Bangor, Portland or Burlington (VT)?

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by MikeSL

Currently I am residing on Mount Desert Island and I love it. Beautiful place to live, however, the employment options are too limited so I've decided (and been urged) to move on.
Considering Bangor and Portland, Maine and also Burlington, Vermont but I am having trouble weighing out all the pluses and minuses.

Anyone live in all three places by chance?

Other then employment do you enjoy living there?

what do you like or dislike about it?

I would look into Portland. Portland is the largest market and expanding outside of Portland into the surrounding communities neither Bangor or Burlington is even close.

You can still find affordable coastal living working in Portland depending on your ability to commute. Brunswick/bath comes to mind as more affordable coastal living options and still with in a reasonable drive to downtown Portland.

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by jlcoffin

I have a summer farm about thirty mins inland from Portland. Many of my neighbors commute and for the most part are nervous about their jobs. The economy like many places has taken its toll. I'm not sure what your looking for but for me, Portland is a bit dissapointing. It is fairly dirty, sprawls all over the place and I was surprised how much graffitti there is and a geniune lack of interest to fix it. Also, Cape Elizabeth liberals pretty much run the show. I'm a moderate all things considered, but what has me thinking of moving is the fact that they are creating a welfare state out of at least our neck of the woods. Every year I go back, trailers and hillbilly crap grow closer and closer to our small and historical area. All of us hate it but there is no voting power due to the small populations of these towns. I wanted to leave the west for that very reason only to find Maine turning into the same thing. I'm not a snob, but I like well kept areas. On top of which, welfare brings in its share of problems and house vandalism and theft are increasing every year. I am looking at the Burlington Stowe area.
Am I barking up yet another Portland tree?? Any advice would be great.
Hope this helps
PS: Desert Isle is pretty hard to beat!!! lol

Yes, move to the Boston area. Wealthy towns and communities outside of Boston have very little rif raf and are prestine. If your educated and can get a good paying job to afford the high housing costs its worth it. Though they lean liberal democratic there is a much more independant population over all.

Towns with more of a population then cities in Maine will have less crime. There are no trailer parks being built, towns are walkable with tree lined streets and town centers florish with mom and pop shops.

I am sure they have their problems but compared to most places I have lived it still seems to be the best I have seen in as far as new england village feel.