WNC vs. Vermont (and possibly Charlottesville area, VA)

[motordavid]

Imo, from living here for 12 years:
yes, there are many homes for sale/homesites that have easy, flat driveways and are ranch/all one level homes vs our multilevel.

'Western NC' is a very large and diverse area, and I am not in the RE biz, so I can't point you to a dozen specific houses. Also, the many towns in western NC, (inc A'ville), are composed of many different 'areas' ranging from dbl wide parks in fields to 'burbs to mtn communities, to mansion areas, to very remote sites and homes.

But, we have friends all over western NC, and some of them live in single level homes and/or with very easy road and driveway entrances...they do exist. We didn't 'know' back in 2000 when we started building, and we learned to live with our situ.

Most of the easy access houses/home areas I have been to are in the lower elevations in/close in to towns, fwiw. And, that lower elevation usually precludes serious winter season/snow and thus the need for 4 WD, though many have AWD. But, really site and elevation dependent. 'Winter' here, at the 'normal' elevations, is a shadow of its former self these past years.
My 50Cts...
GL, mD

[Guitarmanrlk]

Thanks for the info Motordavid.

[Native Transplant]

Originally Posted by LuluWhite

Hello Forum Members,


1. Humidity comparison
2. Bug comparison!
3. Beauty comparison (natural beauty - mountains/scenery etc.)
4. Winter comparison (temp & length)
5. Sun comparison (more important in winter than in summer...don't mind clouds when it's warm out and LOVE big t-storms).
6. Anything else you'd care to compare.

Thanks for reading!

I lived in Putney, which is north of Brattleboro, from '94-97. I moved to Highlands (Macon/Jackson Co. line) in 1998 and left that same year. So, I'll need to jog my memory.

1. Humidity was worse in VT, but NC had its moments. I'm more of a cool weather kind of guy, so I am biased.

2. Never noticed many in either locale.

3. WNC is certainly not bad, but I was absolutely in love with SVT and the Tri-State Region (Keene, NH, Greenfield, Ma.). Natural scenery is a close call, but VT wins as far as town scenery. I'd have loved to go to Cullowhee, NC in daytime, because I love college towns, so i can't comment on that. Certainly no Brattleboro, VT, though.

4. WNC is much less of an issue as far as snow. Temp didn't get that low for m either. Certainly not near 0 (Brattleboro got to -15, IIRC, one time).

5. I don't even remember. I like it bleak and cool.

6. Very windy roads in WNC. I don't love that. Asheville drive was a chore. But then, Springfield, Mass drive was a bore.

[Booya]

I lived in southern Vt. for 4 years. To me there are many similarities and a lot to love in both areas. But the cost of living and cold are much higher/colder in Vt! Although I don't believe any where in the eastern U.S. compares in beauty to Vt., the western NC mts come close. One nice thing IMO is that you can actually live at higher elevation in some places in WNC than Vt (at least southern VT where I lived).

You are right the weather is much more moderate (even though some who have never experienced a Vt. winter will go on and on about how cold and the snow in winter in WNC). The HUGE difference is in the south (and yes including WNC) they don't clear the roads after snow like they do in Vt. In Vt. the roads are cleared in a snap.
There is a lot to love about moving south including weather, but still enjoying four seasons, and also the much lower cost of living. The people are much more conservative than in Vt. but I suppose that you have already figured that out. Good luck.