Hello Maine, Moving and want to know more about Aroostook county (Presque Isle: buying a home, buying)

[ewood34]

Hi we are selling our home in Washington County NY and when it sells (after I graduate) we plan on buying a home in Aroostook County Maine. Farm or home with land. I was looking at a couple places around route 1 and wondering how are the roads specifically Route 1 into Presque Isle or Houlton in winter? I will be a new graduate RN in May and am wondering how hard it will be to get a job and what kind of pay to expect. We want a good place to raise our children and plenty of room for our animals. We have a small hobby farm here with some chickens, dairy cows, ducks, rabbits, and miniature horses.
Questions
What is a good place in ME to raise a family with lots of room for kids and animals?
How are the roads kept in Winter specifically Route 1?
Is it hard to find a RN job in Aroostook County?
What is the average pay for new RN in ME?
We appreciate all helpful advice and responses. Thanks

[maineguy8888]

Originally Posted by ewood34

Hi we are selling our home in Washington County NY and when it sells (after I graduate) we plan on buying a home in Aroostook County Maine. Farm or home with land. I was looking at a couple places around route 1 and wondering how are the roads specifically Route 1 into Presque Isle or Houlton in winter? I will be a new graduate RN in May and am wondering how hard it will be to get a job and what kind of pay to expect. We want a good place to raise our children and plenty of room for our animals. We have a small hobby farm here with some chickens, dairy cows, ducks, rabbits, and miniature horses.
Questions
What is a good place in ME to raise a family with lots of room for kids and animals?
How are the roads kept in Winter specifically Route 1?
Is it hard to find a RN job in Aroostook County?
What is the average pay for new RN in ME?
We appreciate all helpful advice and responses. Thanks

I live in the County. Route 1 is kept up very well in the winter, but I still recommend four-wheel drive or at least studded snow tires. We know how to plow snow here. The secondary roads are usually in good shape too.
Nursing jobs are not too hard to find. I'm not sure about the average pay for a new RN but it is competitive with the rest of the state (and most other states). There is a VA nursing home in my town (Caribou) that is always advertising for nurses and they pay well. It's attached to the hospital.
Almost any place in the County will be a good fit for you. One warning: there is going to be a major new bypass built through Presque Isle over the next few years, cutting right through all of the farmland on the eastern side of the town. I don't know if sellers will be honest and tell potential buyers that or not. It would be a rude awakening to buy property there and not know about this.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

One factor that surprises people is a bright blue sky and sunshine, visibility zero on the roads due to blowing snow.

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by ewood34

Hi we are selling our home in Washington County NY and when it sells (after I graduate) we plan on buying a home in Aroostook County Maine. Farm or home with land. I was looking at a couple places around route 1 and wondering how are the roads specifically Route 1 into Presque Isle or Houlton in winter? I will be a new graduate RN in May and am wondering how hard it will be to get a job and what kind of pay to expect. We want a good place to raise our children and plenty of room for our animals. We have a small hobby farm here with some chickens, dairy cows, ducks, rabbits, and miniature horses.
Questions
What is a good place in ME to raise a family with lots of room for kids and animals?
How are the roads kept in Winter specifically Route 1?
Is it hard to find a RN job in Aroostook County?
What is the average pay for new RN in ME?
We appreciate all helpful advice and responses. Thanks

I love the County. It's my favorite part of Maine. I've never lived there, but I love visiting.

Our first day in Maine, we spent the night in Presque Isle. We woke up the next morning with 8 inches of fresh snow on the ground. We were in a small front-wheel drive car, and we had absolutely no trouble at all on any of the main roads. We drove up to Fort Kent that morning, snow still coming down, and had no trouble on the road.

Finding a job anywhere in Maine isn't easy these days. Perseverence is the key. But health care jobs are definitely one of the most in demand. No idea what the average pay is.

[Spanky25]

Originally Posted by ewood34

Hi we are selling our home in Washington County NY and when it sells (after I graduate) we plan on buying a home in Aroostook County Maine. Farm or home with land. I was looking at a couple places around route 1 and wondering how are the roads specifically Route 1 into Presque Isle or Houlton in winter? I will be a new graduate RN in May and am wondering how hard it will be to get a job and what kind of pay to expect. We want a good place to raise our children and plenty of room for our animals. We have a small hobby farm here with some chickens, dairy cows, ducks, rabbits, and miniature horses.
Questions
What is a good place in ME to raise a family with lots of room for kids and animals?
How are the roads kept in Winter specifically Route 1?
Is it hard to find a RN job in Aroostook County?
What is the average pay for new RN in ME?
We appreciate all helpful advice and responses. Thanks

There is about a 50% pay cut as an RN in Maine VS NY (L.I. Here)
My wife is an RN, we love Maine. However, the numbers did not ad up for us to make the move.
Sure, the cost of living is cheaper but it does not cost me 50% of her salary to live here in NY

[Nor'Eastah]

Watch out fer them 9-month winters up there!

[maineguy8888]

Originally Posted by Nor'Eastah

Watch out fer them 9-month winters up there!