Hawaii to Vermont Moving Guide
Updated June 13, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Hawaii to Vermont? This moving guide will help you compare living in Hawaii vs Vermont across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Poke vs Maple Syrup), real estate & housing (plantation, modern vs colonial, cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Poke and Spam Musubi, but get your taste buds ready for Maple Syrup & Beef Stew
- Vermont housing costs are 56% less expensive than they are in Hawaii
- Rent in Vermont is 29.85% more affordable than in Hawaii
- Our top recommended Hawaii to Vermont movers is Lowell's Moving & Storage
Hawaii to Vermont Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Hawaii to Vermont
- High cost of living
- Limited career opportunities
- Overcrowded beaches
- Hurricane season
- Import reliance
- Lower cost of living
- Diverse job market
- Serene landscapes
- Quieter weather
- Local produce
- Cold winters
- Landlocked
- Smaller communities
- Limited biodiversity
- Rural lifestyle
- Tropical climate
- Beach access
- Diverse cultures
- Rich flora and fauna
- Island lifestyle
Pros of moving from Hawaii to Vermont
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from limited career opportunities and moving to Vermont with a diverse job market
- Swap the overcrowded beaches of Hawaii for serene landscapes in Vermont
- Get ready for quieter weather in Vermont
Cons of moving from Hawaii to Vermont
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the tropical climate in Hawaii to live with the cold winters in Vermont
- You'll lose out on the pro of beach access and have to settle with the con of being landlocked
- Time to bid farewell to diverse cultures and get used to smaller communities in Vermont
- Swap rich flora and fauna for limited biodiversity
Hawaii vs. Vermont: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Hawaii | Vermont |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Poke | Maple Syrup |
Most popular meat dish | Spam Musubi | Beef Stew |
Most popular street food item | Shave Ice | Maple Creemees |
Most popular vegan food | Acai Bowl | Vegan Poutine |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
Abundance of Food Trucks | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
Foodie Scene | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
Vegan Friendly | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
If you're moving from Hawaii to Vermont, you will be trading the iconic Poke of Hawaii for the equally delicious Maple Syrup of Vermont. And while the locals in Hawaii rave about their flavorful Spam Musubi and sumptuous Shave Ice, Vermont residents know they have tasty Beef Stew and Maple Creemees to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Acai Bowl they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Poutine of Vermont. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Hawaii eateries like Helena's Hawaiian Food, Leonard's Bakery, and House Without a Key. After the boxes are unpacked in Vermont, don't wait too long before making your way to Vermont's acclaimed eateries like Hen of the Wood, Blackback Pub, and Prohibition Pig.
When comparing lifestyles, Vermont shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Hawaii. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Vermont compared to what you are used to in Hawaii. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Vermont.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Hawaii and Vermont
Comparison | Hawaii | Vermont |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Plantation, Modern | Colonial, Cape Cod |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Ocean view, Lanai | Wooded setting, Fireplace |
- The Plantation and Modern architecture that Hawaii is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of Vermont.
- Compared to Hawaii's real estate listings that commonly reference ocean view and lanai, Vermont real estate listings often highlight features like wooded settings and fireplaces.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Vermont is less walkable than Hawaii.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Vermont is more bike-friendly than Hawaii.
- Vermont has less of an urban feel than Hawaii.
- Vermont housing costs are 56% less expensive than they are in Hawaii, with a median home price of $381,042 compared to Hawaii’s $858,106.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Vermont have increased 50% compared to a 38% increase in Hawaii.
- Rent in Vermont is 29.85% more affordable than in Hawaii.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Hawaii and Vermont
Comparison | Hawaii | Vermont |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Volcanoes, Tsunamis | Snowstorms, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 85°F / 70°F | 80°F / 59°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 78°F / 63°F | 31°F / 10°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 63.70 | 42.70 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0 | 89.25 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Hawaii to Vermont. Vermont gets 43% fewer sunshine days than Hawaii.
- Vermont has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Hawaii.
- Say goodbye to the possible volcanoes and tsunamis in Hawaii, but be on the lookout for potential snowstorms and floods in Vermont.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Vermont is 5 degrees colder than in Hawaii.
- The average winter lows are 53 degrees colder than they are in Hawaii.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Vermont. Vermont receives 21 fewer inches of rain compared to Hawaii.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Hawaii and Vermont
Comparison | Hawaii | Vermont |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $92,458 | $73,991 |
Cost of Living Index | 165.7 | 120.5 |
State Income Tax | 11% | 8.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.31% | 1.82% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Military, Agriculture | Education, Manufacturing, Healthcare |
Affluence | Upper-middle | Middle |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | High | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Vermont tend to earn about 20% less than in Hawaii
- The COLI in Vermont will be 27% lower than what you are used to living in Hawaii
- The state income tax in VT is 8.75% compared to 11% in HI
- The affluence in Vermont is middle compared to upper-middle in Hawaii
- The poverty level is low in Vermont compared to moderate in Hawaii
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in Hawaii and low in Vermont
Political and Religious Climate in Hawaii vs. Vermont
Comparison | Hawaii | Vermont |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratic | Democratic |
Local Politics | Moderate with liberal leanings | Liberal |
Religion | Diverse: Christianity, Buddhism, Shinto | Primarily Christian, but less religious as a whole |
- Hawaii tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Vermont, on the other hand, is often described as Democratic
- Vermont's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian but less religious as a whole
- Hawaii's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse, including Christianity, Buddhism, and Shinto
Education Guide When Moving from Hawaii to Vermont
Comparison | Hawaii | Vermont |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Brigham Young University-Hawaii | University of Vermont Middlebury College St. Michael's College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Maemae Elementary School (Honolulu) Mililani Mauka Elementary School (Mililani) Noelani Elementary School (Honolulu) | Marion Cross School (Norwich) Orchard School (South Burlington) Jericho Elementary School (Jericho) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) | Shelburne Community School (Shelburne) Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School (South Burlington) Albert D. Lawton Intermediate School (Essex Junction) |
Top 3 High School Schools | President Theodore Roosevelt High School (Honolulu) President William McKinley High School (Honolulu) Henry J. Kaiser High School (Honolulu) | South Burlington High School (South Burlington) Champlain Valley Union High School (Hinesburg) St. Johnsbury Academy (St. Johnsbury) |
Top 3 private high schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) | St. Johnsbury Academy (St. Johnsbury) The Putney School (Putney) Burr and Burton Academy (Manchester) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Hawaii Preparatory Academy (Kamuela) Le Jardin Academy (Kailua) Punahou School (Honolulu) | The Putney School (Putney) St. Johnsbury Academy (St. Johnsbury) Lyndon Institute (Lyndon Center) |
Top 3 School Districts | Honolulu District Central Oahu District Hawaii District | Chittenden South Supervisory Union Essex Westford School District Rutland City Public Schools |
Top Hawaii to Vermont Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Hawaii to Vermont movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Lowell's Moving & Storage
Best moving company overall for Hawaii to Vermont