[girlandpup]

Hi! This may be too crazy to get responses, but I am hopeful that there are some people out there who can help me! I am looking to move from NYC for lots of reasons. I have been living here for many years now, and want a change in lifestyle. I am a 40-year-old female who is single (divorced few years ago) with a dog. Some fo my desires include being closer and more accessible to hiking (my love!), cheaper living, and the importance of a very dog-friendly area. I know that too "rural" or even suburbia at its best may not be right for me at this time of my life, both b/c I am alone and don't want THAT huge a culture shock right off (yes, I am prepared for the big change in lifestyle if I move to either Burlington or Portland - I want that actually).

I am desperate for any thoughts, opinions, suggestions, advice to help me choose between these two places (Burlington, VT and Portland, ME). If anyone can provide their opinions on the two places for cost of living/overall expense to live there, weather in all seasons (just how cold/hot, rain/snow, whatever), being single there (not into "bar or club scene" at all though), dog-friendliness, accessibility to great hiking, envioronmentally conscious, ETC.

I am extremely grateful and appreciative of any responses. Thank You!

[vter]

I live near Burlington and visit the Portland area quite often.
Similarities:
Liberal vibe
waterfront
nice shopping area downtown
good restaurants
nice small airport
from what I've read, the economies are similar in the fact that there are not a ton of good paying jobs out there, and for ones that are available, its pretty competitive.
Differences:
Portland is much larger than Burlington.
Portland is on the ocean, Burlington Lake Champlain
Burlington is more of a college town than Portland.

Hopefully others can chime in.

PS: weather - summers are fairly similar, although due to the ocean, coastal areas can get a cool seabreeze.
winter - it gets cold in both places - Burlington's cold is more raw/dry, while Portland's is damp (which to me makes it feel colder than it really is!). Not sure about snow in Portland, but Burlington gets its fair share.

[girlandpup]

vter,
Thank you for your response. That bit was helpful. One thing I am trying to figure out is the difference that ocean vs. lake has affecting the weather (some say makes it milder, others have said actually colder b/c lots more wind, but don't know if that's around water in general or with lake or ocean). Obviously, there are many important factors to consider in moving anywhere, but I think weather is one of them. Thanks again!

[MRVphotog]

While there are similarities I find the two very diferent. Burlington is more of a college mountain town while Portland is a small coastal city.

The architecture of the Old Port section of Portland really a special place. We love just walking around in the evening and the indie movie theater, the movies. There are alot of restaurants in Portland.

They are similar in that we feel very safe walking around either place, outdoor recreation is nearby. Both are the economic engine of it's respective states, real estate prices is high but cooling off in the near term.

Weatherwise I would have to give the edge to Portland. In the summer while folks sweat out the warm and humid summer temps in Burlington, Portland's summer sea breezes keep the temps more hospitalble.

Burlington has the lake waterfront while Portland has the buccolic Eastern Promenade and the beaches to the south. Portland feels like oldtime New England while Burlington is more an eccletic mix of modern progressive and New England.

Just a few observations.

[68vette]

I think The previous posts are right on. Costal Maine is more mild than Burlington, but as previously posted the dampness may make it feel as cold. If you are a gardener look at a climate zone map. Portland is in a more mild temp zone than Burlington and they get much less snow than we do in Burlington. I'm not sure how acurate this info is, but Portland gets on avg 6.5 inches of snow per year with 41 days below freezing. Burlington gets 78.3 inches of snow on avg with 154 days below freezing.

[girlandpup]

Originally Posted by 68vette

I think The previous posts are right on. Costal Maine is more mild than Burlington, but as previously posted the dampness may make it feel as cold. If you are a gardener look at a climate zone map. Portland is in a more mild temp zone than Burlington and they get much less snow than we do in Burlington. I'm not sure how acurate this info is, but Portland gets on avg 6.5 inches of snow per year with 41 days below freezing. Burlington gets 78.3 inches of snow on avg with 154 days below freezing.

Thanks for this - very informative. It makes me wonder now that maybe Burlington won't be for me (almost 80 inches of snow in one year!! - that's scary to think about driving in and just living through it). I don't mind the cold and know how to layer to stay warm, but I do want to be able to go hiking as much as possible (I'll hike in winter and with snow), but am afraid that too much snow and too freezing may become a problem. My dog will love it all, though!

[christoforest]

Girl and Pup,

Those weather numbers for Portland are way off.

Here is some data:

Burlington, Vermont Climate

Portland, Maine Climate

Portland actually gets about 60 inches of snow.

[girlandpup]

Originally Posted by christoforest

Girl and Pup,

Those weather numbers for Portland are way off.

Here is some data:

Burlington, Vermont Climate

Portland, Maine Climate

Portland actually gets about 60 inches of snow.

Thank you Christoforest! I checked out both links above. Also different from the climate stats. reported in this site (City-data). According to the sources above, it seems that Portland, ME has MORE snow than Burlington, or at least more precipitation (so I guess that could be either rain or snow), am I right? The temps. were pretty much comparable in their lows and highs (not really what would be considered significant I think). BUT - could you, or anyone else, help me to clarify this as well: Is there not much sunshine overall in Burlington? It seemed more comparable to the Pacific Northwest in the lack of sunshine. Is this accurate, or am I reading something wrong??

Thank you!

[christoforest]

Hi Girlandpup,

Both Portland and Burlington are snowy and relatively similar on the cold scale. Burlington will get a bit colder in the winter but it gets warmer faster in the spring and is a bit warmer in the summer. This is due to the ocean effect being bigger than the lake effect. Burlington is definitely cloudier for Nov, Dec and Jan than Portland, but not as bad as the NW. (I just moved to new England from Seattle myself) Burlington has a much more beautiful setting and I think is a more interesting city, but I would say overall the weather is probably a bit worse than Portland due to the clouds for those three months. Although it can take forever for spring to come in Portland. Feel free to ask anything more I am a weather freak!

[caphillsea77]

One advantage that Burlington has, if you need a big city fix, cosmopolitan Montreal in only a 90 minute drive away. Portland is about a 2 hour drive away from Boston.