This commentary is by Narain Batra, a professor, historian, journalist and author whose work spans freedom, artificial intelligence, media and geopolitics.  The Upper Valley, a most extraordinary economic and cultural heartbeat of the vast twin-state region, is currently at a turning point where outstanding institutional growth is colliding with a bucolic infrastructure that’s pushing against its limits and raising the question of affordability. The colossal footprint of Dartmouth Health remains the region’s major economic driver. The final phases of the Patient Pavilion at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) are scheduled for completion in August 2026, adding new inpatient beds and specialized units, according to Tom Manion, DHMC’s chief operating officer.  But its expansion is reaching a critical threshold, and the so-called Upper Valley paradox — it is building beds for patients but lacks roofs for staff — is evident.  Dartmouth College is doing its part to mitigate the housing crunch through its Sugarwood Circle project in West Lebanon, a $15.2 million development specifically for Dartmouth employees. It is slated for initial occupancy in January 2026, as part of President Sian Leah Beilock’s commitment to add 1,000 beds for faculty, staff, and students in the next 10 years. Keeping affordability expectations in mind, the “company town” model could perhaps become a primary survival strategy for major employers in the Upper Valley: most of the stores, businesses, and housing in the town would be partially or fully owned by the same company that is also the main employer.  Consider this: as of late 2025, the median home price in Grafton County surged 12.4%, almost triple the statewide average, according to the Fiscal Policy Institute.  Lawmakers in both Concord and Montpelier are facing rebellion from business leaders who argue that 1970s-era regulations are strangling growth.  The Vermont Chamber’s 2026 Legislative Priorities emphasize “workforce and housing alignment” and the need for regulatory predictability. According to the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, “Affordability pressures, demographic decline, and rising operating costs are converging just as our state needs more workers, more housing, and greater predictability to sustain economic growth.”  For Upper Valley residents, 2026 will raise questions about zoning laws and whether they can combine new housing opportunities with environmental preservation. The question is no longer if the region must change, but how fast it can adapt its legal framework to keep pace with its economic potential.  The most disquieting question of 2026 is what might be termed the property tax shock. As towns upgrade infrastructure to support growth, sooner or later, the bill will arrive.  Vermont homeowners are facing a projected average 12% education property tax increase in 2026, driven by rising school costs. For the average homeowner in the Upper Valley, rising home valuations are no longer viewed as a wealth gain but a liability.  Property tax bills jump while the local school district is still forced to cut staff, which, to residents like me, seems a cruel joke. The Upper Valley’s labor crisis has been worsened by federal policy. Deportations and intensified Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, such as the recent high-profile actions against farmworkers in the Champlain Valley and Upper Valley dairy farms, have created a chilling effect that extends far beyond the undocumented community.  Dairy farmers in the region, who are largely ineligible for the H-2A seasonal visa program, are facing serious threats. According to the Business Human Rights Centre, many workers are now afraid to leave the farms to get basic necessities. The loss of even a few key milkers can force a multigeneration family farm to close down. In New Hampshire, the landscape shifted drastically on Jan. 1 as new anti-sanctuary laws took full effect. Communities like Lebanon and Hanover have been forced to amend their ordinances to allow police cooperation with ICE or face state penalties of up to 25% of their funding. With deaths now outnumbering births in the region, growth is almost entirely predicated on migration. International migrants fill a disproportionate share of essential roles in health care, manufacturing and domestic services, according to USA Facts.  The Upper Valley in 2026 is a microcosm of the modern American dilemma: high-tech and high-demand, but low inventory in housing and labor.  It’s a region with a “We Are Hiring” sign permanently affixed to its front door, finally realizing it cannot sustain its world class institutions if it continues to squeeze the workers and residents who make them run.  Read the story on VTDigger here: Narain Batra: Growth is pushing the Upper Valley to breaking point. ...read more read less