Here Are 12 Things People from Vermont Do That Seem Insane To Everyone Else

Vermont might look calm and quaint from the outside, but beneath all that flannel and maple syrup lies a set of habits that outsiders find downright baffling. To Vermonters, it’s all perfectly normal — to everyone else, it’s equal parts rustic charm, stubborn independence, and cow-themed chaos.

1. Treat Maple Syrup Like Liquid Currency

If it didn’t come from a Vermont sugarhouse, it’s basically just tree-flavored water. Outsiders don’t understand; locals guard their syrup like gold.

2. Know the Difference Between “Mud Season,” “Stick Season,” and “Actual Winter”

Vermont doesn’t have four seasons. It has seven. Outsiders can’t keep up.

3. Use Flannel as a Year-Round Uniform

Outsiders think it’s for fall. Vermonters wear it to weddings, hikes, and probably their own funerals.

4. Buy Everything From a Farmers’ Market

Produce, soap, maple cotton candy, goat cheese — if it’s not handmade or locally sourced, it’s suspicious.

5. Treat Ben & Jerry’s Like a State Religion

Even in subzero temperatures, Vermonters will proudly eat ice cream in the snow.

6. Drive Through Snowstorms Like It’s a Scenic Detour

Outsiders panic. Vermonters toss an extra shovel in the trunk and keep rolling.

7. Casually Know More About Cheese Than Most Sommelier Know About Wine

Cheddar isn’t just cheese here — it’s a lifestyle. Outsiders think it’s sharp; locals think it’s heavenly.

8. Fly State Flags and Bernie Stickers With Equal Passion

It’s not politics — it’s identity.

9. Call Anything South of Rutland “Basically Massachusetts”

Outsiders think it’s rude. Vermonters think it’s geography.

10. Heat With Wood Because It “Smells Better”

Sure, there’s modern heating — but splitting logs in -10° weather builds character.

11. Leave Cars Unlocked With Keys Inside in Small Towns

Outsiders think it’s reckless. Locals think it’s just Tuesday.

12. Celebrate the First Snowfall Like It’s a National Holiday

Outsiders groan. Vermonters grab their skis and post it on Instagram before sunrise.

To outsiders, these Vermont habits might seem eccentric, stubborn, or downright insane. But for locals, they’re part of what makes life in the Green Mountain State so special. Stick around long enough and you’ll be heating with wood, buying soap from your neighbor, and pouring maple syrup on just about everything you eat.