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Skipperten t1_j5sp7vx wrote

I’m Hispanic and lived in Rutland and Castleton for 4 years. I live in Alaska now. I found it relatively peaceful and accepting in both areas. The NEK (Derby..etc) was extremely unwelcoming and hateful…and other parts (Hartland, Manchester, Killington, St Johnsbury, Woodstock, Pittsford, Wallingford, Middlebury) all gave off the vibe of “we don’t see much diversity here, but we are curious and ready to welcome it” (albeit with microaggressions and missteps along the way). Burlington just feels like a vagrant space. Beautiful, constantly shifting tides with college students and population turnover. Accepting, but less in a way that is easy to form community and more in a neoliberal way.

You’ll be safe there, just avoid the NEK. There’s good people everywhere though.

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jimfoxer t1_j5v1dvr wrote

"Just avoid the NEK" is a bit unfair. Yes, there are areas of the NEK that are incredibly conservative, MAGA-hat wearing, and - unfortunately - racist, however that's not true about the whole region. We live in Wheelock and my wife's school is in St. Johnsbury. She has biracial students and BIPOC families that love living in the NEK (that's "The Northeast Kingdom" which describes the areas of Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties.) They even had a trans girl of color who the school supported in whatever ways possible. I can't speak to being a person of color, since I'm not, but I can speak to the experience of immigrants (my wife and son are Russian) and of being gay in the NEK, and both have been incredibly positive. However the NEK is far from Killington, so it's a moot point - just don't be afraid to visit the NEK when you move here!

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AvianQuill t1_j5w7s8z wrote

NEK resident here and I just have to add that it’s not a fair characterization to paint all of the NEK as being unfriendly to POC. There are some MAGA chud towns (as everywhere) but much more diversity-embracing energy from towns like Craftsbury, Greensboro, St. J, Glover, etc. Welcome to the OP - best of luck!

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BobDope t1_j5x03do wrote

Agree, Glover is about as far from ‘MAGA land’ as humanly possible. Craftsbury and other towns in the NEK are also great.

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