Vermonters Nearing Retirement Gave Their State a Tough Answer in a 2026 Poll

Retirement is on the horizon for many Vermonters, and a 2026 poll asked what they think of growing old in the state.

The answer from those nearing retirement age wasn’t a warm one.

Here’s the tough answer many Vermonters nearing retirement gave their state in a 2026 poll.

Note: This is general information, not tax or medical advice. Rules and dollar amounts are subject to change.

Who Ran This Poll and How

Vermont Public hired a polling firm called Braun Research to run its 2026 poll.

Interviewers reached 817 adults across the state from September 10 to 21.

They called cellphones and landlines, and they also sent text messages that opened an online survey.

One question asked whether Vermont is a good place to live for people who are aging or retired.

People could answer yes, no or not sure.

Braun Research then adjusted the results so the group matched Vermont’s mix of gender, age, education and county.

If you’re wondering which group is which, the poll sorts adults into ages 18 to 44, ages 45 to 64 and ages 65 and older.

The margin of error is 3.4 percentage points across all 817 answers.

Smaller groups, such as one age bracket, have a wider margin, so you’ll want to read their numbers as approximate.

Vermont Public’s story broke the results down by those age groups, and one group stood apart.

The 45-to-64 Answer

Vermont Public’s poll came out nearly even across the state, with 43% saying no, 42% saying yes and 15% unsure.

But respondents approaching retirement age didn’t split that way.

Vermont Public reported that the 45-to-64 group, the respondents approaching retirement age, was the least enthusiastic about growing old in the state.

More than half of them said Vermont isn’t a good place to age.

Of those 45-to-64 respondents, 31% said it is.

Picture 100 people between 45 and 64: About 31 would call Vermont a good place to grow old, and more than 50 would say it isn’t.

If you’re between 45 and 64, the poll found you’re more likely to answer no than yes.

This is the group next in line to join the 24.1% of Vermonters who are 65 or older, according to Census Bureau 2020-2024 American Community Survey estimates.

The Other Two Age Groups

Vermont Public’s poll found that the two age groups on either side of the 45-to-64 bracket were more likely to respond favorably.

Adults younger than 45 were more likely to respond favorably, and so were adults 65 and older.

If you’re under 45 or 65 and older, the poll found people in your group were more likely to answer favorably.

A 67-year-old respondent told Vermont Public there’s nowhere else she’d want to be.

She praised the landscape, the social acceptance and her circle of friends.

Next to those two groups, the 45-to-64 bracket answered least favorably, and if you’re in it, you’re part of that contrast.

Property Taxes

Property taxes and the cost of living both came up among the respondents Vermont Public quoted.

A 79-year-old respondent told Vermont Public he loves Vermont, but the cost of living is very high.

In June 2026, Vermont Public reported that the average education property tax bill would go up about 3.5% for the upcoming fiscal year.

The original forecast from December was nearly 12%.

Because 3.5% is an average, your bill could come in higher or lower.

Specialist Waits and Nursing Home Beds

Specialist waits came up among the respondents Vermont Public quoted as well.

A 57-year-old respondent told Vermont Public it takes a long time to get in to see a specialist in Vermont.

That respondent is in the 45-to-64 bracket, the group that answered least favorably.

If you're in that bracket, the wait for a specialist may be one more thing to weigh.

If you're thinking ahead to long-term care, the state's nursing home numbers show what the supply looks like.