I am really liking my new job and the thought of moving closer to where I work has crossed my mind. This would put me in a tristate area - Western Mass, southwestern NH or southeastern VT. I rule out New Hampshire because property taxes are very high since there is no income tax or sales tax. I would like to be able to retire in the home, and those taxes would be too high then especially. Income taxes do not bother me as much since when you earn less you pay less.
Currently I live in Massachusetts, but I am not that familiar with Vermont. For those of you who live there or have recently, what is the cost of living like? What about quality of life? Is the Brattleboro overrun by the opioid epidemic as I have read online? How good is infrastructure - gig speed internet (I have Fios now), city sewer, trash pickup, plowing, libraries? Do you feel you get a good bang for your property tax buck?
Are there special state programs to help retirees? For example in Massachusetts there is a circuit breaker (don't know why it is called that) income tax break for seniors and in some towns the option to do volunteer work for the town to offset some of your property taxes.
My coworkers all live in Mass so are not a source of information.