Stuck in Vermont: For a NYC Couple Considering a Move to Vermont, The Pandemic Sealed the Deal

In late July, married couple Joanna Burgess and Noah Sussman took a big leap and moved from New York City to rural Derby, Vt., with their three rescue cats. The couple had been discussing a possible move to the Green Mountains for the past decade to be closer to Noah’s parents, who live in East Burke. One thing or another kept them in the city — until the global coronavirus pandemic arrived. After spending a summer on lockdown in Manhattan, living and working in a 695-square-foot apartment, the two finally had enough.

Eva visited Joanna, Noah, and their felines Menace, Billy Bones and Captain Jack at their spacious apartment in Derby. Their new home is almost twice as large and costs about a third of their city dwelling. Noah works remotely, and Joanna, a former teacher, is looking for remote work and volunteering with Northeast Kingdom Council on Aging. They live at Provost Farm and share a renovated farmhouse with other transplants on an idyllic piece of land with roaming sheep, a firepit and a historic barn. Although it is early days, the couple have no plans to move back to the city, and they hope to save up for a house.

There has been a lot of media coverage about urban residents moving to the suburbs or more rural parts of the country due to the pandemic. Here in Vermont, we’ve had our fair share of new residents, and each story is unique. Read more about other new Vermonters in this week’s cover story.

Music: Rondo Brothers, “Golden Dreams,” “Perfect Things from 1969,” “Happy Place” & “Goldenrod”

Shooting date: 8/30/20