[Kellihope]

OH Boy!!! We are singing a P&S tomorrow on our home/farm so can start searching for a rental down near my husband's new job in Cabot!!! We will probably rent for 1 to 3 years while saving for a down payment on a home as well as figuring out where to end up.
Cabot seems to be right about mid way between St. Jay and Montpelier.....which direction should we head???

A little about us, we are early 30's, both college educated, liberal but open minded and somewhat fiscally conservative (we like to vote on the issues, not along party lines), we have 2 young kids (ages 2yrs and 9months) so will be looking at elementary schools in 3ish years. My husband's starting income is mid 50's, I wont be working right off.

We want really great schools for the kids but find it really hard to make decisions now that will effect them later, not knowing who they will be then...for instance, if we plan to live in St. Jay so that they can go to the Academy...what if they are the type of kid that does better in a small school? Plus is a top rated school today going to still be great in 12 years? And we want to start tapping into the community right away and make some lasting friendships so would love if we could somehow decide now where we want to live for the rest of our lives, that would be great

Pros for Montpelier - happening city (I hear?), lots of young families (I hear?), near Burlington, near the highway, Montpelier High has a great rep.

Pros for St. Jay - my whole family lives in NH over the border from there so it would be really nice to be closer to family...


My general impression of St. Jay is that it's slightly lower income, slightly lower educated population...? And of Montpelier is that its slightly crunchy granola but highly educated and slightly higher income?

Any input would be wonderful, thank you SO much!

[Sherylcatmom]

Congratulations on moving on up! I hope Vermont is great for you and your family.

I believe you've got the picture from your description below, plus the benefits of sending your children to St. J Academy.

However, delete the "slightly" in both cases: While beautiful and wonderful in many ways, to me St. J has a very depressed feel, a sense that it desperately needs a sustained infusion of life force and hope. Whereas Montpelier is quite crunchy -- in a good way.

I'm a townie, an extravert. I like to walk to everything, to be involved in the human systems making good humane, civic, and cultural things happen for my community. I love the outdoors, but need a vibrant town. I could be happy living in either St. J. or Montpelier. In St. J, it would take more and ongoing work for me to find that energetic vein to add my own energy and get involved. Whereas I've lived in several states and traveled the U.S. fairly extensively, and Montpelier is my favorite city anywhere. If I was choosing between the St. J and Montpelier, there would be no contest.

Originally Posted by Kellihope

Pros for Montpelier - happening city (I hear?), lots of young families (I hear?), near Burlington, near the highway, Montpelier High has a great rep.

Pros for St. Jay - my whole family lives in NH over the border from there so it would be really nice to be closer to family...

My general impression of St. Jay is that it's slightly lower income, slightly lower educated population...? And of Montpelier is that its slightly crunchy granola but highly educated and slightly higher income?

Any input would be wonderful, thank you SO much!

[arctichomesteader]

I think St. Johnsbury is better if you want to be close to the best nature in the state, whereas Montpelier is better if you're a town/city type of person...

[vter]

You could live in Walden or Peacham and your kids would have school choice at the high school level. Most go to St. Johnsbury but others go to Danville, Cabot, Lyndon etc. St. Johnsbury Academy has always been a top school and I imagine it will be in 12 years. It's private so it does not rely on public funding nor does it have to follow the "rules" that public schools do. Danvillle is a much smaller school and gets "good grades" so to speak.
Yes, I find St. Johnsbury much more "depressed" than Montpelier. But you really can't go wrong with the Academy IMO.

[Dippylou]

For me it would be no competition. It sounds like you would fit right in Montpelier. If you're hoping to find a decent place to rent start looking now. It is not full of high quality houses. Lots of apartments but finding a family home with a good landlord is much more difficult. And if buying remember your taxes will be quite high.

[Kellihope]

Thanks everyone,
We have decided on the st jay side to be closer to family. If love to one day buy in peacham, we have been spending a lot of time in the area and it seems lovely. We are having a heck of a time finding a rental and are starting to think about buying but time is short...