Moving to Vermont Maybe????? (Burlington, Bennington: relocate, insurance, vacation)

[bugsarben]

Hello there,

Considering moving to Vt. to purchase a bed and Breakfast in the Bellows Falls area. We have been doing this for some time, and thought that Vt. was for us. We use to live in coastal MA so know New England a bit but not so much VT.

Is the Bellows Falls area a nice area to live. How about Saxtons River? How are the schools? Is it a run down area or up and coming? Nice downtown in Bellows Falls? Saxtons River? Is it a good place to bring up a family?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[vter]

I would consider Bellows Falls proper as an up and coming town. It used to be pretty run down but there has been some revitalization in the downtown. Saxton's River is a nice village. There is a private high school there, Vermont Academy, which has a nice campus.
Other than that, I'm not too familiar with the area. Hopefully someone more local will chime in.
Regarding schools - not sure. I can tell you that at the high school level the school is regionalized - Bellows Falls Union High School. Vermont is a great place for kids to grow up.

[Adream]

Hi bugsarben,

I know people who live in Saxtons River, and I have visited there. It is beautiful, and they tell me they would never live anywhere else.

I am more familiar with Stowe, having a little vacation home there.
I don't have more detail than this re: Saxtons River, but I hope this helps alittle. Good luck.

[vsbooks]

Hello-
I own Village Square Booksellers in Bellows Falls. My husband & I moved here in 1999, following 7 years of traveling aboard a sailboat (Caribbean, Transatlantic & England) & a Dutch Barge in Europe (France, Belgum, Holland). (We left Cape Cod in '92.)

Found community very welcoming to flatlanders. Great Library, movie run by Town Rec Dept in newly restored BF Opera House.

Purchased bookstore in Nov 2000, when former owner was closing it to move to used bookstore in Brattleboro. Only 600 sq ft- moved next door in May 2002- now 2000+ sq ft.

Easy to become active in local organizations, politics, chamber of commerce (I've been on Board & am a PAST-President). Check our website www.villagesquarebooks.com or chamber site at www.gfrcc.org (I maintain both) I organize 3rd Friday Art Walk each month. This weekend is Rockingham Old Home Days- 3 day event in town (see chamber site for details).

Housing costs have been driven up dramatically since '99. Our arts revival & good press in NY Times & Boston Globe brought many city folks looking for inexpensive 2nd homes or seeking to leave NYC after 9/11.

Lots of restaurants in BF & vicinity. Public & private schools available. Both elementary schools (Central & Saxtons River) undergoing major renovations this summer.

Not a huge job market- some light manufacturing & retail, medical & insurance, etc.

Pat

[Adream]

Originally Posted by vsbooks

Hello-
I own Village Square Booksellers in Bellows Falls. My husband & I moved here in 1999, following 7 years of traveling aboard a sailboat (Caribbean, Transatlantic & England) & a Dutch Barge in Europe (France, Belgum, Holland). (We left Cape Cod in '92.)

Found community very welcoming to flatlanders. Great Library, movie run by Town Rec Dept in newly restored BF Opera House.

Purchased bookstore in Nov 2000, when former owner was closing it to move to used bookstore in Brattleboro. Only 600 sq ft- moved next door in May 2002- now 2000+ sq ft.

Easy to become active in local organizations, politics, chamber of commerce (I've been on Board & am a PAST-President). Check our website www.villagesquarebooks.com or chamber site at www.gfrcc.org (I maintain both) I organize 3rd Friday Art Walk each month. This weekend is Rockingham Old Home Days- 3 day event in town (see chamber site for details).

Housing costs have been driven up dramatically since '99. Our arts revival & good press in NY Times & Boston Globe brought many city folks looking for inexpensive 2nd homes or seeking to leave NYC after 9/11.

Lots of restaurants in BF & vicinity. Public & private schools available. Both elementary schools (Central & Saxtons River) undergoing major renovations this summer.

Not a huge job market- some light manufacturing & retail, medical & insurance, etc.

Pat

Pat, what an interesting life you've led! Do you find after all that exciting travel that putting down roots in Vermont has worked for you?

Do you also find that people moving there from the metropolitan areas have assimilated well, and enjoyed what Vermont has to offer? It's nice that the local people are welcoming to "flatlanders."

[DogLady321]

I live in Brattleboro and would say that Bellows Falls is a bit rundown BUT the downtown area seems to be improving. Saxtons River is definitely a town that has a bit more money but doesn't have much of a downtown per say.
If the B and B is in a nice section of Bellows Falls it could be successful.
Is this a B and B that is already in operation and has proved that it can succeed in this town?

[mmccrea]

Hello,this is my first post to any forum but I am confused about the economy in Vermont. My husband and i have visited the Bennington area for the last six or so years while unemployment seems very low,people who live in the area have told us that there is very little work,we are looking to relocate in the next few years because we are not able to keep up with the high cost of living on Long Island.We fell in love with that area when my oldest son went to school at College of Southern Vermont. Any info on this, Thank you.

[chaz longue]

mmccrea -

I live in Burlington, so I can't speak to the specifics of Bennington. But I can recommend the State Of Vt web pages, as well as a fantastic resource maintained by The Center For Rural Studies at The University of Vermont. Those two websites will provide hours of amusement and answer many of your questions! They are both very easy to find on the www.

[Perly]

Originally Posted by mmccrea

Hello,this is my first post to any forum but I am confused about the economy in Vermont. My husband and i have visited the Bennington area for the last six or so years while unemployment seems very low,people who live in the area have told us that there is very little work,we are looking to relocate in the next few years because we are not able to keep up with the high cost of living on Long Island.We fell in love with that area when my oldest son went to school at College of Southern Vermont. Any info on this, Thank you.

I suggest you try the Strafford area. Beautiful, and the economy is going great. Lowest unemployment area in Vermont.

[mackymoo]

I would not recommed Bellows Falls as an investment. It really doesn't have anything to offer and the crime rate is rising. Brattleboro and ski towns are your best bet.