From DC. DC has its advantages: free museums, good mass transit by US standards, lots of federal money being spent locally, a diverse ethnic mix with accompanying cultural and culinary diversity. The cost of real estate is astronomical, though. The schools generally suck unless you can swing something plush like Sidwell Friends.
I've lived in other places as well, always moving for school, employment, or, when I was younger, someone else's school or employment. I found that I could telecommute, though, and so we moved to a place we wanted to be for its own sake.
The things I like about Vermont: the climate, the culture, the natural and built environment. And frankly I like living in a place where I don't have to apologize for the cruel, exploitative history or the short-sighted or selfish political decisions of the populace. It's beautiful. There's a lot of art. My kids' school has great teachers, great facilities, and a lot of options. I have family who moved to the area, so that helps. The food is good. I walk into town to work. I can walk out my back door with my kids and hike to the top of a hill and have a beautiful view. I can take the bus home in the evening if the weather is bad. (I don't telecommute anymore, though I can work from home when I please.) We were living in a basement in DC. Now we have a house beside a brook.