[capecodet]

My two cents as a Vermont homeowner for ten years or so...
White River Junction has some run down areas and can be a little depressed but, ten minutes in any other direction and it's like you are in another world. Norwich to the North (Expensive!), Woodstock to the West (voted best small town in America a few times) and Hartland to the South is nice.

The weather will be the toughest part to adapt to. Winter is Loooooonnnngggg! If you find a place with heat included all the better for you, snow removal too. I notice lots of people drive awd Subarus.

If you are coming specifically to WRJ you probably have job lined up there. You may want to look at other local areas in commuting distance just to see what's out there.

Now..for racism... I think it will be like most Northeast cities. People don't think they are racist or really want to be racist but they will act that way. As opposed to down south and the midwest where people are almost proud of it??? Mostly it's the old problem of fear and ignorance. Locals will be afraid if black people move in the city will become Oakland! Once they meet you and find out you are a nice person they will be overly happy to find out their little town is safe. They will want YOU to accept THEM! It's kind of silly but I saw it happen with my sister-in-law who is black. She moved into a small family neighborhood and people were leary until they found out she was normal, now it's like the neighbors want to earn the 'I'm not a Racist' merit badge by being her friend!

I think people will stare until they know you then wave every time they see you.

I forgot to add... REPUBLICAN!! Why oh Why? LOL

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by capecodet

I think people will stare until they know you then wave every time they see you.

Unfortunately, this rings true to me about where we are as a culture. I guess it's better than violence and oppression. Still a long way to go.

[GypsySoul22]

Originally Posted by capecodet

If you are coming specifically to WRJ you probably have job lined up there. You may want to look at other local areas in commuting distance just to see what's out there.

Nothing unless you are a tech or nurse.

[Georgiapeach32]

Originally Posted by capecodet

My two cents as a Vermont homeowner for ten years or so...
White River Junction has some run down areas and can be a little depressed but, ten minutes in any other direction and it's like you are in another world. Norwich to the North (Expensive!), Woodstock to the West (voted best small town in America a few times) and Hartland to the South is nice.

The weather will be the toughest part to adapt to. Winter is Loooooonnnngggg! If you find a place with heat included all the better for you, snow removal too. I notice lots of people drive awd Subarus.

If you are coming specifically to WRJ you probably have job lined up there. You may want to look at other local areas in commuting distance just to see what's out there.

Now..for racism... I think it will be like most Northeast cities. People don't think they are racist or really want to be racist but they will act that way. As opposed to down south and the midwest where people are almost proud of it??? Mostly it's the old problem of fear and ignorance. Locals will be afraid if black people move in the city will become Oakland! Once they meet you and find out you are a nice person they will be overly happy to find out their little town is safe. They will want YOU to accept THEM! It's kind of silly but I saw it happen with my sister-in-law who is black. She moved into a small family neighborhood and people were leary until they found out she was normal, now it's like the neighbors want to earn the 'I'm not a Racist' merit badge by being her friend!

I think people will stare until they know you then wave every time they see you.

I forgot to add... REPUBLICAN!! Why oh Why? LOL

Don't have a subaru...honda accord instead. Are snow tires needed? And just how long are winters? Are these long winters complete with snow? LOL

So I take it WRJ is a small town with okay people vs small town with rednecks? Here in the south small towns=rednecks so that's why I asked that.

[Georgiapeach32]

Ho are apartment rentals there? Seems like housing is quite expensive...correct me if I'm wrong.

[GypsySoul22]

Originally Posted by Georgiapeach32

Don't have a subaru...honda accord instead. Are snow tires needed? And just how long are winters? Are these long winters complete with snow? LOL

Most winters are pretty bad. We've been through 3, and I am from the Northeast but here it's outrageously cold and you get SNOW. Here in my area, this is how the winters went: First year: very snowy, not super cold, long, long winter. (till March or April snow was on the ground), Second year: VERY VERY cold, significant snow. This winter was VERY mild for snow (we hardly had any by February when normally you cannot see grass till March/April). We had a few cold spells but nothing like last year of 2 solid weeks of zero or something...the heating bill alone was $300.

That is also something to consider, Georgiapeach! Utilities are EXTREMELY expensive in the Upper Valley, more than other parts of New England (anyone want to tell me why?).

The sad part is rent is also high (but I think the rents may HAVE to go down if Dartmouth College and Dartmouth Hospital continue to lay off people...we may be looking at a ghost town here...).

Rents are high and I have to say there is nothing here to warrant charging $1,000 a month (average) for an apartment 2.5 hours from Boston...(next major real city).

My advice to you is either rent 'out of the area' but not too far away (Windsor is quite a nice town and it's no more than 20 minutes away from WRJ). You can take Route 91 straight into WRJ.

Also, WRJ is quite large...it spans from outside Quechee till up to Route 5. So where you live in WRJ will determine 'how far' you are from places, stores, and so on.

Once you know where you will work, I can help guide you. Again, feel free to PM. I am trying to be honest here and willing to help even though we are disenchanted with the area and hope to move by the late spring or summer.

PS YES YOU NEED SNOW TIRES. SERIOUSLY.

[capecodet]

Originally Posted by Georgiapeach32

Ho are apartment rentals there? Seems like housing is quite expensive...correct me if I'm wrong.

Rentals are expensive and heating truly is outrageous. I have a small house I have been renting out for a few years. Taxes on it are about 225/month, heat can be over $500-700/month!!! It's very difficult to find a tenant who can afford rent and heat. Most people are struggling and you find lots of people looking for housing at $500/month when most rentals are $1000/month. I've decided to try and sell it and the cost of heating is one of the reasons.

BTW...You might be better off with a Honda CR-V, all wheel drive isn't a must but you will come to love it.

[GypsySoul22]

This is all tied in with most people making @$10/$12/hr and cannot afford the inflated rates.

I also get the impression this area is very heavy with 'help from social services.' Now, this is not in itself a bad thing (anyone can need a little help, especially when wages are low and prices high.).

And don't think buying a condo is a 'great deal' either. Initially you may chew them down to $100,000 or so but they need major upgrades to be heating competitive...

Do your homework and see the Upper Valley has the highest utilities rates around.

I am not exaggerating when I say you can drive around our apartment complex and see NO ONE with lights on even if they are home. People literally sit in the dark to save $.

[Georgiapeach32]

Wow and I thought my $700.00 rent and $150.00 gas bill was knocking serious fire out of my pockets. I thought WRJ would be a lot cheaper since it's a smaller town but I guess not eh? I'm currently living in a townhome style apartment and would likely want the same there especially since I have a dog. So my question is, if wages are so slim and everything is so high, how are people making it? I could see things being quite expensive if you are living near or in the big city but I'm getting the impression that things are just ridiculously high everywhere.

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by Georgiapeach32

So my question is, if wages are so slim and everything is so high, how are people making it? I could see things being quite expensive if you are living near or in the big city but I'm getting the impression that things are just ridiculously high everywhere.

My husband and I work hard. We enough money to do what we want and save a bit. We're never flush and we're also not deprived -- not hardly. We know lots of people doing about as well as we are or better, if they've focused more on their careers or businesses than we have. Some we know are not doing as well, perhaps working harder, perhaps for less money.

We don't find it ridiculously high-cost here. Especially when we compare our expenses with my family in South Florida and north of Boston, and my friends in New York and California. The only people we know paying less for housing and expenses than we do are my cousins living in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Rutland, where we live, was considered depressed way before this recession. But I haven't seen anyone sitting in the dark to save money. And we walk everywhere! We see people up and out and about and doing their thing at home, too. As always, there are also lots of people who aren't getting their basic needs met. There are many people who are being laid off or having hours reduced. I'm pretty sure that's happening everywhere.