Here’s what you, the community, told us about quality of life in your four lovely towns..

Each of the four towns we visited was both uniquely its own and tied together through shared landscapes, cultures, experiences, treasures, and challenges. We talked to you, the experts on your communities, to get the deeper story as can only be told by the people who live here. We met you at your markets, in local businesses, at the community center, transfer stations, and on the sidewalks. We engaged you online in local social media groups. We were charmed and grateful that you met us with such warmth and candor. How else would we know how long you bus your kids back and forth each day, how many of you have had to double and triple up with family members, how bad the Friday cross-town traffic gets, and most importantly how much you value the people of your community and how you really come together in times of need. RISE thanks you for your contributions and hopes we did well representing the important info you entrusted us with. Here’s what we found..

"Taxes are exorbitant due to schools but there's no services; high taxes and nothing to show for it."

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"Wilmington is a wonderful place to live despite the high cost of living."

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"Other small towns have created walkable town centers, [we] need to model on them." Readsboro Resident

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"I'm pretty happy here."

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" Despite our town bringing in significant funds via tourism/taxes for the state, the folks that live year round in Dover would like to see a return on those dollars for our town. " Jack Widness

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"it's "a small town with great hearts!" BM, Dover

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"Taxes are exorbitant due to schools but there's no services; high taxes and nothing to show for it." ~ "Wilmington is a wonderful place to live despite the high cost of living." ~ "Other small towns have created walkable town centers, [we] need to model on them." Readsboro Resident ~ "I'm pretty happy here." ~ " Despite our town bringing in significant funds via tourism/taxes for the state, the folks that live year round in Dover would like to see a return on those dollars for our town. " Jack Widness ~ "it's "a small town with great hearts!" BM, Dover ~