I'm also new to Vermont and white so I don't know how much insight I have for you. Re: internet, there's always satellite, but take care because somehow I moved into one of the areas where only a couple companies service. It's worth plugging addresses into providers' websites and using the state internet maps as you look for somewhere to live. Congratulations on your next adventure!

If you end up near Rutland and ever feel like you need a friendly ear or a cup of sugar, let me know. I was born in Ohio but have no beef with Michiganders!

Maple apple butter instead of tomato sauce.

Woodstock, Pomfret, Hartland.

It’ll have a maple syrup drizzle for sure. I’m typically against maple syrup in savory foods but those Blackback Pub nachos hit

Can you tell me what the NEK is? I keep seeing people mention it. Where does it include?

Thank you!! I will definitely be reaching out to you!

Oh yea? What’s the reason?

You could also consider middlebury.

Yes I can already tell driving in Vermont is going to be similar to Michigan…probably with less traffic. But unfortunately the only option is to drive in. I make decent money but not “I can live in Killington” money lol 😂

The mountain is open year round and is gaining popularity in the warm months for mountain biking, but is still nothing compared to winter months. A large portion of the restaurants close down come spring time. A word of caution about the up to an hour drive, that easily becomes 2-3 hours during winter driving conditions. Just something to consider. North of killington is probably where the more affordable housing is, but you’ll be an hour from grocery stores

Gas station pizza is Vermont pizza to me. Every gas station sells some form of pizza here.

Thank you!!! This helps a lot :)

My family lives in Barnard. Good elementary school that moves into the Woodstock district for middle and high school, fast ec fiber internet, not terribly far from Killington or the Upper Valley. We have local family here that are black and biracial and in-laws/friends from Haiti that are here often. Demographics are heavily white in the area, and the whole state, but attitudes appear to be mostly welcoming. I suspect you'll experience less overt racism from actual bigots and more accidental stereotyping from people who are well intentioned but inexperienced with diversity. To my knowledge my black family members in town haven't had any bad experiences, and they aren't the only non-white people in town by any means.

I see a few people recommending the Upper Valley and I would like to jump on that band wagon. I do think you should know how school choice works in Vermont, especially the Upper Valley. If you live in a town that doesn’t have a designated public school you have school choice and your town of residence pays the tuition for the school you choose. Even independent schools like The Sharon Academy. Worth keeping in mind as you make your housing decision. Killington is a school choice town, as is Stockbridge and Rochester (for grades 7-12).

Edit: Killington no longer has choice. Their students attend Woodstock schools

Couldn’t have said it better.

Thank you!! That helps a lot. It’s been quite the journey to try to map out the best places. Appreciate your help!

Oh awesome that sounds like an ideal situation! You and your family will be just fine, IMO, though I am not black though I am a mentor to someone who was born in Kenya who immigrated here as a child. Winooski has the highest population of POC in the state and Winooski school is probably the only school in the state that isn't mostly white. Winooski is quote far from Rutland though and I don't know much about that area.

Yes, he’ll actually be there for a few months before the rest of the family even comes down

Thanks! This is something I made sure to have him confirm because people keep mentioning ski season and I’m like “oh do they close?” Lol so thank you for that!! And we are hopefully looking for something outside of killington that he can travel into. He’s willing to drive up to an hour for a commute so that opens up some options.

It’s whatever you can get at the gas station for $4. It’s not good, and it’s not fancy, but it’s passable and will prevent hangry.

Thing is, that kind of brutal weather is what kept ticks and shit like that at bay. All those gross things from the Warner climates

I’ll join them lol 😂

He’s going down first to stay with his friend who offered him the job and then the family will join a few months after, but luckily I work from home and make almost 6 figures alone.

There is not diversity in Vermont outside of Burlington, and it’s incredibly limited in Burlington. Anyone who claims there is diversity in VT likely has not lived out of the state. It is a bubble.

Rutland could be difficult socially. Lots of folks stuck in the 1950s there politically and socially. It’s very low cost though. One of the few (very, very small) cities in the northeast you can still purchase a home for under $200k.

If you want a magical place to raise kids kinda close to Killington, try Manchester. Lots of very wealthy people from larger cities are there, but you can still find a decent house for under 500k. It’s about an hour and ten away from the mountain.

I experienced plenty of racism here while in a biracial relationship. A lot of people here are pretty great though.

Lol best description ever!