I Drove To The Worst Place In Vermont. This Is What I Saw.

[@ootenyafoo6935]

The older I get, the more I like boring.

[@snitchnine911]

Me too I'm 33 I hate my city New York city the worst

[@MarkBoissy]

You'll be at home in Vermont

[@DavidWestwater-vq6qy]

Me to love it

[@mf5531]

100%

[@WildArtistsl]

Simple life sounds perfect

[@spacetowastee]

State capital is Montpelier, not Burlington

[@jandrew1994]

Yep. I've been to both places last October. Great fall foliage. Beautiful weather. Montpelier is such a tiny gorgeous little capital city. Sort of like something you'd build in SimCity.

[@ThaiThom]

Yes everybody is moving to Montpelier now!

[@Kinglioncrown]

True

[@Snappynappybullpen]

Maybe he meant heroin capital🤷‍♂️

[@Kevin-xi6ts]

Wrong, it’s Burlington.

[@ZevVolf]

VT is probably one of the last places in the USA where you actually feel like you're in a storybook. Its fabled scenic beauty is real.

[@audreyarcher7156]

And, at times, you can make time stand still.

[@doopstoop4656]

Yeah and between Burlington and Rutland we’ve had over 30 shootings in the last year. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows.

[@audreyarcher7156]

@@doopstoop4656 compared to many, vermont is heavenly.

[@manchesterexplorer8519]

NH as well

[@therealjohndoe3862]

It's true. I live in Connecticut and spend lots of time in Vermont. And, it's a beautiful state that I love deeply.

[@davidrhoads3023]

I strolled through the meanest, most crime-ridden neighborhood in Norway and didn't know it until locals informed me after the fact. Seemed like a pretty nice place.

[@NordicRick]

What neighborhood was that?

[@milostodorovic69]

@@NordicRickhe’s trolling, Norway has no crime

[@NordicRick]

@milostodorovic69 yes I am from Norway.

[@shanemartim7309]

There is no ghetto in Norway 😅

[@davidrhoads3023]

@@shanemartim7309 True. I did not make myself clear. The "worst" community in Oslo is comparable to the best in many other country, including the US.

[@markvogel3473]

The guy you chose to interview isn't a native Vermonter. Why? Couldn't you find a native Vermonter in Brattleboro Vermont? You are right about the scourge of drug abuse and the disparity between income and rent/home ownership. P.S. Most of the native Vermonters I know are comfortably adapted to winter conditions. It is not a source of depression for them. It is a stimulant.

[@davido566]

Milton is the armpit of Vermont

[@iiCkabodcrane]

Yeah, when i saw that guy pop up, he did not look like anyone I knew in Vermont. But that was 25 years ago.

[@kevinellis3175]

I also think it’s ironic how he asked how people would feel if 6000 conservatives moved to Vermont. It was a red state until liberal New Yorkers moved there.

[@yeahbuddy8983]

Agreed he isn't from VT he clearly doesn't have the accent.

[@danielsharp590]

Wrong! Old timers and snow mobilers and snowboarder/skiers like it. People who HAVE to travel and work in the winter do not like it.

[@AngelloDelNorte]

The worst parts in states like Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Wyoming, or S Dakota are the equivalent to the worst parts of iceland, norway, danmark, or Czech republic (still being very safe in general).

[@Sebman1113]

Czech Republic has some pretty bad ghettos, however, you’re on par with every place else listed.

[@jeremiahallyn4603]

I wonder why that is 🤔

[@davidkohno3043]

@@jeremiahallyn4603 Let's be real.. they're White as hell.

[@NSgeg765]

Not exactly true. Gun violence in those states is higher than those other counties you mention. Poverty is worse too in rural areas but it doesn’t get the same attention urban poverty does. Rapid City, SD actually has a higher crime rate than most people imagine. But yes NE and rural states by and large have less crime.

[@AngelloDelNorte]

@sebgillen3188 I wanted to go with Switzerland rather than the Czech Republic, but people always love to mention Switzerland is rich or something? which is why it's so safe. Poland is too controversial to mention, so I went with the Czech Republic. Czech Republic ghettos aren't violent. they face poverty (minimal) but are still good since there are no shootouts, gangs, or violent physical assaults.

[@frederickmiles8815]

I grew up in Rutland: grew up on welfare, shot in the back with a 9mm (wrong time, wrong place), constant domestic violence and surrounded by the drug game - it was a nightmare. Poverty in Vermont is super deep, drugs and alcohol abuse run deep. College / tourism areas are anomalies.

[@CarolLustgarten]

Very sad. 😢😢😢 sad you had all negative experiences.

[@frederickmiles8815]

@@CarolLustgarten Meh i am lucky enough to be on one end of the bell curve and have a fondness for conflict and violence. Meaning decades later i live in a very affluent suburbs, 3 graduate degrees, career in banking, and a former army officer (3 tours served, background in intel and logistics). But then again I dont know anyone I group up with, most were lost to the ether before they even graduated high school.

[@sharonmanney8363]

my husband Henry grew up right up the street from you, he knew Mark and jim Derry and your Grandpa with the motorcycle shop

[@frederickmiles8815]

@@sharonmanney8363 wrong one - i had no father let alone grandfather with a motorcycle shop.

[@alec7332]

I would say that is an accurate take on Rutland and that general area. The rest of Vermont is really rich people cosplaying as country folk and regular monitors trying to get by. There's plenty of tourism in between. Even in the Northeast kingdom there's no shortage of tourist traps.... Relative to the population density of course, haha

[@derekg1524]

Vermont's biggest problem is non-Vermonters moving in that don't love Vermont for what it is, but see all the things wrong with it and try to change it to what they think it should be. Much of Vermont is turning into Fairfield County, CT. It makes me sick.

[@sitdowndogbreath]

Yeah but even Connecticut doesn't steal your kids as much as Vermont does

[@tv321123]

Bullshit. I moved here because I loved Vermont. The people trying to change it are the young people who grew up IN VERMONT with modern neo-liberal ideas and politics. They can't understand why they are 25-30 years old, and they are not making a software engineer salary checking people out at the grocery store. Hence they want the state to build a bunch of 'affordable housing'. Despite Vermont being constitutional carry for the longest time, they need gun control to stop the gun crime...that just dose not happen in Vermont... It's all programed people repeating talking points without understanding anything they are saying.

[@poetcomic1]

I'm old enough to remember when Vermont was rock-ribbed Republican and the purest form of old yankee common sense people living close to the land.

[@stephaniescanlan5743]

Everyone living in a state with the people fleeing the blue cities into their state could say exactly the same thing.

[@Hello-sv5fz]

Would be nice if family homes were built like these everywhere.

[@TonyG_VT]

After moving to Vermont in 2004 it took me 17 years to buy a home. Now I live on 14 acres in the countryside. If you don’t like the outdoors it’s probably really boring here. I live about 45 minutes south of the capital and have lived in or visited many of the towns mentioned here. Roll up your windows and lock your doors when driving through Barre city (partially joking). I find each area to be different politically. Montpelier and Burlington are very liberal/Marxist/socialist. Pockets of Barre and suburban Burlington are more moderate to conservative. I find native Vermonters to be libertarian, in my opinion. The best way to describe the economics is that Vermont is like a Disney World for the wealthy while native vermonters, the poor, and middle class are the non player background characters.

[@johnthomas8606]

"Vermont is like a Disney World for the wealthy while native vermonters, the poor, and middle class are the non player background characters." Not by accident, and begins in the late 19th century in reaction to declining hill towns and loss of population....VT tourism marketed to NY, CT, MA begins in the late 19th c with goals of getting summer visitors to buy homes here, stay, have kids, improve the gene pool and the economy.

[@llw8118]

yeh dont buy near a river

[@scotsmanofnewengland7713]

As a native Vermonter seems the problem now is out of staters buying up properties all over but not living here full time. They think local problems don’t involve them but don’t want to fix the ones we have. The taxes go up and they’re the first to complain and they don’t even live here full time.

[@MrReymoclif714]

Weekend NYC sales people come up for the weekend and then it’s back to the city with $20,000 of the know each other locals hard earned money!

[@MrReymoclif714]

These guys are way off base!

[@astrahcat1212]

Actually, the real reason there are trailer parks isn't the cost of buying or renting a place, but rather that most of the housing was built in the year 1900 and requires a lot of constant repairs, especially with the harsh winter. Trailers can still be expensive due to lot rent, but they're more practical, smaller, less fixes, as long as you clean off the roof they're actually great compared to the old houses when you have a bad winter.

[@MrRezillo]

Good point; we lived in an older house like that and yes, repairs, painting and the like were ongoing.

[@jeffrussell777]

yea I lived in a trailer in IOWA for 3 years....and It SUCKS...I lived 5 years homeless in San Diego and would take Homeless in San Diego back then in 1992 but today....I would take the Trailer for California like everything run into the Ground by Democrat politicians is HELL 2 Pay just to Play/Survive!

[@sherw7635]

That's right.

[@Elvengem]

Maine also has a lot of ramshackled old houses.

[@astrahcat1212]

@@jeffrussell777 Yep I was in a mobile home for 5 years, then lived in apartments since then, and the mobile home's HVAC was more functional, was extremely warm in harsh upstate NY winters and even cold in 80 to 90 degree summer days, I didn't see a single bug, but it was a 2010, the ones from the 1980s and before can be pretty awful in comparison with newer manufactured homes. Lived in apartments since then and have seen centipedes, roaches, had maintenance problem galore in comparison. The big problem with mobile homes are the hollow core doors, if you buy one it's worth the investment to put some nice solid core doors in. The walls inside are otherwise thinner than a house, so less sound proof. Also, if you gotta live in a park, in the USA so many people move into as cheap a place as possible to do drugs, so if you want cheap living unfortunately in this country you'll be surrounded by people looking to cook meth.

[@richardbicycle5262]

Great vid, VT holds a special place in my heart. Lived in Burlington in mid 2010s, worked at Stowe as a ski instructor, I made absolute bank and paid under $500/mo for a massive apartment with clear views of Lake Champlain! One of my favorite memories.

[@phyllisbreese4289]

you left that???

[@pbandjgrl]

Very expensive to rent in VT now. Housing shortage.

[@stitches318]

Right before Burly went downhill

[@Theleaddog]

@@stitches318Burlington is struggling but it has its solid population. They love it there. Burlington has a vision and a plan.

[@glass1258]

My uncle lives in Vermont. His backyard is the Canadian border

[@Kevin-xi6ts]

I don’t believe you.

[@stephendacey8761]

I have taken Route 89 through Vermont and into Canada. It's only about 1 hour from the border to Montreal. But, beware of border agents. They are less friendly than 10 years ago, and I think they want a passport these days (a driver's license used to work). The man interviewed was right about Montreal. It's about 2 hours from Burlington, Vt. to Montreal. Just make sure you gas it up before crossing the border b/c gas in Canada is a lot more expensive. Also, it's a good idea to go in the summer rather than winter. It's bone-chilling cold up in northern Vermont and it gets a ton of snow. Summers are beautiful.

[@nedcramdon1306]

@@stephendacey8761 EVERYTHING in Canada is expensive! Gas jumped 90 cents per gallon (.20 cents per liter)

[@NewHaven203]

Pics or you’re lying

[@goldenretriever6261]

​@@nedcramdon1306carbon tax

[@Chloraflora]

I live in VT, still think Rutland is the worst town in the state, but even then it's a wonderland compared to rough places elsewhere in the country.

[@blapril754]

Excellent video. My wife and I are native New Englander,s and after living in TN. for 20 years and retiring, decided to move to Vermont. At 75, our only regret is that we didn't move here sooner, although we are living off our retirement saving, planed, because it is a very expensive place to live. Comparing the two states, TN. is as cheap as VT. is expensive. Property taxes for a house we moved into from what we left, are more than quadruple, with education being the main driver. Overall, we pay 3x as much for the education tax here, as we did total taxes there. Despite the winters, VT. more than makes up for it with its beauty, charm, virtually no traffic, except during foliage, and friendly people. I agree with your guest 100%, and most of the comments. Vermont is not for everyone, but neither is Florida nor California. For those who enjoy the outdoors, peace and tranquility, and a laid back life style, it is perfect.

[@btoonbtoon]

Love your videos Nick!! Born and grew up in Bennington in Southern Vermont....Live in SoCal now. Had to move because of my specialized work. Wouldn't have traded the childhood my parents afforded me in Vermont for any amount of money. Best place in the world to grow up in the world. Sledding hill next-door...Had 3 ski mountains half an our away.....a river across the street to explore ...countless swimming areas... along with endless acres of woods/outdoors. All while the History of the area was preserved and visible....Extremely safe place to live. Vermont is what you make it!!.....If you're active (especially in winter)...and engaged..You'll love it!! Boston and NYC both 3 hours away. Miss the sweet state of Vermont for sure!! Great place!!

[@craftydusty]

😊Finally! Someone who knows...

[@sabertoothduck]

Good ole Kelly stand area!!

[@floretion]

With small towns, it's easy to misinterpret statistics- a 400% rise in car break-ins could mean there were 5 and the year before there was one. Even today, many years later, every time I hear the word "Vermont" I will always think of the scene in Ferris Bueller where his mom says to his sister "And you made me lose the deal with the Vermont people!"

[@Johnnycdrums]

What was she referring to? I don't want to watch the movie to find out.

[@floretion]

@@Johnnycdrums It was just a joke. They were in Chicago and the mother was complaining that they lost an important deal with "the Vermont people"- the movie never goes on the mention anything else about them.

[@floretion]

@@Battleneter Yes but all the potential victims do care..

[@poopsitoutgaming7575]

But its not 5. Currently we see violent crimes and break ins daily. Especially in the last 3 years.

[@marysummer08]

Fun fact- Vermont has no roadside billboards.

[@billbill6576]

I lived there, it barely has roads.

[@ps1hagrid84]

I heard about this. Very interesting. Its good for the state, doesnt spoil the natural beauty while driving

[@garyK.45ACP]

Correct. One of two states to ban them. Alaska is the other.

[@jonathanp1884]

reminds me of the saying, California removes hills to see billboards, Vermont removes billboards to see hills.

[@garyK.45ACP]

@@jonathanp1884 True enough. Vermont also removes businesses, jobs, and housing.

[@robertlewis8608]

I grew up in VT, from West-East Charleston, Newport, Morgan, to Island Pond, to Saint Jay. The state use to have jobs, conservatism was bigger, cost of living was low, it was cheaper to buy land and buy a house. The ideology of the transplants over the years to the education system is what has transformed the state into what it is now. From chasing big companies away turning once thriving growing small towns and cities into poverty central. The education system is not that great at the public schools, once upon a time the Saint Jay Academy was considered one of the top high schools to go to in the nation. A privately owned and operated institution. When you finished middle school in the area to surrounding areas your first year as a freshman was spent playing catch-up because the public education system is so sub par. You used to not have so much of your life dictated to like Vermont today, it was affordable to live, there was enough conservatives and liberals in towns and cities things were balanced. You could still have a conversation with anyone and not have them hate you over politics. Sadly so many of my childhood friends didn’t escape the early public school system guidance and are all super far left. I on the other hand got out as the liberal population grew and a lot of the high paying manufacturing jobs left the more smaller parts of the state. Traveled the world, did bigger and better things for it that would have never happened if I stayed there. Retired at 40 living in the land of Florida man. Vermonts current issues is the political climate and multiple generations lead down the path of leftism, and the mass influx of transplants over the past 30 years it is what it is. Balance in the state for the most part is gone and it’s harder to live in the state for it. Could go back to visit where I grew up for a short time. Miss the scenery, miss living in the cold even less. Yet sadly going back to the places I grew up seeing the decline is a bit disheartening you can see where the transplants moved in as they bought large areas of land taking down the old homes to buildings making their own private habitat if you will in the more remote smaller areas out of the way. We are used to own houses get 140k acres that stretched from VT up into Canada. Once we left sold it all back when the cost of living, land, housing was a lot cheaper. It is what it is. Sadly at this point VT will VT into what it has turned into.

[@michelesoto5919]

FACTS!

[@eddievonpapen6306]

Stay in FL. We don’t need you. I too retired when I was 40, but sold my home Gulfstream, Fl, but kept the one in Stowe and moved to Lausanne, Switzerland. I always feel more at home in VT than anywhere. Anyone who likes FL for more than a vacation has something wrong with them. The whole world has changed a lot in the last few decades. You forgot to mention that FL became a lot worse than VT in every aspect of life. At least VT is still amazingly beautiful and most of the people are kind; even the poor and the struggling ones. Can’t say that for red neck, fascist in FL. But, of course in FL you can stumble out of a strip club and within a few steps be in your next door Evangelical church. Conservatives are the most hypocritical people on the planet, when it comes to sins.

[@3_words]

I turned 20 this year and I realised that the older I get the more I like calm boring cities, lowkey countryside. I grew up in two big cities one of them Paris. Im seriously done with the noise and traffic. I feel like an old soul saying that 😅.

[@jaketwomey7924]

You must have a lot of money to begin with. No one wants the city, genius, we work there to have a better life.

[@jaketwomey7924]

“I’m 20, I grew up in Paris, and I like Vermont better.” WOW are you doing everyone a big favor! With any luck, the people of Paris will inhabit small town Vermont and make a whole new civilization of people from Paris that are just as happy there as you are with your 2 years legal experience, n to mention ZERO years able to drink a beer! The older you get….HA HA

[@3_words]

@@jaketwomey7924 i'm not rich, we're just comfortable. I really do prefer small towns or the countryside over big metropolitan cities.

[@Angel_Cortez_NYC]

@@jaketwomey7924No one wants the city? No one? Well I can tell you you’re dead wrong genius because many people do want the city in fact most city of them all NYC where all walks of life from small town USA move because they hate their boring insignificant lives in the middle of nowhere! Nobody leaving Paris for Vermont calm down little pilgrim

[@phyllisbreese4289]

I have a 19 r old granddaughter I'd love to meet you!lol

[@JakeZsoccer18]

I worked for FedEx for 6 months and drove throughout Windsor county, primarily in Ludlow. And I must say that Vermonters are among the most down to earth, caring, helpful and kindest people I’ve ever came across in my life. Over those 6 months, I was stuck in a ditch, struggling to carry some boxes, attacked by dogs and so much more. And each situation I was helped by Vermonters. They truly are one of a kind people in this country. A message to the other 49 states (even those who share VT qualities): Visit the green mountain state to see what the people are like and take a page out of their book. Sound good?

[@josebro352]

This is true. A recent poll stated that the friendliest people in the country come from Vermont and Hawaii.

[@triatheletewolf7279]

Yep, just spent 12 days in Ludlow hiking the Appalachian Trail, and people we meet were super nice and helpful. But we fouind the same to be true about Western Mass and Western Conn. I think once you are in more rural mountain areas people seem a whole lot nicer.

[@GStern]

absolutely !

[@maryjoortega]

I totally I agree 🎊 ❤

[@RippledWaters]

Not everyone in Vermont is nice lol there's a lot of assholes here too

[@robertduffy937]

I was recently in Brattleboro visiting friends and thought what a beautiful town! They had a vibrant downtown and beautifully maintained historic homes. I really didn’t see anything I would refer to as a slum.

[@NickJohnson]

That's the point

[@poopsitoutgaming7575]

We hide it well. Beautification is big in Vermont. Don't fix the problems, paint it up and make it look good so people don't notice how bad it is.

[@jaketwomey7924]

Hang out for a few. See what catches your eye.

[@jaketwomey7924]

@@poopsitoutgaming7575 brilliant statement. The rest of the people on the comment thread could stand to listen to you. I know from experience.

[@juliaa.johnson6877]

Guess you skipped the co-op where the overdosing, passing out panhandlers huddled.

[@cmdaniels1986]

My family is from Vermont. Groton Vermont to be exact. Poverty is insane. My grandparents bought their house in 1945, and passed away in it for 2013. Some of my best memories are summers in Vermont.

[@draines9237]

​@@SSNESSthat's a fact you mind as well include Pennsylvania while you at it.

[@cmdaniels1986]

​@@draines9237lol.... I'm from PA.... Haha

[@draines9237]

@@cmdaniels1986 I'm not lying am I lol

[@cmdaniels1986]

@@draines9237 funny, I. Moved here from middle of nowhere Appalachia so my city of 15000 feels massive

[@seano79]

My family is from Groton too. My Dad used to call it rotten Groton the windy city. When I was a kid he'd tell me not to say that near my older relatives they wouldn't like it lol

[@Bestcabinetmaker]

I have owned a second home in Vermont for 30 years. It is run by communists (think Bernie Sanders). Vermont is extremely business unfriendly, literally fighting businesses from coming in. Travel over into New Hampshire and find boom towns, full of businesses and crowded downtowns. The parking lots are filled with Vermont cars, for jobs and for shopping. Go back into Vermont and find poverty and drugs, vacant storefronts and dollar stores. Vermont is beautiful, safe, quiet, and rural. Great place for a second home.

[@bexxISM]

VT isn't run by communists LOL. While Bernie is a Democratic Socialist (think Norway, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland etc) BUT living here for 35 years I have more Rep Governors than Democrats. The Progressive movement is strong here and influences both sides.

[@texjeep]

Please go read an 8th grade social studies textbook. Learn the difference between socialism, communism, and democracy. Bernie Sanders advocates for a Democratic Socialist form of governing. You know - like the most successful and civilized countries in the world.

[@kellyastleford1169]

Fun fact - the capitol of Vermont is not Burlington. It is Montpelier. Drugs are a big issue, but people are leaving for more than lack of work. The state government is basically little California due to the influx of out of staters. The affordable prices drew people leaving populated areas in during covid which caused a housing crisis and inflated prices. This has driven out the native Vermonters. It's one of the few states that tax your social security. The property taxes are also high. Home fuel oil is very high as well. In many towns/counties the building lot requirements make it very difficult to get permitted to build. Many towns defunded police which has assisted in rising theft/drugs/violence. This used to be a conservative (fiscally and politically) state where neighbors looked out for neighbors. That is long gone.

[@KyleTrimbach-ih5bx]

I don’t think VT has *ever* been politically conservative

[@texjeep]

@@sarahhudock No, It was Republican. Back when Republicans were the liberals before the 60s. Educate yourself sweety.

[@RichieAnderson_57-q8x]

So how can one say I moved here starting fresh any suggestions lol ?

[@azdrifter3968]

Looks nice. But also depressing. The cold mixed with nothing to do can be a brutal combination. I learned that living outside a small town in the forests of Northern Arizona. I started losing it after a few years, one day I just hopped in my car with some clothes and drove away.

[@sitdowndogbreath]

I had to leave too like nothing ever changes and is very frustrating especially in the progressive city like Burlington still nothing changed

[@TheHamburgler123]

Hence why so many young people leave. The states with the highest median age are: Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

[@stephendacey8761]

@@sitdowndogbreathYou can always head to Montreal if you want nightlife.

[@lovelysosweet8386]

Yesss! Depressing

[@sitdowndogbreath]

@@stephendacey8761 Yeah but they don't like us over there we don't speak the proper French

[@wdh47211]

Horrible stuff going on in Vermont's slums.......people turning tricks for maple syrup and ski sweaters with Nordic motifs......horrible to see....God help them. Help them soon.

[@brandonohara4122]

Shits real in them streets 😂 Christmas carrols could play over this video and it'd fit

[@davyrockxx1563]

😂😂😂

[@AngelloDelNorte]

All those jaywalking your Whitx homeboys that do in ghetto Vermont (or northeast ghettos), I'll tell you. So horrible! Let's not forget all the driveby snowball throwing... those poor children will get a cold. All those shopping cart not being put back in their cart holders, how cruel. Such vicious and aggressive thugs they have over there...

[@heiltecn9ne]

@AngelloDelNorte if only they were cool enough to use real guns and be “real thugs” aka fatherless children.

[@jomama5186]

That is cute

[@racon4884]

One of only four states in the country to ban billboards

[@pbandjgrl]

I’ve lived here for two years and never noticed until I read this. I love it here.

[@gabrielgaidos7015]

VT bans everything

[@kateflies3930]

Oh, those nasty Liberals!

[@ddubiejr]

Which is how you can tell that the opening driving shot isn't actually Vermont. 🙄

[@4tranVault]

And Wal Marts lmao

[@SaratogaontheAT]

Vermont is the Heroin Capital of the U.S. In part because there are major interstates on the westside, eastside and southside of the state. These highways present easy access for dealers and buyers to major cities like Boston, MA., New York City and Albany thru Buffalo, NY.

[@blakebailey-jd3eu]

I lived in Brattleboro from February 2022- February 2023 and you are spot on about everything for the area. My family would come to visit me and they didn’t like the areas at all. Sometimes in downtown Brattleboro I would get approached by the drug addicted locals asking for money. There would be “dealings” outside my apartment complex. Vermont has difficultly with finding “housing” for someone to rent. It took me almost 4 months to find the apartment complex I stayed in.

[@kpokpojiji]

Nick- small correction- Montpelier is the capitol of Vermont, not Burlington. Burlington is the largest city.

[@TheAwetist802]

Came here to say this!!

[@basiax5928]

@@TheAwetist802 Me too!

[@keithbaker944]

That's a pretty big correction actually. Lol

[@lockandloadlikehell]

capital* speaking of small corrections

[@Styxhexenhammer666]

Vermonts' most well known living figure outside of Bernie Sanders here: Good video. But there are a couple points I'd make: Our state capitol is Montpelier, not Burlington. Also, Barre is arguably worse than Brattleboro. Trailer park at 1:03 is that just outside Woodstock? hahahahahaha, seen it a thousand times. Grew up in Woodstock. Overrated, but definitely scenic.

[@keithbalke6352]

Surprised to see you HERE Styx! I may be the only viewer who is familiar with your ch lol

[@NOLAgenX]

Make that two.

[@robin_graves561]

Styx!!! I just posted a comment about you. I was greatly disappointed to see that you weren't the guest. Hahaha

[@CRSD60I]

I talked to a native Vermonter awhile ago and he said New Yorkers and Bostonians have changed the once great state in too many negative ways. Seems like your trip validated his point. Keep up the good work.

[@radiation0111]

I've heard that when I lived in VT 30 years ago.

[@craftydusty]

Years ago, New Jersey.had that reputation.

[@TonyG_VT]

Yes there is that element. I moved here in 2004 and things are different. In 2004 I saw the anti flat lander bumper stickers and signs on houses. The out of staters try to change all the traditions such as target shooting in your backyard and hunting rules.

[@makklawrence2243]

Rutland is worse, Burlington has worse neighborhoods but is generally better. There’s not enough housing.

[@Grimmtht]

Grew up in Vermont. One of the kids I knew in high school went to jail for killing a homeless man who peed on his tent, a bunch of other kids are now small town farmers hooked on drugs. People do drugs in Vermont because there is NOTHING TO DO other than hike and there is no way to climb the working ladder. Hence why I left. Rutland is the worst, locals call it "Rutvegas". My mother works for a mental health organization in Rutland... and man, the stuff she's seen. A lot of problems stay hidden since Vermont is so rural and people generally keep to themselves.

[@MrReymoclif714]

Locals know each other!

[@oldies1831]

I live here and I fucking hate this shit hole farm state. All you can do is smoke weed, go outside and eventually become an alcoholic.

[@astrahcat1212]

Vermont is SAFE, even the worst place is fine.

[@lucianaromulus1408]

Demographics...

[@madness198648]

Pretty much

[@lucianaromulus1408]

@notbobtekk for now, isn't Michigan full of them or does MI not get the same weather lol

[@NaturalUsername]

@@notbobtekk based

[@garyharnish2395]

Always wanted to see Brattleboro. I hear there is a great music scene.

[@blakemauney]

Although I lean way more conservative in my perspectives, I still find Vermont lovely. The quaintness, the small-town feel, the mom-and-pop establishments all capture an ideal feeling that I personally love.

[@MrRezillo]

I'm the same way. As a conservative I was more and more out of place there, but I loved the ambience. You may not know, but Vermont was once a Republican stronghold. Then all the flatlanders moved in from places south and the politics changed.

[@jedipanda333]

I agree

[@benjammin4247]

There are PLENTY of conservatives minds in Vermont. I spent five years there and I am in NO WAY a lefty. The guy interviewed is a teacher; what does that tell you? It's all in who you choose to associate with. Vermont is actually quite purple in many ways.

[@gingerk784]

I feel exactly the same. I think it boils down to the mostly rural, small town way of living. People are decent and it feels incredibly safe even though anyone can carry a gun. I’ve travelled around the state a few times from Australia and absolutely love it, but Mansfield for me wins most beautiful town hands down! Stratton and Killington too great fun.

[@MrRezillo]

@@gingerk784 Here's an anecdote: I had to take my kitty to get fixed by a woman vet who lived way out in the country. She told me: "you can pick him up at five. I'll leave him in a crate on the porch. I won't be here, so just leave the check under the door mat". That's Vermont for you.

[@brendaz9222]

I always laugh when I hear, there is nothing for young people to do, like they can't entertain themselves. Generations before them did not need "something to do , there was plenty of chores to keep them busy and they also had creativity and Imagination during free time, something young people today lack!

[@johnafagerquist8235]

Seriously, I'm glad it makes you laugh. It annoys me to the point of vomiting! Entitled, unimaginative, weak, sheople who should just head off to the arm pit of America, which is California, and stay there; there's something "to do" on every block, downtown. For work, they could always shovel the human feces from people's driveways. I hear there's a growing problem with that.

[@p.stephens9305]

Dang right

[@colossicus555]

Or there's a lack of third places and it makes life lack community

[@kendallsmith1458]

Those darn kids these days...

[@zedrockiby]

Such a cliched boomer comment that I’m actually unsure if you’re joking or not

[@patrickgiroux7596]

I was born and grew up in Vermont. The last time I was there I was left questioning thier "environmental strategies " the Lowell Mountains, which were a favorite deer and turkey hunting spot for me and many of my friends have had their tops clear cut,and they erected windmills. Just who's environment are they concerned about? The number of eagles, hawks, falcons and other migratory birds killed each year up there is criminal. Just thinking about it makes me sick to my stomach. Not to mention all of the other animals that were displaced .

[@Grogu-485]

That's Democrats policies make no sense

[@blackened872]

And it ruined the beautiful scenery! One of the most beautiful highway drives in New England and they ruin it with those hideous monstrosities.

[@growmance2191]

Hello i am Brittany I am a Native Vermonter from Rutland County its in centeral vermont its gone to crap since the Covid pandemic as drugs got worse then ever .Their a stabbing or shooting that happens almost every weekend . The people who where in my high school most left or ended up cought up in the drug pandemic . Rutland is nickenamed Rut Vegas. Woodstock got a really nice Master Gardeners club and during the summer its gorgous their they put alot of love and care into their gardens if i ever win the powerball or lottery i plan on moving their and leaving Rutland Country to be with fellow gardeners .

[@rcdriver107]

Vermont residents with college degrees having primary and secondary jobs at the same time means that college degree is near worthless. This is true for all other states too. Read “The College Scam” book by Charlie Kirk. Colleges and universities are supposed to let people earn their way to reliable middle class or above, but this is shamefully not real life at all…..

[@TheHamburgler123]

Degrees aren't useful if you live in a place with a very narrow range of industries to work in. Vermont just doesn't have much in the way of opportunities, which is why most of the young people leave and why it has the third highest median age of all the states.

[@JohnSmith-mc2zz]

Or you could watch a KZbin video about it and not waste money and brain space on such a terrible guy.

[@chriskelly509]

The guy in the interview sounds like he just needs to start applying for other jobs out of state. It always baffles me when people stay in a state that they can't afford to live in while having a bachelor's degree or master's degree...

[@mattp4079]

If your BA degree is in Interpretive Dance or Gender Studies, you've pigeonholed yourself.

[@cowboyofscience7611]

@@mattp4079 Lot's of Bachelor of Arts in "Medieval Basket Weaving" out there too!

[@mm669]

@@mattp4079 Or biotech, you are stuck where the hubs are.

[@manueltapia1859]

It happens sometimes and more when is a related job with a lot of applicants interested in it. Apologize for the english a little rusty hehe.

[@PorkChopJones]

Exactly! If I had a BA you would not find me delivering food or working at the local gas station just to make ends meet. He needs to move he doesn't realize that he is being used, by the liberal system that he so dearly praises.

[@dr5910]

My parents live in New Hampshire on the Vermont border. Property tax is really high, $6000 for a $200,000 home. No jobs except tourism. You're either rich retired New Yorkers or poor locals. It's really Appalachia North. Beautiful area but you can't live off scenery

[@johngarbarini1048]

That`s right- you either have a $100/hour job, or a $8/hour job. No more middle class.

[@olbenny4027]

That's funny, because my $25 an hour job was pretty average when I was looking for a job a month ago. If you aren't completely incompetent, there's plenty of jobs outside of tourism. Getting a bit dramatic.

[@eugenehatin.420]

@@olbenny4027let me guess you work construction or painting

[@garybryant6148]

Thank you for the video of Vermont. I saw some of the most beautiful homes.

[@cweakley]

If you have trade skills - carpentry, plumbing, electrical, HVAC - you can find work in Vermont. As the guest said, the problem is finding a place to rent.

[@tj921able]

Just because a place looks nice doesn't mean it is a nice place to live. Thank you for sharing this. God Bless You & stay safe.

[@scott-gy6fe]

Hi Nick, I grew up in Dover NH and the town was 300 years old in the 1970s. It had 2 stoplights back then. Now it is an artsy fantasy Microbrewery town with pay to park anywhere you might want to park. We had a mountain home in Gilford NH and ski area was 2.5 miles away! What a place to call home before moving to DC suburbs.

[@stephendacey8761]

Been to Hampton Beach many times. It's so different than the beaches out west.

[@artphotognh]

VT has the highest level of cloud cover of any state, and it's northern latitude means the number of hours of sunlight each day is far less than a southern state gets. Add these 2 things together & you begin to see why the suicide rate in VT is extremely high - it's incredibly depressing to go months & only see the sun once or twice.

[@celticsfaninthedesert4778]

Interesting fact on the cloud cover. It’s funny I moved from this area to AZ which I have to assume is the furthest on the opposite end of the spectrum

[@Tikitackfouls]

​@@celticsfaninthedesert4778yeah, some of you have also moved to Texas

[@celticsfaninthedesert4778]

@@Tikitackfouls are you one of those little 🐱’s that cries anytime someone from out of state moves to your neighborhood?

[@TheHamburgler123]

​@@TikitackfoulsI could say the same for all the TX people moving to CO. People move, man. There's nothing you can do to stop it. Let it go.

[@mattcorriere9039]

I live in Alaska, you want to talk about cloud cover. Vermont, I'm in the north east and cloudy with some snow. Alaska, hold my beer 😂

[@PatPyott]

Burlington is NOT the capital of Vermont ! Montpelier is! Do your research. Also, Brattleboro is a point of destination for many people. It has a school for circus arts, beautiful large new CO-OP with fresh produce, businesses like “Against the Grain”. Also, events, ie: a parade and festival called, “The March of the Heifers”, beautiful Main Street with Galleries, restored historical movie theater, and fabulous restaurants. Vermonters are friendly, generous. As with any town, there are pockets where poverty exists… IF YOU LOOK FOR IT ! As a country, we have to do something about it. It’s far more extensive than Brattleboro. (BTW, the only “Brattleboro” in the country).

[@finance7120]

Great video! As a New York City person living in Wilmington (Southern Vermont) off and on for 10 years everything seems to be in slow motion in Vermont.

[@timothymartin664]

no one can heat those big old houses. remember birth control was not invented until the sixties. they build four and five bedroom homes. in the thirties.

[@celticsfaninthedesert4778]

All they build now is 4-6 bedroom houses 😂

[@mattcorriere9039]

House sizes on average have gotten much bigger since the advent of the bill. I would guess that there was a time that the wealthiest people in town lived on the main roads.

[@653j521]

The pill wasn't but there was latex for the men before that.

[@grumpyoldlady_rants]

I love Vermont! I visited Woodstock when I was there a few years ago. It’s so beautiful!

[@WilliamtheWorst]

The streets run brown with the blood of Maples...

[@ernestbroch3824]

boiled it's thicker than water

[@darklylit595]

I don’t believe I have gone anywhere people are willing to admit they are wrong about their political views.

[@kailey1627]

Lifelong Vermonter here and I have to agree about St.albans!I’ve lived here for 5 years and it’s a great town. I think the only thing it needs is some sort of indoor play place for kids, the nearest one is a 30 minute drive.

[@johnafagerquist8235]

Going out on a limb... You filmed those snowmobilers getting gas at the Bridgewater corner store, at the junction of rt's 4 and 100a. Super place! It's been there my whole life. Did I mention I love Vermont?

[@cristinamason6593]

I was thinking of relocating to Vermont. I’m a single mom of two daughters and I’m a middle school math teacher. Plus, I already own a Subaru!! 😂

[@blapril754]

As a transplant, I welcome you. another Subaru owner.

[@davidleonard4925]

I drive a Toyota but I think you and your daughters would have a very happy life here in VT.

[@peterhyrax8748]

You would have no problem finding work almost anywhere in the state, but salaries vary WIDELY.

[@eurodoc6343]

Brattelboro also gets a bad rep because the state's only in-patient psych hospital is located there. There's some spill over into the town itself.

[@GregSmith-jd7zm]

Great review. I attended Norwich University from 1982 to 1986 (graduation) in Northfield, VT. Vermont was cold and gray, but people were friendly and I enjoyed it totally. The main complaint that I hear now is that Vermont taxes people's retirement income, so that's kind of a disincentive towards retiring there. Who knows, maybe I'll live there part time when I retire.

[@JannaJarvis]

I live here in Brattleboro,you didn't mention the mental health issue,there is also BRATTLEBORO RETREAT,and this location being on Massachusetts and New York borders is where the drugs come from.its actually very hard for recovering addicts and mentally ill to get ahead ANYWHERE

[@HailCaesar-lm4bq]

With drugs comes theft and crime

[@fredericperrin3279]

For an almost entirely rural state, VT is actually quite wealthy and beautiful. If you look at most socio-economic indicators, VT is close to the top in most rankings. VT's "worst areas" are far far less bad that most of upstate NY. It has issues like most states, but some of them are imported for other nearby states (e.g NH provides little support to drug addicts, so they go to VT to get help).

[@NickJohnson]

You literally just summed up my video

[@Burton1973]

Most native Vermonters are in poverty. The wealth you see here is from rich out of staters moving here driving up the cost of living. So us native Vermonters are forced to struggle while you sip on hot cider. And the drug issue... lol That too is mostly from out of staters. Mostly from New York and Mass coming here to sell, because its harder for them to get caught. Dont come here. Dont ruin the last good state in America. Sorry. I was born here 50 years ago. It was the most amazing place on earth. Thanks to rich people, Its turning to garbage. I do really enjoy your KZbin videos btw. Ty for posting them.

[@sauroid1]

You've never been to Bellow's Falls, Vt, it makes Brattleboro look like Paris, France. My close friends are from 7th generation Brattleboro stock and they left this year for Massachusetts. You can't walk safely through downtown Brattleboro at night. The homeless stake out supermarket parking lots to aggressively panhandle, not to mention ATMs. The police department is seriously short staffed, and few are applying. Brattleboro has great shops, restaurants, and cultural offerings and is surrounded by beauty. Drugs and inflated housing costs are strangling our country.

[@Saaf62]

Bellows Falls is actually a very sweet town. Great mixed community of artists, working class and white collar workers. A movie theater, good restaurants nearby, bookstore, hardware store, galleries. Coffee shops with live music. In brattleboro, however, you can't walk down the street with out stepping over ten homeless people. Men and women begging all around. Many of the main stores closed down. It still has a good heart, but it's in rough shape.

[@JohnSmith-mc2zz]

A Vermonter's idea of dangerous is being asked too aggressively for money. In all fairness that does sound crappy.

[@Arcadian1821]

I'm from the Springfield Massachusetts area and spent much time skiing in Vermont. Brattlelboro has been falling appart for decades.

[@williamdavidson9009]

State capital is not Burlington it is Montpelier. Brattleboro is not a city, there are no cities south of Rutland. There are not many good jobs here because the State is not business friendly especially when compared to neighboring New Hampshire. A big problem with the cost of living is that the price of housing is driven by the second home market. Nearly 1/4 of the property in southern VT is owned by folks who are not residents. They drive the prices up as well as taking up housing that would otherwise be used but instead is only used a few weeks a year.

[@highvibee]

Love listening to you, Nick! Keep doing your thing 💗 Damn big houses they have in Brattleboro, it must be expensive to warm up in the winter.

[@CherylRuzzo]

Many have been turned into apartments. Very few that you saw in the video are still truly single family homes. The ones in Manchester are. I did home health nursing in all of these towns. The houses are great old houses that have been turned into pretty cool apartments, usually at least 2 or 3 families live in them.

[@highvibee]

@@CherylRuzzo Ooh good to know 👍

[@katebarker1983]

Very interesting Nick! Thank you! I’ve always been curious about what Vermont was like. I’d heard that Vermont, and Oregon were similar. This answered many questions for me! I sure appreciate what you do!

[@johnafagerquist8235]

VT and OR are similar, in one way, they're both north of the equator. A main difference I've noticed is there have been quite a few less big-time serial killers in VT; heck, in the northeast in general. Just sayin'

[@katebarker1983]

@@johnafagerquist8235 Lol 😂 That IS true! Oregon is the land of serial killers!

[@genew5758]

Vermont and Oregon are similar in that both states are pretty friendly and liberal on controversial issues. Cost of living may be a little bit higher in Oregon than VT. There are more job opportunities in major Oregon cities than cities in VT.

[@katebarker1983]

@@genew5758 Thank you! I wondered which had more job availability. I have a friend who was thinking of moving from Oregon to Vermont.

[@elizabethturel78]

Was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. Absolutely beautiful rivers, mountains and massive greenspaces and parks, however it’s gone to 💩. Homelessness is so rampant I cannot even explain. So left liberal it’s off the cliff. Don’t bother with a license plate, the police don’t take the time to stop you. Theft, crime, murder, blah, blah, blah is fearful. The weather is not bad like Vermont at all though; 40 inches average rainfall in PDX. It used to be a hidden gem here. Visit first before you decide my best advice. I’m too poor to move. The Oregon coast is superb. No jobs there though.

[@haley2684]

Need a Rhode Island or Maine video from you soon! Vermont is one of my favorite places, but it definitely has its flaws. Great video as always, Nick!

[@turneim]

There is a substantial economy in Vermont where people make a good living. These include MANY workers (13:50) that are truly remote: attorneys, copyrighters, marketers, coders, traders, advisors, and many people relocating to establish retirement artisan businesses. Those are typically custom woodworking / cabinetry / cheese / etc. Vermont is the GREEN mountain state, as it has plenty of GREEN$$$. It is true, there aren't too many businesses stamping out car parts, fiberglass bathtubs, but there is timber and some other business.

[@Rags2Itches]

My sister and her husband bought land in VT years ago and built their own home outside a small town 15 minutes away Bellows Falls. On visits I've seen homeless teens trying to find shelter in the Winter. No one in that area wants a Shelter for that. I've seen the homes of the very poor too. Both my sister and husband each work a job and lots of over time to get by. They are also musicians so that helps too. Did you know that Vermont has a View Tax on property? Yep. Springfield, VT is lovely with it's river and houses but it's been ravaged by drugs and crime too. When my Mother was in the Nursing home, the nurses warned us about some workers REMOVING fenatnyl patches off patients!! So they could suck on them. We were horrified. Thankfully Mom never needed them even when she was moved to Hospice. Vermont is gorgeous to visit, and we thought about moving there, but not any longer due to high costs and political BS. Out of state drivers on their highways are a nightmare, mostly NY, CT and MA drivers with a sprinkling of NJ tossed into the mix.

[@bobbyisrandom]

Alec seems like a really kind, bright Vermonter. Really cool guy, enjoyed the interview.

[@kevinkier6790]

Thanks Nick for doing what you do. I enjoy your side kicks and the interviews.

[@shellyseats5630]

I stayed in Brattleboro while I did a 13 week travel nurse job in Keene NH. I loved it. I would have never thought it was remotely bad. I live in East Tennessee so it was a nice change for me. Btw I stayed in the Black Bear Lodge and I paid 485 a week for 1 room but I had 2 dogs and it's was a nice clean safe place

[@sforrest10]

Hey! Come do an assignment in Burlington VT at the UVM Medical Center! Level 1 trauma center with great patient ratios. Housing is very difficult to find (I’m assuming similar to what you found in southern VT/NH) but it’s possible. A lot of our travelers have extended because they’ve enjoyed it so much.

[@teejmart1159]

@shellyseats5630 Tennessee is much nicer than Vermont trust me

[@divingduck9]

if u like backwards bigoted biblethumpers who love whiskey & guns & dont know the difference between good weed & delta8crap. lower taxes in tenn though for sure @@teejmart1159

[@sunlite9759]

Vermont thrived on low energy prices in the 60's. Big houses need a lot of fuel to heat. It's too damn cold in Vermont. The largest industry in Vermont is tourism, especially skiing, even that is losing ground. It priced itself out of business.

[@timsanborn1181]

Right on point Nick Johnson. I used to live in Brattleboro I moved there in 2005 back then it was very nice quite country like. But then drug addicits who were homeless began to move in. Brattleboro became dangerous and over ridden by drug dealers and addicts. The Brattleboro Police are courrput and the worst officers get promoted. When I moved from Brattleboro there was 2 murders at the same place.

[@cowboyofscience7611]

As a Southerner, it probably sounds weird to hear me say Vermont is one of my favorite places in America. It's beautiful. The only bad thing is that people in Vermont don't have any good ol' Southern charm or friendliness. I'm an Introvert and I'm friendlier than most of the people I met there. Ah, well...ya can't have everything....

[@robinholbrook8296]

They have less daylight up north. Sunshine makes people happier

[@beepbop6697]

An introvert doesn't care if other people are mean or friendly or whatever -- because an introvert goes out of their way to avoid interacting with strangers.

[@cowboyofscience7611]

@@beepbop6697 You really should check the definition of "introvert." It does not mean what you think it means.

[@jonlouis2582]

They're fine, they just aren't fake friendly like Southerners. If you need something they would give you the shirt off their backs. I lived there for five years, they just need to get to know you.

[@cowboyofscience7611]

@@jonlouis2582 You have mischaracterized Southerners. We are not all "fake-friendly" as you say. Some, but hardly most---and certainly not ALL! Besides, the reason people in the South are "nice" is because we are all "Packing Heat!" (Even most of our women)

[@krisstarring]

I saw your videos on the poorest community in West Virginia which I believe was the poorest community of the United States and it looked almost Third World compared to much of the country and the poorest community in Vermont still looks better than some of the poorest communities near me here in metro Atlanta, Georgia. Not that problems don't exist in Vermont, but it is hard to "believe" just by looking at it. I think Vermont is just too "expensive" for most ordinary people.

[@MrRezillo]

Wow, my former town, Brattleboro! We lived there for 24 years, left in 2018. I've driven around these streets many times. Thanks for the vid, Nick. FYI, we moved to the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State; couldn't take the cold winters and the hot summers any more. I'll have a few more things to say later. Brattleboro is near the border with Mass. - and near Holyoke, MA, a notorious drug "depot". That's why the drug problem keeps getting worse.

[@1MinuteFlipDoc]

Olympic Peninsula is BOOMING! So many people moving there ...

[@MrRezillo]

@@1MinuteFlipDoc Yeah, I see houses going up like mushrooms since we moved here 5 years ago. They ain't cheap either. I'm not sure that's a good thing; I guess it is, because most people moving to Port Townsend are well healed and far from poor. That increases the the tax base. There are drugs and crime here but not much; homeless is near non-existent. My wife and I are retired, and we picked a good spot to land in.

[@jeffersonjohns6397]

One of Brattleboro’s greatest issues are the disproportionate numbers of drug addicts. Ultimately, those drug addicts commit offenses in an attempt to support their “habit”. People do worry if they’ll be the next victim.

[@DragonflySigns]

I always thought I would wind up living in Vermont… It's such a beautiful state. My friend recently moved up to Burlington area from here in NJ, and she loves it but the worst thing about living there is not being able to really find a doctor. It takes months to see a doctor, which I find incredible... especially considering it's a city. If it's difficult there, it must be even worse in other areas of the state.

[@dannyornelas9914]

I grew up in a very small town in the Champlain islands. Vermont is a special state where the politics don’t match the setting, but it works out in a beautiful way. I remember one time they shut down the whole county because somebody robbed a house. I wouldn’t move back to my home state but that doesn’t mean it’s not one of the best places in the country. The people there are some of the best you’ll ever meet. It still has its old New England charm to it that many other states surrounding it are starting to lose. My family has been in Vermont before America was a country. Back when it was a frontier land.

[@ainslie187]

North Hero? Why are you opposed to living in Vermont again? I'm curious because I'm interested in moving to the state.

[@dannyornelas9914]

@@ainslie187 South Hero actually. I don't have family there anymore and there's not a lot going on economically. It's not totally out of the realm of possibility though.

[@raymondbyczko]

Vermont is one of my favorite areas in the United States! In an earlier epoch, we would travel up there from southern Connecticut, and marvel how everything was different, but in a positive way! There was no trash on the ground or on the sides of streets. Very few police were present, presumably because of the very low crime rate. And it seemed everything was relatively unguarded. We would pull into hardware store lots, during very early a.m. hours, on the way to our fishing spot, and everything seemed to be unlocked. Burlington was a lot less developed back then too. Back in the day, Vermont folk would say how they would leave their houses unlocked, which is something we would not even try in southern New England. Now, I have heard that many wealthy are buying into Vermont (for second or third homes), and essentially pricing out the locals, who are less well off in general. This seems to have occurred in the last 10 or 15 years. Also, circa about ten years ago, I remember hearing a public radio broadcast that the entire state was vulnerable regarding historic preservation. Overdevelopment in the more fashionable areas of the state is having an impact, and not always for the good. More and more, over the years, I saw 'private property' signs appear, as the new comers became more exclusionary. I wonder what the housing prices were before the 'wealth invasion'. I bet they reflected the general economy, and were much lower. Brattleboro is one of my semi-regular destinations for a day trip. Enough diversity of food, and there are art galleries in town, and easy parking. Sams, an outdoor shop, is wonderful, carrying everything for the nature enthusiast. The housing there can be a little old and need of update, but there is an authenticity and charm to it also. Years ago, Brattleboro had a youth center, to provide the young a safe place to hang out. 'Everyone's Books' is a charming independent bookstore in town. Over ten years ago, I went snow camping with the Green Mountain Club. Always bring your own stove if you want your hot cocoa sooner than later! As your interview alluded to, the main problem in the entire state (except perhaps Montpelier and Burlington) is employment. Years ago, I heard anyone residing there probably needs multiple part-time jobs to get by, and some of them are tourist. Historically, and into the present, do not underestimate that little state. I think prior to incorporation into the Union, they were their own republic. The state produced the Green Mountain Boys - per their name - don't mess with them! They helped capture Fort Ticonderoga from the British. The state also produced Joseph Smith, who started the Mormon religion. To conclude, the place has its own path, which is really cool! As you head north, you will see the signs become bilingual, in English and French, being so near the Quebec border. You know you are in a juxtaposition of many different worlds when you see that, which I find entirely fascinating. I just hope all the money coming in doesn't ruin the place. If it does, northern Maine anyone???

[@Pylypczak]

Your exactly right. E.g. A Cambell Soup heiress buys a huge town property remodels etc and now all the mom and pops who lived there all there life must move . The fact that it was unspoiled packed in the wealthy people and now native generational Vermonters have to give up their property due to taxes…. Dont get me started onn NYers who want to wreck it with condos

[@caltrask130]

I have driven through some of the towns you featured for the fall foliage in late September and early October. It really is spectacular. The mountains and hills are very green and lush in the summer. It always seemed like there were nice places to eat or have coffee. A lot of nice small breweries were scattered throughout the state as well. Really, a state everyone should visit for a relaxing getaway. Perhaps some of the locals on the ski slopes didn't care for the out of staters. I met business owners that relied on people coming into the state for winter sports to keep them afloat for the year. I'll add, just passing through multiple times over the years, and also knowing people that live there currently, I never had any sense of their politics one way or the other. Living there may be another matter for some. it seemed to me out of staters money really helped the local economies.

[@johnafagerquist8235]

Well said! I'm an out of stater who's spent much time in VT over the last fifty plus years and, aside from the TV news telling me, I would have no idea, whatsoever, what VT people's political leanings were.

[@facewrinkles3886]

With the small land mass, development seems tough. I hope VT works that issue out. Maybe some service industry that isn't really there (I have no idea).

[@692ALBANNACH]

Hoping to see the Stratford Inn and the Minuteman Cafe. Always enjoyed my trips to Vermont.

[@warthogA10]

Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine were all once nice and calm places to live... back in the 70s, "maybe" early 80s, until there was a sharp increase of Massachusetts residents relocating to those states, mostly within their southern regions. And ever since they've all continually gone downhill.

[@TheJulesLilly]

Massholes is the word you're looking for😂

[@TheTaoistdragon]

I’ve lived in VT for 34 years. It’s not as liberal as it’s made out to be. I don’t know a single person who likes Bernie Sanders and everyone I know voted for our republican governor. VT is more of a red state with islands of blue throughout. It really depends where you live. The cost of living is insane. Between taxes, heating costs, little to no available housing, low wages, and weather, it’s one of the hardest places to live in the country. But…..that is also what makes it such a great place to live. Less people, less crime, less pollution, less problems. It ain’t easy living. Paradise comes at a cost.

[@OldHeathen1963]

So you've lived in a state that has the second or third smallest population in the nation, for 30 some years, have never met a person who has voted for Sanders, and he has been in elected office since the 1980s 🤔 Talk about living under a ( granite ) rock!

[@catherineconnolly2722]

Vermont is a liberal hotbed ! What are you talking about? Our so called Republican Governor is a RINO with no backbone . Our state legislature has a Supermajority that leans Progressive/ Democratic and the reason for out of control taxes and uber liberal laws. It wasn’t always the case there was a time VT was considered conservative. The people were always independent thinkers, just read about the Ethan Allen boys, and how Vermont became a state. It’s a shame what Bernie and his elk did to Vermont.

[@Joemama..]

I was in There just a few days ago. It honestly feels like it has more in common with Canada. The worst town in Vermont would probably be an average city in the rest of the US

[@Grabthattass]

Brattleboro is a great place it’s so artsy

[@veneratlazulum2033]

Battleboro seems almost Canadian in the winter, but "granola" in the summer when I drove through. It had a liberal energy there, but not in the way the coasts do. It reminds me of the liberal parts of the city I grew up in.

[@rags3901]

Look at the prevailing political climate in Vermont…then look at the towns and their problems as far as poverty, lack of motivation, etc are concerned….you can clearly see the connection and “ root cause” which is the remedy thing so many like to discuss!! A family member lived in Vermont for about a year for work…couldn’t wait until his contract ended!! The people he met, by and large did not have any interest in much besides trying to figure out how to get maximum into their checks from the state…no interest in the arts, current events, discussions about the economy or politics…no interest in seeing the real world…just their own skewed perception of reality…it was actually frightening to think these are people who are voting without any real, grounded knowledge of what they’re doing…and no interest in broadening their lives in any way…this is not an exaggeration…just sad reality.

[@franciscoguillermojauregui6725]

Thanks for the video. I studied English as a second language in Wallinford, close to Rutland and I think it was a wonderful time. But this was long time ago.

[@craftydusty]

Love Wallingford!

[@Rushmore222]

Vermont has the distinction of having the smallest capital city in the US, kinda by a long shot. Montpelier's population in 2020 was ~ 8K.

[@jeremiahallyn4603]

Wow, I didn't know that. I mean their biggest "city" has barely 40K people. That's more like a large town.

[@exelmans8855]

Damn, the real Montpellier, in France, got more population…

[@anotherheadlessdemo]

Woodstock is not like the rest of Vermont . Saying that St Albans, Rutland and Brattleboro are kind of alike is not accurate either.

[@yahooskip]

Well, we love and visit VT pretty regularly. If it was warmer then here in Central Maine area, we would have moved to VT a long time ago

[@djentlegiant739]

I like that your opening footage is of you driving through East Hoosick, New York.

[@johngifford6248]

One thing the fellow from Milton missed is the income sensitivity on the homestead property taxes. The state helps keep the education portion of the property taxes lower for households with income under about $135K. And as a resident of Milton, he is right you have to leave town to shop. I’m retired in Milton myself, well semi-retired.

[@loralarose9615]

That a lot of money I make a year and we one house about 30,000 me my husband to probably and we can ge pay bill I buy the food

[@jj-py9kf]

​@loralarose9615 what?

[@woowoochuggachugga]

The only people who consider Brattleboro to be in Vermont are the people in Brattleboro. The further north you live in Vermont, the further north the Massachusetts border is. From my perspective, Rt. 2 is the Mass border. I love your description of Vermont and her people. Spot On!! If you need help researching the Kingdom for a client, let me know. Purchasing a house in Vermont is very tricky. Every square mile is unique both socially and meteorologically. For example, I live in a snowbelt. It will literally snow from a clear blue sky at my house. Another example, the stretch of Rt 2 between Cabot and Marshfield creates its own weather. A very harsh valley to live in. Another example: Stannard Mtn Rd from Greensboro Bend to Lyndonville is called the Heroin Highway by the locals. I could go on and on. ❤

[@mikedrown2721]

My father was born in Derby Vermont in 1916 and grandmother in 1891 in Derby also 😊

[@TheWinterShadow]

I lived in Brattleboro for several years. No high paying jobs unless you are in education. Never heard of anyone calling out a bad section in 'Brat'. It's beautiful there in Spring (after mud season) during Summer and of course Fall which is both nostalgic and stunning. Vermont has an enduring, quiet, magical charm while struggling economically.

[@squashtomato7803]

Sad it’s just too hard to buy a home in Vermont. Both my sons looked into it. Decided on NH instead

[@haveyoutried369]

I drove through the worst part of Vermont and I found a naked man named Fast Eddy at the river with his little Chihuahua, Paco. He offered me a hit from his giant bong and said that this was Paco's favorite swimming hole. I drove through the worst part of Vermont and I got zooted. Is Fast Eddy Vermont's mascot? Must be.

[@802Rips]

No but he runs a ice cream shop in Brattleboro on Putney road or at least did when I lived there growing up