[chilly]

Hi all. I'm just looking for some thoughts or preferences between living northeast or southeast of Burlington. Specifically, to the northeast would be Cambridge, maybe towards Milton a bit. To the southeast would be around Bristol - maybe Lincoln. While I can imagine there are other nice places around, these are logistically my two real options, so I'm curious just to compare the two areas.

I like having the city reasonably near, but am realistically a bit of a homebody, so it's more for the conveniences than the culture. I'm big into the outdoors and would be a passholder to Stowe or Sugarbush (as applicable), skiing most weekends. I probably have a slight preference for Sugarbush from that perspective, but not too strongly so. I'd be interested to hear comparisons on that too. From what I can tell, property looks a little cheaper to the northeast, but beyond that, I don't have too much else to go on.

Any thoughts?
Thanks

[vter]

What about work?
I live near Bristol.....most folks commute to the Burlington area.

[chilly]

Originally Posted by vter

What about work?
I live near Bristol.....most folks commute to the Burlington area.

That's actually it... I have to choose between two jobs. I hate commuting, so my goal is to live between work and skiing - hopefully 1/2hr or less to either. Milton<-Cambridge->Stowe or Vergennes<-Bristol->Sugarbush appear to be my best options that seem to meet that goal. The jobs themselves may dictate the choice once I find out all the details... but if all else ends up being equal, it would be good to hear opinions of the two areas for living. I've been in Bristol, and at first glance it is very appealing. I've yet to visit Cambridge.

[vter]

Keep in mind that to get from Cambridge to Stowe, you can't take Route 108 in the winter, so it's a longer way around. Cambridge does have Smuggers Notch however!
If you do choose the Vergennes job, in addition to Bristol, check out Hinesburg. Nice small community, 20 minutes to Burlington, about the same to Mad River Glen (add 10 more minutes to Sugarbush). Also, I saw you mention Lincoln, Lincoln Gap Road is closed in winter so you'd have to go north to take 17 across the mountains.
I live a little north of Bristol and from my house its 17.5 miles to my hang out...Mad River Glen. Takes about a half hour to get there.

[flu189]

Speaking for the southside option I would recommend Hinesburg, Huntington, Richmond. I live right on the Huntington line and work in Colchester so my commute distance is 19 miles with multiple options for routes. Mad River ski area is 16 miles away and Stowe is 25 miles. Taft's Corners in Williston for shopping is 13 miles away. By using side routes traffic is never an issue and the roads are well plowed in the winter. Anyway, I picked my location when we moved here two years ago to be out in the country, but still be close to work, shopping, and revreation areas. I know some folks who live north and use Rte 15 and traffic issues are a complaint, just as I have heard Rte 7 coming north toward Burlington can also be a bit slow. The trees are slow to bud now but the house for sale signs are springing up rapidly along the routes I travel.

[harry chickpea]

Hmmm. Milton - Cambridge - Smuggler's Notch/Madonna or Jay Peak. I'm familiar with Cambridge and Jeffersonville. Personally, I think property values in Jeffersonville will continue to rise and that it could become another Stowe. Pleasant Valley (above and south of Cambridge) is nice. These areas are rural - meaning that shopping and Burlington are far away in the summer and too d....d far away in the winter.

Sounds like you might have a teaching position. Milton teachers are unionized and have pushed some hard won concessions through over the years.

[rjh0896]

Hi,
We are considering moving to Vermont this summer and could use some inside advice. We have four school age children and were wondering where the best schools are. We were also wanting to have ideas on what communities to look into. We have done alot of research and have most of the schools are good and been given names like Middlebury. My husband is flying out there this week to meet with a realitor. He will be working at Fletcher Allen as a nurse. Any advice would be great!

[VTeratheart]

As far as where to live, it would be helpful to know your price range. Also, if you go back and search this forum, there is a lot of info that should help you out, and a bit of it is fairly recent. Do you want to live further out in the country, or be close to shopping, etc.? That kind of info can steer you in some very different directions.

[chilly]

Thanks for the good feedback. I was aware of Lincoln Gap, but not 108 being closed! That's a biggie! It also hadn't dawned on me how close to Jay Peak I would end up being if up in the Cambridge area... another interesting twist.

I like the idea of living more rural, with <30miles to the city for periodic supplies. A big grocery store is one big selling point though... if the rural town at least has that, it would be great. I saw that Bristol had that. Regarding price, I'd be looking just for a small house with some privacy and would like to be as far under $200k as possible. That looks tough in the southern lands. I do prefer the trees to the farms, but I still like farms and don't mind the aroma's.

I'll jot some of these suggestions down and make sure to drive through.
Thanks

[vter]

If you go with the Vergennes job (Goodrich?), check out Starksboro (this will put you closest to the Mad River Valley ski areas) and Monkton, as well as the eastern part of Ferrisburg, and New Haven.
Vergennes has a small grocery store as does Bristol, but when I need to do a "heavy duty" shopping I go to either Williston or Middlebury to the bigger grocery stores. Both Bristol, Midd, & Vergennes have nice "health food" stores as well.
In Bristol, stop at the Bobcat Cafe for dinner - you need reservations if you want a table, but we always go in and sit at the bar. Vergennes also has some great restaurants.
If you have any more specific questions about the Bristol area, please post!