[annie_CO]

Hi,

I am poindering moving to VT from Denver area. Thus far my focus has been on Brattleboro and Burlington although I am open to other areas. I lived in CT and MA for most of my life so am somewhat familiar with VT areas. I am really not a big city type of person. I prefer smaller towns near cities where I can easily take weekend trips to visit other small towns and enjoy the outdoors and like to stay clear of the shoppping scene for the most part (I prefer local businesses and thrift). I also don't think much of urban sprawl/growth.

I am also hoping to find a place where it is easier to connect with other people, a friendly safe area with a reaonable cost of living. I love the outdoors (hiking, cross-country skiing, and whitewater paddling) and also enjoy volunteering (especially with at-risk/special needs children and teens). I also enjoy yoga, retreats, attending church, international folk dancing (which I really enjoy), tea/coffee shops (may sound silly I know, but I love tea), and helping the environment (trail work, recycling, etc). I am hoping for a slower pace of life (although I know that is in my control).

I prefer an area with a lower cost of living where it is easy to connect with others who enjoy the outdoors (meetup groups, paddling groups, hiking, etc).

Down the road I am hoping to have my own business -- community center/working with SPED.

Could yoiu recommend any areas to look into?

I am also considering UT, NC, and parts of Oregon.

Thank you for your time! All the best,
Annie

[timberline742]

I'm not sure reasonable cost of living goes well with Vermont anymore.

What will you be doing for work?

I think you'd like Brattleboro and Burlington, but COL is high for the wages paid.

[cgregor]

Annie, look into livable wage Vermont to see how affordable it might be. I think Springfield would love to have you move here; you sound like the sort of person who would love to help us renovate the place. Various real estate sites have demographic information for our town-- I recall hearing the per capita income is around $28,000, the average household income around $45,000, the median income around $52,000, but that info could be dated. If you simply want to be part of the audience, Bratt and Burlington would be excellent choices.

[annie_CO]

Thank you, cgregor and timberline742.

I appreciate the information! I remember Springfield I think from some of my drives through VT... small, older... nice.

Currently I work in education reporting/management, but am hoping to spread my wings and start my own business. I am working now on the vision to that and how to make it happen and be profitable for me.

All the best to you!
Annie

[darky]

Come to Richford!!
It has a bad reputation and everybody I talk to (that doesn't live here) make a face when I say I live here and thanks to all these people my rent is dirt cheap! I have a beautiful 3 bedroom Victorian house with plenty light, original wallpaper, great landlords, neighbors, etc! We have everything walking distance and aside from a decent restaurant or bar, there's everything you need, really... Grocery store, corner store, library, post office, churches, schools, parks, coffee shop/deli, doctor's and dentist' office, daycare for our son, farmer's market on Saturdays, 2 thrift stores, trails, the river, trees, flowers... And a yoga center 15 mins away, in Sutton (actually there's free yoga in the park right now in Montgomery, 15 mins away too, where there's also great restaurants, bars, rec center with free summer concerts, great swimming holes...!!)

I'm already kind of tired to constantly defend Richford so I'll stop here... I just love my town and I kind of wish people weren't so hard on it... But like I said, that just means cheap rent for me !!!

I have 2 jobs and drive 10 mins to Enosburg and 40 to St-Albans and it's very doable for me!

[Wells5]

Brattleboro, for sure. But buy a house in Hinsdale, NH just across the river.

[Gemini1963]

Originally Posted by darky

Come to Richford!!
It has a bad reputation and everybody I talk to (that doesn't live here) make a face when I say I live here and thanks to all these people my rent is dirt cheap! I have a beautiful 3 bedroom Victorian house with plenty light, original wallpaper, great landlords, neighbors, etc! We have everything walking distance and aside from a decent restaurant or bar, there's everything you need, really... Grocery store, corner store, library, post office, churches, schools, parks, coffee shop/deli, doctor's and dentist' office, daycare for our son, farmer's market on Saturdays, 2 thrift stores, trails, the river, trees, flowers... And a yoga center 15 mins away, in Sutton (actually there's free yoga in the park right now in Montgomery, 15 mins away too, where there's also great restaurants, bars, rec center with free summer concerts, great swimming holes...!!)

I'm already kind of tired to constantly defend Richford so I'll stop here... I just love my town and I kind of wish people weren't so hard on it... But like I said, that just means cheap rent for me !!!

I have 2 jobs and drive 10 mins to Enosburg and 40 to St-Albans and it's very doable for me!

You make Richford sound REALLY great! (I mean it!) Very tempting....

[darky]

Are you looking to relocate to Vermont?

[annie_CO]

Originally Posted by Wells5

Brattleboro, for sure. But buy a house in Hinsdale, NH just across the river.

Thank you! I recall some of the smaller, quainter towns in southwest NH. Just saw this painting of Hinsdale: http://hinsdale.govoffice.com/vertic...5A58FE4%7D.JPG

I will look into that! Don't know why I didn't think of that either.

Thank you!

[annie_CO]

Originally Posted by darky

Are you looking to relocate to Vermont?

Yes; and I am considering other areas as well, but it is narrowing down perhaps to VT/NH, western NC, or maybe northern CA.

I love this forum -- I get more information that I ever could from googling!

Thank you and all the best,
Annie