[girlandpup]

Originally Posted by christoforest

Nice article about Burlington....

Burlington, Vermont: Greener Pastures

Great article! Thanks for posting the link!

[jzt83]

SO where did you decide to move? I too am interested in moving to the NE of the US.

[MikeSL]

This is exactly the kind of thread I was looking for as I am stuck in a conundrum between Burlington and Portland. I am leaning towards Burlington because of the proximity to mountains and snow. Both places have better prospects than Mount Desert Island, from which I am leaving due to a divorce.

I have had people recommend both places to me but as I said leaning towards Burlington. Am I being too romantic or idealistic? Is Burlington thriving? How about for the newly single 41 year old man?

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by MikeSL

This is exactly the kind of thread I was looking for as I am stuck in a conundrum between Burlington and Portland. I am leaning towards Burlington because of the proximity to mountains and snow. Both places have better prospects than Mount Desert Island, from which I am leaving due to a divorce.

I have had people recommend both places to me but as I said leaning towards Burlington. Am I being too romantic or idealistic? Is Burlington thriving? How about for the newly single 41 year old man?

Burlington is thriving if you have cash. The city itself is quite tiny landwise
and has become a place for people with a lot of cash or almost no cash. Except for the old North End, which doesn't feel like Burlington, and a few pockets to the south, there is very little middle class. So if you can't afford to live in the city and have to move to one of the outlying towns, you'll still be close to Burlington, but it will feel nothing like Burlington.

IMO Portland has more interesting, and just plain more, neighborhoods.

Burlington is much younger than Portland too.

[BickleTravis]

Originally Posted by quickdraw

Burlington is thriving if you have cash. The city itself is quite tiny landwise
and has become a place for people with a lot of cash or almost no cash. Except for the old North End, which doesn't feel like Burlington, and a few pockets to the south, there is very little middle class. So if you can't afford to live in the city and have to move to one of the outlying towns, you'll still be close to Burlington, but it will feel nothing like Burlington.

IMO Portland has more interesting, and just plain more, neighborhoods.

Burlington is much younger than Portland too.

New North End is middle class. Old North End is low income, lots of immigrants.

[Dave.RMAX.NP]

Grew up in Portland. Live in Burlington. Both are great. Weather is not the strong suit of either! I think easier to get to hiking in Burlington and the area is less commercialized. Couple of dog parks in Burlington. Do not know what dog parks are in Portland. The size factor I think is a key factor.

[MassVt]

Originally Posted by quickdraw

Burlington is thriving if you have cash. The city itself is quite tiny landwise
and has become a place for people with a lot of cash or almost no cash. Except for the old North End, which doesn't feel like Burlington, and a few pockets to the south, there is very little middle class. So if you can't afford to live in the city and have to move to one of the outlying towns, you'll still be close to Burlington, but it will feel nothing like Burlington.

IMO Portland has more interesting, and just plain more, neighborhoods.

Burlington is much younger than Portland too.

Most of the city of Burlington is middle-class, with a few sections of working-class, and a few upper-middle-wealthy sections (usually the Hill section of town in the South End). THe city is hardly "tiny" landwise; just consider the vast expanse that constitutes the new North End, and the South End, from the shores of Lake Champlain all the way up Main, College Street, etc, to the University of Vermont.

Portland is decent, especially around the Promenade, but many neighborhoods are really just "so-so" in terms of maintenance and upkeep, and some of them seem to suffer from what I would call "benign neglect". It's not bad, but frankly Bangor has more pleasant neighborhoods than Portland, but it's more isolated.