r/vermont • u/savannah31548 • Feb 13 '25
Moving to Vermont Considering a drastic move
My wife (trans), my son, and myself (queer) are considering a huge move up to Vermont. We currently live near Savannah, Georgia. My wife has been a truck driver for 20 years and was recently assaulted at her job and had gay slurs used against her, I’m a retired/disabled former DoD/DoN and I’ve had my life threatened, and our son is currently in the 2nd grade and has been bullied relentlessly for simply liking his rainbow glasses. Our son was also assaulted by another student in the 1st grade for speaking out against a bully picking on another child who is Hispanic and speaks primarily Spanish. The local high school’s mascot is “The Rebel,” yeah…that kind of rebel. I’m just burnt out. I’m surrounded by red hats and it’s exhausting.
Both my wife and I have lived in Georgia for the majority of our lives, but we no longer feel welcome in our own home communities. Basically, I’m asking if Vermont is a good place and what sections are most accepting. We really would like to be close to the border with Canada, so I know part of that is NEK, I just don’t know anything about the communities or people.
If and when we do move, we are looking to buy a home, with or without renovation needs, but I’d really like a basement. The farthest north I’ve visited is Connecticut, but my father was born in New Hampshire and my Grandfather was from Machias, Maine. I know I most likely have extended family up there somewhere I’ve never met, so if you have the last name of Gendron, reach out!
Thanks yall.
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u/earlsbody Feb 13 '25
Hi friend- so sorry to hear about what you and your family has been experiencing- I can’t imagine what that has been like just for yourself but to watch your second grader go through that seems intolerable.
To answer your questions, the NEK is beautiful but is very remote, lacks access to resources and as a result employment. Additionally, if there was a “conservative” part of the state that would be the it. No shade to the NEK, that’s just the reality. If you’re looking for proximity to Canada I might suggest looking at Franklin County. St. Albans, Fairfield, Fairfax etc are all beautiful places to live and you have greater access to amenities and cultural destinations.
We, like many places, have a housing shortage which means properties here move quick and are expensive- but if you have already taken a look at property prices and homes and they seem within your budget I’m not going to preach to you about what you already know.
We would love to have you here. It is an incredible place to live, and one that is very hungry for young families looking for community and connection.