Vermont’s Exodus: How Failed Policies and Healthcare Shortages Fuel Population Decline

Just weeks before the world shut down in early 2020, Jenny Hopkins moved to Vermont seeking the peace and freedom promised by its scenic landscapes. But what she found instead was a healthcare system stretched thin, leaving her waiting nearly nine months for critical postpartum psychiatric care. Faced with unacceptable delays, Hopkins uprooted her family to southern Maine — a stark contrast illustrating how Vermont’s public services are failing its residents.Is Vermont’s Population Loss a Warning Sign for Rural America?According to recent U.S. Census Bureau figures, Vermont lost 726 more residents than it gained through domestic migration between 2024 and...