UO > Sep/Oct 2008 > Upper Valley New Hampshire & Vermont

“Why didn’t we move here sooner?”

Margot D. Stephens, MD, has been a family practitioner at APD since 2002. After completing medical school and a residency at the University of Massachusetts in Worcester, Massachusetts, she knew she wanted to head north. In 1995, she landed first at Springfield Hospital in Springfield, Vermont, just south of the Upper Valley, before looking further north in part for her children. The Dresden School District—a bi-state district for the towns of Hanover and Norwich—boasts some of the best schools in both states, and the sports and educational facilities played a role in Stephens’ decision, along with being closer to the opportunities at Dartmouth College.

“We wanted to raise our children in a place that had a little slower pace, yet still had plenty to offer both in outdoor recreation and culture,” she said. “But as our children grew older, we wanted to be closer to the great schools this area has, as well as some of the recreational opportunities.

“The presence of Dartmouth College and the medical center means that there are many highly educated people living in the area, and in fact, many Dartmouth graduates and DHMC physicians retire here, so we have a population that is quite a bit more urban and well-educated than might otherwise be expected at this distance from a major city,” says Stephens, whose husband works in the high-tech industry. They’ve both been impressed at the number and range of small creative firms in the Upper Valley. “There are so many interesting companies in this area, many with international ties, and you’d never know it because it feels like you’re out in the country,” she adds.

The downside

If it all sounds too good to be true, it just might be. One big negative for many people is the weather. Hands-down, if you don’t like long winters and cold weather—or at least can’t learn to tolerate it—then you’ll have a tough time adjusting to life in the Upper Valley.

In addition, physicians who are relocating with families tend to have an easier time here since the area is more suited towards families than singles. “If you like big cities and lots of restaurants and young people, then this isn’t the best place,” says Rosen. “If you want to maximize earning potential, this isn’t the place unless you plan to enter private practice.”

There are growth concerns for residents and businesses. Commercial land for office space in the core towns of Hanover and Lebanon—and Hartford on the Vermont side—is limited and as a result, some businesses are priced out of the market. Residential real estate prices can be high in Hanover and Norwich, with median home values in some of the adjacent towns up to two-thirds lower.

And good jobs for non-physician spouses can be lacking. “My situation is unlike many others in that I didn’t have a family to move and no significant other to consider, so I didn’t have to worry about other jobs or schools,” says Foster. “There are only so many jobs around here, and it seems to be hard to find something suitable for both halves of a couple.”

But for others, like Judkins, the downside is minor. “There are no bad points to living here,” she says, “unless you want Chinese takeout at two in the morning.”

Maybe she should just plan ahead and get some takeout from the APD cafeteria. UO

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Lisa Rogak lives and writes in Charleston, South Carolina. Her next book, Haunted Heart, The Life and Times of Stephen King, will be published in January.