Reviews & Comments
Portland, ME
things to love and hate -
3/11/2008Like many, we came from the Boston area thinking it would be cheaper. It is not. The population is unhealthy and the business climate unfavorable which has driven healthcare costs through the roof (i.e., little to no competition for health insurance). Mainers have slowly driven up their taxes making them obscenely high. Everyone complains about it and yet no one vote anyone out of office for it. In fact, the headlines decry worry and fear if you try to cut programs. We have some of the highest social spending in the nation and terrible govt inefficiency. And there seems to be no economic plan to bring businesses in. We are rolling the dice on the "vacationland" concept. Well, the tourism industry does not require much of an education and it doesn't pay well. It is not an asset to hang your hat on. It's very frustrating because Portland is beautiful. It has a fairly cosmopolitan scene. The architecture and independent shops are great. Lots of good restaurants. There are many outdoor activities. We send our kids to a private school, but that's a personal decision. The public schools seem good. Crime is relatively low. But there are no jobs here, high taxes, and no public will to do anything about it. Oh, and you have to be OK with long winters...