You might think that either you live in the country or rural setting. Or you are in the hustle bustle urban setting.  But now in those two broad categorites there are a slug of other variables making them vastly different.  For example, Houlton Maine shapes up like this for housing costs and crime.

 HOUSING COSTS -- Aroostook vs. Other Regions

      Like the cost of living, the crime rate is significantly below the average for New England, as well as for the United States.

      Then you add in the likelihood of that changing quickly as some areas of the country are about to see major shifts due to air base closings, escalating crime, decline in sense of community, job loss due to foreign competition and work force migration. If you were moving to a new area, there are aspects of where you live that you would want to not give up. And there are features you once had but due to population growth or other economic factors, they no longer exist in your home town.  When you create a template on what the average relocation person faces for a check list on their yellow legal pad, the items would include level of crime, cost of housing and then branch off into health care options, school standards, diversity of employment, local economy, weather, location for ease of mobility and highway systems,etc. Houlton has a weekly newspaper, a local radio station, two movie theatres and a music / recreational program that are Maine reknowned! There is an eight year old indoor skating arena/community center, a week long state fair and an airport. Cary Library has one of the highest circulation rates in the state indicating the local love for this Carnegie library.

     Quality of life is a pretty big term but is there a sense of pride in the community, strong history, local involvement on muncipal boards and civic organizations. In Houlton there are 12 churches, another consideration for a move here.  There is a Christian private school with 200 students enrolled. Houlton is also located on the Canadian border, adding to the options of excursions out of the country.  Local, county, state police and US border patrol headquartered here mean crime is not apt to ever run rampant or unchecked.  Zoning and development practices to date are another consideration .  Houlton is blessed with a solid comprehensive plan since day one and continual improvements and updates to reflect the times.  Cyber technology, higher education options with University College system and a strong local work ethic due to farm jobs thru out childhood, make Houlton Maine, the county seat of Aroostook a place to consider for a home, to locate a business and to vacation in.  Come see the mountains, crystal clean streams, lakes and rivers. Explore the rich history since Joseph Houlton settled here 200 year ago! Visit the Southern Aroostook Development Corporation (SADC).  Or the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce site.  The newly updated and chocked full of helpful info, images and links Houlton site is found here.