The Adirondacks vs. Vermont (New York, Plainview: real estate, home, good schools)

[Pidgett]

Recently on the Vermont forum, I posted this question, from which I will summarize and paraphrase:

What are the similarities and differences between the Adirondacks and Vermont? I stated that while I'm aware that there are some similarities between the two places, I wanted to know the differences with respect to demographics, job opportunities, political inclinations and general quality of life. I did get a few replies, but I feel that my question wasn't really answered fully.

[mels]

The Adirondacks are more of a great wilderness due to the HUGE park. Towns are far and few between, jobs aren't plentiful (sans Plattsburgh, but that isn't exactly a hotbed of activity compared to Burlington). Because of Burlington being a decent sized city as well as housing UVM, there are many more job opportunities on the eastern side of the Lake. For job opportunities, VT has the edge over NY.

In regards to the political climate, my disclaimer is I have only lived on the VT side but have spent a good deal of time in the Adirondacks. From what I have observed, VT leans more to the left compared to the Adirondacks, which I felt to be more conservative. That is pure speculation.

Demographics...Burlington does have a more diverse population than the NY side. This may also be due to the fact that this region of VT is generally more progressive, liberal, and attracts a more diverse crowd which is also helped out by the presence of UVM. Generally there appears to be more wealth on the VT side, likely tied directly to the fact that more jobs exist on the VT side.

As for the quality of life, it all depends what you are looking for. For me, the quality of life is better on the VT side, but that is a personal preference. I like Burlington a lot and I can't pick an area on the Adirondacks side where I would want to live. Don't get me wrong, it is a gorgeous area of NY and I love to visit and take advantage of the natural beauty, but I prefer the conveniences of the VT side.

I hope my answers help you a little more!

[nomoresnow]

I live near Plattsburgh and I have to agree with mels.

It all depends on what your needs and wants are. Both areas are beautiful. Burlington has a real housing issue, according to news reports, so housing is expensive and not always easy to find. I don't know about the surrounding areas in VT. It does have great diversity, thanks to the college and artsy community over there. Shopping is quite good.

Things are looking up in Plattsburgh - there's a new convention center being built downtown, the new airport is about to open, there are new industries coming in, etc. However, there will always be differences. NY has higher taxes, etc. You know the drill, I'm sure.

[Phish Head]

Also, the Adirondacks are the same size as the entire state of Vermont. Whereas the Adirondacks has population of 130,000, the state of VT has about 650,000 people. So, as rural as Vermont is, imagine an area with only 1/6 of the population! And, the Adirondacks have more forest, less farmland, and also have taller mountains. It is definitely one of the most unpopulated areas in the east.

[nunoco]

Pidgett,
I left a snarky joke on the VT forum, but I'll give you a more detailed assessment. I've lived on the NY side of Lake Champlain for almost a year, so take my musings with a shaker of salt, but here goes:
Vermont is far more liberal, but it also has a better business climate. It's more entrepreneurial, with smart, new-economy companies like Ben and Jerry's, Vermont Teddy Bear, Burton Snowboards and many others cropping up the last 20 years.
In New York, they blame the state taxes for the sluggish business climate, but that hasn't hurt NYC the past 15 years. I think it may have as much to do with the attitude of the North Country. For several decades, this area has relied on government pork for its economic growth, beginning with the Plattsburgh Air Force Base, and including tourism, with Whiteface Mountain and the Adirondack Park Agency running much of that sector of the economy. So there's been an attitude of sitting around and waiting for Big Brother to come to the rescue (or sitting and complaining about Big Brother) that Vermont (IMHO) didn't have.
I think that's changing now, at least around Plattsburgh, and I believe the cheaper real estate (which never experienced a "bubble"), the decent infrastructure (Amtrak, I-87, good schools, the old AFB), the location (with Burlington, Montreal and Lake Placid all nearby) and the heartbreaking beauty of the place make it an excellent place to move.
Vermont is great, but it's more "mature" and discovered. The Adirondack Coast, I believe, has more untapped potential.

[Pidgett]

Thank you Nunoco, Mels and others for responding to my post thus far ....

And now for those folks who pm'ed me wanting to know:

My wife was born (at home!) in Wilmington NY in the ADK's near Lake Placid. Her parents were born and raised on a dairy farm in Plainview, LI at a time when Nassau County was rural and not-yet suburbanized--believe it or not ; this was the 1940's/ very early 1950's. To point out the rapidity of suburbanization going on in their town; as an example of how rapidly it changed, the population of Plainview (10 square miles) in 1950 was 900 or 1,000. By 1955, it swelled to 30,000!!! So for this and other reasons they sold their farm in 1961 and moved to the Adirondacks where they lived out the rest of their lives. Mrs. Pidgett lived there until she was 18, and then moved away permanently when she met me at college in Maine. I was born and raised in Skowhegan ME and lived there for 45 years. I have been living here in West Virginia (Mingo Falls) for 6 years, because of my job. I love the country life, but I am NOT fond of West Virginia or the South in general--and this is not even the deep South! I miss the Northeast very much! My work may be moving to the Adirondacks or Vermont sometime before the year is out. So I have been very keen on learning from this excellent website and its knowledgable posters:

The differences between Vermont and the Adirondacks.
How "rednecky" they are.
The economy and general demographics of both areas.

My wife doesn't remember many of the things I ask here on these threads because she was a young girl and teenager when she lived in the ADK's, so she wasn't keenly aware of the demographics, economy, etc of it when she lived there. Also, she says she never had any reason to go to Vermont, so she is clueless about that state; hence my fact-finding mission!

Thanks again and awaiting more input from one and all!

[nynoggin]

There are many differences and attitudes in each state. I graduated from southern VT tech near Burlington and went too school in my younger years at Adirondack community. New York has many beautiful landscapes and so does Vermont. it is more hilly in Vermont so the sight is not as well seen in certain areas. The Adirondacks are so filled with Vermonters many I might add leading me too believe why are they traveling so far when they have just as many things too do at home. I guess they need too take an r&r too. But I LOVE NEW YORK BEST sorry Vermonters I had too say it living near lake George camping in the Adirondacks eating at the sagamore seeing Rachael Rae many times enjoying the scenery.... It is wonderful so is vermont I love going too concerts in the winter time skiing is great in vermont.. and so is maple season and apple season....

[jk24]

Can anyone report what type (if any) broadband internet service is available in the Plattsburgh and Lake Saranac areas? Thanks!

[kamikazejoshua]

I know that broadband cable was offered by Adelphia in Saranac Lake a couple years ago, but they have since been bought out by Time Warner I believe. And there is always Verizon DSL. But there is always the chance that you won't get anything if you live outside of town by a few miles.

[trusty]

Having skiied, biked and hiked in both VT and the Adies, your question is also one I am interested in from the people who live there.

My own impression on 'rednecks', is that upstate NY has many, many more. It also has a conservative and even depressed vibe. When one drives through many Adie laketowns, there are many boarded up, closed buildings and it is just plain depressing.

whereas VT, for whatever reason, is clearly a more developed, advanced region with a stable econ.

We were just in Saranac, and a few of the pizza places and bars were too scary to go near. Big, huge, [i.e., obese] men with sleeveless ripped shirts and crew cuts, etc. Everyone chain-smoked. Lots of drunk, loud people. Most 'downtowns' also looked dead.

VT has a reputation as progressive, and that is obvious when the border is crossed. It is more diverse, more alive and more "cute". Not everyone in VT was a friendly smiling face, but we felt more at home there. You can find decent food stores and cafes, coffee shops etc.

On the other hand, VT is small, and the Adies have such an enormous unspoiled wildnerness and many many more lakes that the Adies will get my visit despite all the downsides.