Not All 55+ Communities Are Created Equal
Before you make a decision, compare what matters most: location, amenities, availability, and community. Come see The Cove at Highland Lake difference.
Distance to Ocean
🦞 Maine WINNER
Unbeatable! 3,500+ miles of pristine coastline at your doorstep
🏖️ Cape Cod
Surrounded but overcrowded
🏔️ New Hampshire
Drive required to reach coast
🍂 Connecticut
Coastal access but limited beaches
⛷️ Vermont
Long drive to any ocean
Distance to Mountains
🦞 Maine WINNER
Perfect balance! Acadia's peaks meet the sea, plus western mountain ranges
🏖️ Cape Cod
Mountains? You'll be driving for hours
🏔️ New Hampshire
Great mountains, no ocean though
🍂 Connecticut
Small hills, not real mountains
⛷️ Vermont
Mountains yes, ocean no
City Culture & Arts
🦞 Maine WINNER
Portland punches above its weight! World-class food scene plus authentic local culture
🏖️ Cape Cod
Tourist-focused, seasonal only
🏔️ New Hampshire
Limited urban sophistication
🍂 Connecticut
NYC shadow, high cost culture
⛷️ Vermont
Burlington's nice but small
Crowdedness
🦞 Maine WINNER
Room to breathe! Vast wilderness with manageable tourism
🏖️ Cape Cod
Sardine-can summers
🏔️ New Hampshire
Decent space but limited variety
🍂 Connecticut
Cramped suburbs everywhere
⛷️ Vermont
Empty but lacking amenities
Traffic Conditions
🦞 Maine WINNER
Smooth sailing! Even summer traffic beats other states' daily grind
🏖️ Cape Cod
Nightmare bridge bottlenecks
🏔️ New Hampshire
Light traffic, limited destinations
🍂 Connecticut
I-95 parking lot daily
⛷️ Vermont
Empty roads to nowhere special
Airport Proximity
🦞 Maine WINNER
Portland Jetport serves you well, plus easy Boston access when needed
🏖️ Cape Cod
Boston drive through traffic
🏔️ New Hampshire
Manchester's limited, Boston required
🍂 Connecticut
Multiple airports, higher costs
⛷️ Vermont
Burlington's tiny, Boston's far
Home Values & Affordability
🦞 Maine WINNER
Best bang for your buck! Reasonable prices for waterfront paradise
🏖️ Cape Cod
Astronomical prices for basic homes
🏔️ New Hampshire
Affordable but lacks coastal charm
🍂 Connecticut
Expensive with high taxes
⛷️ Vermont
Cheap but isolated
Summer Temperatures
🦞 Maine WINNER
Perfect coastal climate! Cool ocean breezes keep you comfortable
🏖️ Cape Cod
Nice but crowded beaches
🏔️ New Hampshire
Hot inland summers
🍂 Connecticut
Humid and sweltering
⛷️ Vermont
Pleasant but no ocean cooling
Hurricane Risk
🦞 Maine WINNER
Protected position! Storms weaken before reaching Maine's coast
🏖️ Cape Cod
Direct hit vulnerability
🏔️ New Hampshire
Safe but no coastal benefits
🍂 Connecticut
Southern exposure risks
⛷️ Vermont
Safe but no ocean access
Beyond Vacationland
The Ultimate New England Showdown