Need some advice about Vermont :)

[janterry]

6. I have a daughter

and so High Schools will be important. Good schools = (as you know) more expensive housing.

Brattleboro seemed small and supportive. We're a bit adrift (without much in the way of family anymore), so I wanted a community feel for where we lived. It would really help her .

I've looked at Northampton (and towns nearby) and I can afford condos, but they don't work for us and our very large dog. It's also gotten a lot more developed over the years (I hadn't driven out there in, perhaps, 20 years). Still such a cute downtown! We drove through Belchertown and the like, and it's okay - but also not as community oriented as I wanted.

I looked more towards Springfield (and we can afford plenty there - I could even get a duplex to generate some income) but, my daughter wouldn't thrive in the schools. (The nicer sections of Springfield, I should add!). There are other places, too - Longmeadow - that are possible (houses we could afford), but............We really fell in love with the small hippy feel of Brattleboro.

IDK. I really need healthcare. I lived without it for many years 'down South', and I'm too old to take chances like that.