[GiantRutgersfan]

Are there jobs available and how much would it cost to buy a 3+ bedroom house with an acre or more in property?

[Sherylcatmom]

There are always jobs, but are they jobs doing what you do? If there are jobs in your line of work, do they pay enough for you to get by? You'd have to look into what's available here, if anything, in your particular line of work. All the towns you mentioned are considered pretty limited in professional opportunities.

A house with an acre in Rutland city is somewhat unusual because it's a city, albeit a small one. Still, 3+BR houses on an acre, with varying repair conditions, neighborhoods, and amenities, may go for $250,000 - $600,000.

In towns surrounding Rutland, such as Rutland Town, W. Rutland, Mendon, Pittsford, Chittenden, and Clarendon, there's a wider selection of houses on one or more acres. The prices would generally be lower than in Rutland City, though there are more upscale areas where they'd be more.

Go here Trulia - Real Estate, Homes For Sale, Sold Properties, Real Estate Maps, enter Rutland, VT, and choose minimum 3 Bedrooms in your search criteria. Note that this website displays the address of most houses listed, so you can Mapquest any that interest you. At Trulia you can search homes in the other towns you mentioned, too.

[OhBeeHave]

Springfield can range greatly, however the lions share of listings I have seen are under $290K.

[sugarmaple]

There are several houses in Springfield that are actually under $180K; and some that are not in the town per se but the outskirts that have some land.....

[mustmove]

Not cheap enough considering salaries, taxes and job opportunities. That said you should be able to find a nice place for under 200K.