Woodstock, Vermont has landed on Travel + Leisure’s list of the best places in the country for people who love spending time outdoors — recognition that longtime residents say marks a return to form after a rough patch during the pandemic.

“When it comes to outdoor activities and natural beauty, New England excels,” Travel + Leisure wrote in its list, released July 28. “The region has long attracted those seeking a quieter way of life, and nowhere is this more apparent than in Woodstock, Vermont.”

Mia Parsons, a real estate agent with Douglas Elliman who was born and raised in Woodstock, said the town has always held a certain status in Vermont.

“I’m biased to Woodstock, being born and raised there, but I think it’s always been one of the iconic towns of Vermont — kind of between Woodstock and Manchester,” Parsons said.

She said that reputation has only grown since 2020.

“Really since COVID, I feel like they’ve had a second wind, where young families are moving back, putting their kids back in the school system, and realizing that life is very good in Vermont — away from the city life and the traffic and the hustle and bustle,” Parsons said. “They’re really latching onto the lifestyle after a tough few years of COVID.”

A Trade-Off on Cost

That renewed appeal comes at a price. Parsons said Woodstock ranks among the most expensive places to live in Vermont.

“Vermont in general definitely has higher tax rates, and Woodstock, I would say, is one of the most expensive zip codes in the state — again, along with Manchester,” Parsons said. “Affordability is tough.”

She added that it is a matter of comparison. “That being said, when you compare it with the cost of living in a city like Boston or New York, it’s actually quite affordable in many ways.”

Parsons added, “It’s attainable — as long as your career path allows you to be remote. It is limiting from a job perspective in Vermont.”

For Parsons, the town’s pull is personal as much as professional. She left Woodstock after high school and came back as an adult.

“I’ve always felt like Woodstock is magical,” she said. “I can’t say enough positive things about growing up in Vermont.”