[pod]

hi. I'm looking to move to VT from MA. MA to me is to busy, I don't use the city, and not enough land in the good towns, and the police presence is way to much..

I'm looking to see if you guys can direct me to a town I'm looking for. If any of you have been to Concord or Lexington in MA you know what I'm looking for. I'm very young and retired, but I act very old. My weekends are spent inside... Looking for places with 4-10 acres ( not looking for hundreds of acres). Want a town where there is actually places to eat and not just filled with banks. Wanting a town with lots of trails / places to take my dogs. Looking for a town that is semi active but are very relaxed people. I have about a mill to spend for a place so I don't mind neighborhoods that are expensive if in return you have understated wealthy ( like concord MA ). I guess Im looking for just that a town of understated wealthy people that are relaxed, love playing with there kids and when you walk by them you always say hi. I want a town where there is a couple things to do but you go into the other towns for malls and entertainment. I have looked at places like Woodstock but they have to much land and nothing in town. I just don't know what towns to look at as if you look at Lexington MA, I hate Arlington that borders it and VT seems like the same, where every town is different and just don't want to end up in the wrong town. Just looking for a small and very safe clean town where there is alot of family involvement...

Well thanks for any advice and spelling like be off as I write this from my phone

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by pod

If any of you have been to Concord or Lexington in MA you know what I'm looking for. I'm very young and retired, but I act very old. My weekends are spent inside... Looking for places with 4-10 acres ( not looking for hundreds of acres). Want a town where there is actually places to eat and not just filled with banks. Looking for a town that is semi active but are very relaxed people.

Sounds like you're describing Montpelier to me. You could get lots of house and property for way less than a $million, which is a good thing because you may want to set aside that extra $$$ to pay the property taxes. Also, there are wonderful homes/properties with somewhat lower taxes within 3.5 miles of downtown Montpelier in East Montpelier & Middlesex.

[quickdraw]

Vermont towns are a lot different than Massachusetts towns. The only towns that come to mind are Montpelier, Middlebury and Norwich. Norwich is also right across from Hanover NH, so you have two small towns to utilize.

Middlebury might be too small.

[VTeratheart]

If you have a lot of money to spend, which it sounds like you do, you might like Norwich. I grew up there, and there are some gorgeous newer houses there. The taxes will be really high, but that might not be a problem for you. Hanover is really close with a nice, but small, downtown. There are lots of community things to do there, including much with Dartmouth College. West Leb. is there for shopping, with lots of smaller, cute shops. Boston is only 2 hours south, and Burlington is only 1 1/2 hours north, for changes in scenery.

Another town might be Shelburne. Some gorgeuos houses on the lake, or near it, very close to Burlington with much going on any time. Good luck!

[Tupperpatr]

I agree - check out Shelburne or Charlotte. You will fit right in. Charlotte has beautiful property on the lake.

Best of luck.

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by Tupperpatr

I agree - check out Shelburne or Charlotte. You will fit right in. Charlotte has beautiful property on the lake.

Best of luck.

Those towns are nice, but neither has any kind of functional downtown. They are nothing like Concord, MA.

I'm thinking Norwich/Hanover is a close match. If I had cash and wanted to retire to VT that's where I'd go.