Vermont Living and Relocation Guide

If you have ever visited the Green Mountain State it's hard not to fall in love with its beautiful landscape, quaint New England villages, and independent spirit. From the quiet beauty of the Northeast Kingdom, to Burlington's cosmopolitan fair, to the great skiing and snowboarding outlets located throughout the state, Vermont offers a little something for everyone. If you are considering moving to Vermont, your first step may be to search for available employment opportunities. Chittenden County, home to Burlington, South Burlington, Essex, Colchester, Williston, and Winooski, contains the highest population in the state with over 152,000 residents. IBM, Burton Snowboards, Bruegger's Bagels, Chittenden Bank, Fletcher Allen Health Care, Lane Press, Seventh Generation, Vertek Corporation, and the University of Vermont are some of Chittenden County's largest employers and may be good places to start when searching for available positions.

Some of Vermont's other large employers include the various ski resorts such as Killington, Stowe, Mount Snow, and Sugarbush, as well as successful, established companies including AN Deringer (St Albans), Ben & Jerry's (Waterbury), Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont (Montpelier), Cabot Creamery (Montpelier), Central Vermont Medical Center (Barre), Green Mountain Coffee (Waterbury), and Orvis mail order company  headquartered in Manchester, VT.  Some of these Vermont-based companies have been recognized by Forbes Magazine for their success or have nationally and/or internationally distributed products such as the Seventh Generation non-toxic household products or Ben & Jerry's ice cream.

Different regions of the state of Vermont have different resources and different opportunities to offer.  Located in the Northeast/New England area of the United States, Vermont borders Canada to the north, New York to the west, New Hampshire to the east, and Massachusetts to the south.  The state can be regarded in five regions: Southern Vermont, Northern Vermont, Central Vermont, the Champlain Islands, and the Northeast Kingdom. 

Southern Vermont is home to the well known ski resorts of Mount Snow, Stratton, and Mount Ascutney.  These resorts and the inns and lodges that surround them feature miles of downhill skiing for all levels as well as snowboarding, cross country skiing, ice skating, hiking, snowshoeing, and warm weather activities such as kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and golfing.

Northern Vermont also features skiing and snowboarding at world class resorts such as Stowe, Sugarbush, and Smuggler's Notch as well as some amazing hiking and cross country destinations.  Northern Vermont offers both urban lifestyle and resources as well as more secluded country living.  The city of Burlington and the surrounding areas of South Burlington, Essex, Williston, and Winooski offer more industry, continuing education,  business, and arts resources while the more remote towns of Jericho, Cambridge, and Saint Albans offer plenty of open space, beautiful mountains, and farmland while only a short drive into the city.

Central Vermont is home to the state capital of Montpelier and also offers world class skiing at Killington resort as well as hiking, snowmobiling, kayaking and canoeing.   Central Vermont is more easily accessible as a travel destination from the neighboring states of New York, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts compared to Northern Vermont, the Champlain Islands, and the Northeast Kingdom.

The Champlain Island are located north of Burlington on Lake Champlain and along the border with New York.  The towns of South Hero, Grand Isle, North Hero, and Alburg call this area home and offer gorgeous waterfront views, dramatic coastlines,  and accessibility to Lake Champlain.  This is truly a unique area of Vermont and ideal for anyone desiring to live on or near the water.

The Northeast Kingdom of Vermont occupies the northeast corner of the state and offers a variety of attractions, cultural outlets, and outdoor adventure. Home to some of the best down downhill skiing (Jay Peak) and cross country skiing (Craftsbury Outdoor Center) in New England, beautiful lakes and rivers such as the Connecticut River and Crystal Lake, and some of the most untouched rural areas in the state, the Northeast Kingdom is a dream come true for those looking for an "outdoorsy" lifestyle.

To learn more check out the Vermont State web site at vermont.gov/portal/travel/. If you are interested purchasing property in the state, American Financial Resources is a Vermont mortgage lender (800-316-9508) who can help you get prequalified. For current real estate listing information visit Realtor.com.