Presque Isle or Caribou? (Houlton, Hope: rental, landlords, college)

[stormguy80]

Hi,

I’m a single early 30s male who may be moving to the Caribou region soon due to a job I may get. Does anyone have any words of advice? I’ve been reading some of the related posts on this forum and I know the region is pretty isolated. This will be a big change after being in a big city most of my adult life. One question I have is whether you would recommend Caribou or Presque Isle to live in? The job, if I get it, is in Caribou but it looks like there may be more options to rent in Presque Isle. Presque Isle also looks like it’s slightly bigger and has a bit more going on there. On the other hand, I know a 20 minute commute in the dead of winter may be a bit rough….

Thanks!

[maineguy8888]

You wouldn't have wanted to make that drive yesterday.....lol. BIG storm! And that road can get rough.
I am born and raised in PI, lived there most of my life. We now live in Caribou and much prefer it, for a variety of reasons. I don't see much difference in the rental situation. Presque Isle does have more stores, but if we really need something we can't find in Caribou, we just make a trip over. That rarely happens.
Honest opinion: Presque Isle is going to hell, sad to say. It looks really slummy in several parts of town, unlike Caribou. PI has started to have ugly sprawl, which I don't like. Caribou has none. Caribou is quainter and has more of a community feeling to it. It's retained its character. Presque Isle also has been beset by government clown shows in recent years.
Hope that helps!

[stormguy80]

Thanks! this helps.

Originally Posted by maineguy8888

You wouldn't have wanted to make that drive yesterday.....lol. BIG storm! And that road can get rough.
I am born and raised in PI, lived there most of my life. We now live in Caribou and much prefer it, for a variety of reasons. I don't see much difference in the rental situation. Presque Isle does have more stores, but if we really need something we can't find in Caribou, we just make a trip over. That rarely happens.
Honest opinion: Presque Isle is going to hell, sad to say. It looks really slummy in several parts of town, unlike Caribou. PI has started to have ugly sprawl, which I don't like. Caribou has none. Caribou is quainter and has more of a community feeling to it. It's retained its character. Presque Isle also has been beset by government clown shows in recent years.
Hope that helps!

[kellysmith]

Originally Posted by maineguy8888

You wouldn't have wanted to make that drive yesterday.....lol. BIG storm! And that road can get rough.
I am born and raised in PI, lived there most of my life. We now live in Caribou and much prefer it, for a variety of reasons. I don't see much difference in the rental situation. Presque Isle does have more stores, but if we really need something we can't find in Caribou, we just make a trip over. That rarely happens.
Honest opinion: Presque Isle is going to hell, sad to say. It looks really slummy in several parts of town, unlike Caribou. PI has started to have ugly sprawl, which I don't like. Caribou has none. Caribou is quainter and has more of a community feeling to it. It's retained its character. Presque Isle also has been beset by government clown shows in recent years.
Hope that helps!

I'd have to say my opinion of PI differs from yours. I think Caribou might be more suitable to a family life, but a single moving to the area, PI would be way less of a cultural shock. Box stores that move to the County are locating in PI, if that makes it lower on the slum index, so be it. Middle America anywhere has that picture. I live in Houlton, and would choose PI way before Caribou to move to...but actually I'm staying in Houlton...but do want to balance your slam on PI....I disagree and if I were to dis one of the two, it would not be PI. The college town wins this one in my eyes.

[maineguy8888]

Hey, I welcome the response! I have "Wildcat blue" in my veins still..........I've always been a booster of the town my family has lived in for almost 100 years. I do still like some things about it, don't get me wrong. I'm not even a "mall hater".........I always thought it was good to have one around. BUT they have gone on this tear-down spree in recent years, for no good reason it seems. And when I say "slummy", I don't mean the mall area or the sprawl..........I mean at least four or five really SLUMMY parts of town, that look like hell.
As far as culture, there's not much difference. UMPI does have some events. But Caribou has CPAC (the biggest performing arts venue in the area). PI has a few more bars, I guess.
Caribou has far more attraction to us.
Houlton is pretty awesome, too!

[FNolan]

I drive from the Loring Commerce Center tp PI every day for work, haven't missed a day of work this winter. As long as you take your time and know your limits in driving the drive isn't that bad.

here's a website that has some webcams setup in PI, Caribou and a few areas inbetween . . . http://www.crownofmaine.com/

[stormguy80]

Thanks for your responses! they are much appreciated. It's pretty definate now that I have this job. The other factor that will help me decide is appartments. Does anyone know any good places to rent in either city? This will be tough since I'll probably have to set something up before even arriving there..

[maineguy8888]

If you know what you're looking for I'd be happy to look in the newspaper and give you the phone numbers, or drive by any places you think might fit. I know some of the area landlords too.