Posted: 1/2/2010 7:05:49 AM EDT
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In the next several years I'd like to relocate from my current hellhole CT to the VT NH area. I've spent some time up there and really like it. I'm starting to gather information about the area. I'm looking for some local knowledge from people who live up there. Anything you can tell me about the job market, housing market, etc. I'm currently going back to school for a degree in general studies so I will be pretty flexible on jobs. I would like to live in a fairly remote area but be a reasonable distance from work, stores, etc.
Any advice on where I should be looking? Thanks in advance. |
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The Upper Valley area of Vermont and NH is where I live (on the VT side). I have heard on the radio that it is one of the least affected areas during the recession. Jobs are out there I suppose but I haven't really been looking into specific industries so I couldn't tell you if alot are hiring right now. Most of the bigger companies are located in NH in towns like Claremont, Lebanon, and Hanover. VT is more like a bedroom state. The reason I like the upper valley is because you can live in a truely rural town (sometimes to the point of being isolated with no good tv/phone/internet services or even a decent road) but still have access to pretty much any kind of restaurant or shopping centers you could want with a 15 to 30 minute drive. I guess that NH has it easier as far as taxes go. Vermont was rated as the healthiest state last year for whatever that is worth. VT has excellent gun laws except for the no suppressors thing. NH is great too you just have to get a permit to concealed carry.
Here is my opinion of some towns near me. (in VT) Hartland: Nice quiet little town. Has a gas station, a general store(that sells guns), a bank, three PO's, a diner, a hair salon, a yogo center, and a laundry mat, no stoplights, one of the better Elementary schools in the area. Everything from trailers to multimillion dollar estates(including charles bronson's). Windsor: Typical of a town with large factories that have closed down, windsor is a pretty rough place. While it has a bunch of conveinient businesses and the architecture downtown is classic small town usa, it has a big crime and drug problem. Quechee:Upscale "tourist" town so in addition to the convienience stores it has boutiques and antique stores. Many residents are transplants. Has a small ski hill. Much of the town is owned/run by the quechee lakes association. Hartford: Quechee/white river jct/wilder/west hartford/and hartford are all bouroughs of Hartford but I put quechee in its own section because it is a distinct area. The rest of Hartford is a great middle of the road town with most of what you would need and located right next to lebanon NH. The area highschool/vocational center is located here. |
Thanks for the info. My main concern is finding suitable employment. I will have a pension kicking in by then so that will help things alot. How is the area as far as small businesses are concerned? I guess it would depend on the nature of the business, but do they generally do ok? I'm a big fitness guy so one thought that crossed my mind was to open a gym. The area up there really is beautiful and the quality of life seems much better than down here. CT was recently named the most unhappy state in the country 
I don't know why everyone is so miserable but I'm tired of being around them 
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| VT is big on small businesses. Buying local is a pretty popular movement up here. A gym takes alot of capitol to start doesnt it? There aren't that many in the area though. http://www.ccba-leb.com/ and a http://www.24hourfitness.com/ are the only ones i can think of offhand |
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Here are a few good resources for general city/town info and real estate.
Citydata.com NNEREN |
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It does take alot of capitol if you start an independant gym. If you buy into a franchise it's less but there are other fee's. I apreciate the info. Overall, how do you like living there? I wouldnt want to live anywhere else. I have traveled a good amount in the US and VT is my favorite. I am the type that dislikes cities and enjoys cold weather FWIW. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
It does take alot of capitol if you start an independant gym. If you buy into a franchise it's less but there are other fee's. I apreciate the info. Overall, how do you like living there? I wouldnt want to live anywhere else. I have traveled a good amount in the US and VT is my favorite. I am the type that dislikes cities and enjoys cold weather FWIW. Me too. I hate hot weather and I love the woods. |
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Quoted:
Here are a few good resources for general city/town info and real estate. Citydata.com NNEREN good resources, thanks. |