Jenny Hopkins moved from Austin, Texas, to Hinesburg, Vermont, just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Initially, she had trouble finding a primary care doctor and noticed delays in healthcare access. She thought it was just a Covid-related issue.
Fast forward, and she found herself facing a postpartum mental health crisis. She visited a local clinic, laying out all her concerns. But the referral for a psychiatric evaluation took nine long months to fulfill. “I needed help more than ever,” she said. “I just held on for dear life.”
Eventually, her family moved to southern Maine. “In Maine, it feels like night and day,” she shared. “I got my mammograms when I needed them, and we have primary care options.” Her experience reflects a growing trend in Vermont.
Recent U.S. Census Bureau data shows that Vermont lost 726 residents between 2024 and 2025, marking the state’s slowest domestic migration in years. While Covid-19 initially brought newcomers seeking nature and remote work, that shift has reversed.
Before the pandemic, Vermont had a steady population decline. But during 2020-2021, many people moved in. Now, low birth rates and a high death rate due to an aging population have flipped the trend again. According to Ken Johnson, a senior demographer at the University of New Hampshire, states like Vermont and New Hampshire depend on migration for growth. “They have more people dying than being born,” he pointed out.
Johnson noted that New Hampshire benefits from its closeness to Boston, attracting people who can commute. Vermont lacks that advantage, making it harder to keep a steady population. In recent years, Vermont did see a net gain of about 1,700 people, indicating some growth, albeit slow.
As the healthcare landscape shifts, residents like Hopkins highlight the challenges many face in accessing timely medical care in rural areas. Vermont’s situation is a timely reminder of how critical healthcare access is to community stability and growth.
For more detailed demographic insights, you can explore the U.S. Census Bureau’s findings.
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