We're back above $20K per year for the bare essentials when it comes to Vermont. We might be inclined to pinpoint that on the skiing community again - it tends to be rich people who pursue skiing as a hobby, and Vermont is a skiing enthusiast's paradise. Vermont, when translates from French, is a literal description of what the state looks like. 'Vert' means 'green,' and 'mont' means 'mountains.'
Vermont is home to the smallest state capital in the US. Montpelier is home to only nine thousand people; smaller than rural villages in many other parts of the country. It's the only state capital not to have a McDonalds - whether that's a positive or a negative is up to you - and despite its size manages to be the largest producer of maple syrup in the country. Both New Hampshire and New York have tried to absorb the state in the past, but have failed on both occasions.