Originally Posted by Felixfinch

Hi Carolyn,

I'm from Totnes. Spent most of the last 6 years away in Sheffield at university but I was back home for 9 months while I saved money to come out to Vancouver.

Totnes is a very nice town and has weathered the recession reasonably well, much better than some of the surrounding towns mentioned such as Paignton, Torquay or Newton Abbot which seem to have gone downhill (can only judge from fairly brief visits).

I wouldn't say it's full of middle-aged hippies either, there are several primary schools and a large and popular secondary. The politics swing between lib dem and conservative and most people have their heads screwed on right - there are a lot of new agey types around but they're harmless and it all adds to a friendly vibe!

You would probably want a car as public transport is not very good, unless you are happy to mostly stay in town and use the train/bus to visit/commute to other places.
Housing is expensive although there is a new development planned along the river, I don't think building has started yet though.

Couldn't advise on admin jobs as I was working in the 7 stars hotel, there is the school I mentioned and also fairly large council offices in the follaton area. Otherwise there are decent transport links on train or park and ride to Exeter/Plymouth.

Generally - if you can afford it then Totnes is a really nice place to live. It has everything needed in terms of facilities, assuming jobs and money are fine and you don't want to live in a city then I don't think you can go far wrong.

Originally Posted by mwstuntz

I currently live in Paignton/Torbay, but it's a dive. Awful place. As for Totnes, it's not like it was. Nice but nothing like it was before.