Vermont’s only national park round out the area’s outdoor offerings.
Orange County
Downtown Randolph is full of historic railroad-era architecture and many Victorian-era homes, as well as working farms and a historic movie theater and performance venue. Explore 240 miles of mapped trails for hiking, biking, cross-country and back-country skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing along the third branch of Vermont’s White River. Vermont State University offers secondary education in the region, and the Tunbridge World’s Fair brings the community together each year.
We Want You to Succeed in Vermont.