REAL RUTLAND TRAVELS WEST
I recently traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah for the Outdoor Retailer Snow Show as a representative of Real Rutland and Come Alive Outside, a non-profit headquartered in Rutland, Vermont. While there, I met hundreds of people, many of whom say they have thought about moving to Vermont or know someone who is thinking about relocating. These are some of the most popular comments I heard.
The 2023 Outdoor Retailer Snow Show in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“Vermont’s housing is so affordable!”
One woman I chatted with currently lives in Bend, Oregon. She purchased her 1,000-square-foot-home with a tiny yard and railroad tracks practically running through the backyard for over $400,000. As I sat with her, she looked up Rutland County on a popular real estate website and could not believe her eyes. Homes of similar size are listed at about $150,000 and are not connected to the railroad. For $300,000 there is a 3-bedroom home listed with over 14 acres of land. Houses are still selling quickly in Vermont, but as I write this, nineteen homes and land plots within Rutland County are considered new listings on Four Season Sotheby’s International Realty’s website. Realtor.com even named Rutland, Vermont one of fourteen great, affordable ski towns.
“I can get paid to move to Vermont?!”
This past year, Vermont once again offered relocation incentives to help subsidize moving expenses with reimbursement grants of up to $7,500. In a speech given last week by Vermont’s Governor, Phil Scott, he said recruiting new Vermonters, “is a tool we can’t ignore.” He is proposing to allocate six-million dollars to the Remote & Relocated Worker Grant in the fiscal year, 2023. This is almost double the $3.09 million allocation in 2022, from the Vermont Legislature. You can learn more about the incentive program here.
Lake St. Catherine in Poultney, Vermont.
“We want to move because of the current climate.”
Many times, I heard, “I know someone who is (thinking about) moving to Vermont,” and the main reason was because of the climate. The mountains are beautiful and big out west, but many water sources are drying up. Natural disasters like wildfires, hurricanes, and landslides are also worrying people as they become more prevalent. Vermont is not immune to natural disasters, but we are listed as one of the safest states from climate change. While this article specifically mentions Burlington, Vermont, Googling, “is Vermont a good place to avoid climate change,” more information about the entire state appears.
Killington Mountain in Killington, Vermont.
“I love skiing in Vermont and want to go back!”
Speaking of big mountains, Killington Mountain is called the Beast of the East for a reason. We are also within a two-and-a-half-hour drive of nineteen other mountains. Many people I chatted with told me they skied Killington growing up and would love to move to the area so they can ski more often. There is the “Killington 100 Club,” for those hardcore skiers and riders who spend 100 days or more on the slopes in the season.
“Utah wants to be more like Vermont.”
Did you know, Vermont is one of four states that prohibits billboards? A representative of Scenic Utah, “a statewide grassroots organization working to protect and enhance the scenic qualities of our (Utah’s) communities, countryside, and roadways,” told me the organization wants to be like Vermont. The group is working to ban billboards. As the state that created the State Billboard Act in 1968, we have been enjoying clear views of our mountains, valleys, and lakes for decades.
Our Real Rutland Concierges often chat with people from the Western half of the United States. But by traveling there ourselves, we wanted to let people know we are here for you and ready to welcome you! If you dream of moving to the East Coast (even though we do not have an ocean coastline, we are still considered East Coast) connect with us. We can help make your relocation process easier.
