[RVlegaleagle]

Am planning to relocate later this year early next year up to Vermont and am lately considering New Hampshire. Will rent for 6 months or a year at first to sort of scope out the area for what I am looking for before buying anything. Although the buying now is from what I heard is through the roof...perhaps after spending the winter-mud season up there...there may be some fire sales in the coming spring-summer...lol.

It would be nice to get some opinions from those already living up there or have lived up there recently. A brief snap shot of me and what place might be a particularly good fit for someone in my shoes would be helpful and appreciated.

I am a semi-retired trial lawyer from eastern long Island, New York where I was born and raised. Frankly I have had enough of New York, its uppity-snooty attitude and non-stop "New York Minute" mantra lifestyle. Personally, I prefer to just be happy in the moment

Anyway, I just visited with a family member who is also an attorney, married, two wonderful children near Andover Vermont this past February. Actually my dog and I loved the area, the town people and was actually allowed to bring my dog into the Church for services...lol....

Then my dog and I did a two (2) day road trip from Weston-Andover up to to St J's, then over to the capitol, Waterbury, then to Burlington and back. (Gee the hills by Killington are something to drive down). Still liked the Weston-Andover area after seeing those places. I heard the North East Kingdom area is beautiful but can be a place where "bad things can happen to good people".

Looking for a modest 3 or 4 bedroom preferably a ranch on 5 acres + with low property taxes. Being single it would be nice to be near somewhere were there are available single women in their 40's-50's for dating purposes. Would also be nice to be near decent medical care, the Courts, some live music establishments, co-ops for fresh foods love to cook at home, somewhat populated buy not like Burlington or a suburb house after house or on a major traffic route.

To make matters more complicated for me my family member I visited is now looking into buying a place in Walpole New Hampshire. Never have been to New Hampshire so any comparisons to Vermont in that regard would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any opinions, insights or comments.

[bostongymjunkie]

Originally Posted by RVlegaleagle

Am planning to relocate later this year early next year up to Vermont and am lately considering New Hampshire. Will rent for 6 months or a year at first to sort of scope out the area for what I am looking for before buying anything. Although the buying now is from what I heard is through the roof...perhaps after spending the winter-mud season up there...there may be some fire sales in the coming spring-summer...lol.

It would be nice to get some opinions from those already living up there or have lived up there recently. A brief snap shot of me and what place might be a particularly good fit for someone in my shoes would be helpful and appreciated.

I am a semi-retired trial lawyer from eastern long Island, New York where I was born and raised. Frankly I have had enough of New York, its uppity-snooty attitude and non-stop "New York Minute" mantra lifestyle. Personally, I prefer to just be happy in the moment

Anyway, I just visited with a family member who is also an attorney, married, two wonderful children near Andover Vermont this past February. Actually my dog and I loved the area, the town people and was actually allowed to bring my dog into the Church for services...lol....

Then my dog and I did a two (2) day road trip from Weston-Andover up to to St J's, then over to the capitol, Waterbury, then to Burlington and back. (Gee the hills by Killington are something to drive down). Still liked the Weston-Andover area after seeing those places. I heard the North East Kingdom area is beautiful but can be a place where "bad things can happen to good people".

Looking for a modest 3 or 4 bedroom preferably a ranch on 5 acres + with low property taxes. Being single it would be nice to be near somewhere were there are available single women in their 40's-50's for dating purposes. Would also be nice to be near decent medical care, the Courts, some live music establishments, co-ops for fresh foods love to cook at home, somewhat populated buy not like Burlington or a suburb house after house or on a major traffic route.

To make matters more complicated for me my family member I visited is now looking into buying a place in Walpole New Hampshire. Never have been to New Hampshire so any comparisons to Vermont in that regard would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any opinions, insights or comments.

I've lived in both states but not for significantly long periods of time, so you will get more experienced and granular opinions from longer term inhabitants of the states. That said, I have spent significant amounts of time in NH over my lifetime and love the state overall. When I lived in VT I was somewhat shocked at the differences from what I knew of NH. First of all, VT has a total state population which is around that of the city of Boston. In other words, if you are looking for a social scene you won't find much, and what you will find will be either in or around Burlington--if you want to call it that. I say that because I found it to be not very diverse. Don't get me wrong, I met many fine and decent Vermonters, but I also found most to be rather clannish and insular, even by New England standards. Burlington is also heavily influenced by extremely left wing politics. No, not liberal, extremely left wing. If you like that, have at it. Vermont is beautiful and peaceful. Burlington also has Lake Champlain and a decent little beach to go with it. If you are seeking low property taxes you won't find it in the Burlington VT region, or in most of NH. Taxes may be less in the northern regions of VT but I'm not familiar with lifestyle there, but Highgate (NW) area is a relatively quick drive to Montreal. Northeast Kingdom is quite rural.

However, New Hampshire has many more areas that seem to fit your other criteria, including the Concord and Lebanon areas. While people from the most rural northern areas of New Hampshire tend to be similar to Vermonters, those in the central to southern areas are actually very down to earth, and friendly. They are a diverse mix of working class and professional folks. Lebanon--home to Dartmouth Medical--is more rural but has most of what you seek. there are a number of nice eateries and other small business, as well as bigger box stores and supermarkets. Outside Concord might also be a good option, as the area is a really peaceful wooded, non-urban environment with the amenities of the capital city nearby, as well as easy access to MA/Boston via I-93. You can also head eastbound to the NH Seacoast which has some of the best beaches on the east coast in my opinion. I'm sure I'll catch some flak from some of the Vermonters but it's just my opinion, and I have no ill-will toward Vermonters. I think some of the insular attitude I've encountered stems from their experience of seeing an influx of Mass and NY people migrate there over the years and the ensuing negativity that some of that has brought. I do get that part of it.

[AtkinsonDan]

Vermont is a better fit for ex-New Yorkers.