Towns in New Hampshire to Move To??

[CMA21]

My DF are currently living in New Hampshire, but we need to be out of the place we are renting for next year. We think we want to stay within NH but have absolutely no idea where to look. We'd like a town that's nice to walk around, safe, but still within an area that we could drive to larger stores if needed. Right now we live in a VERY small area and have to drive about 30 min. just for the nearest supermarket.

I know NH isn't the most popular state...but absolutely any advice would be helpful?

 

[beaucoup]

My DF are currently living in New Hampshire, but we need to be out of the place we are renting for next year. We think we want to stay within NH but have absolutely no idea where to look. We'd like a town that's nice to walk around, safe, but still within an area that we could drive to larger stores if needed. Right now we live in a VERY small area and have to drive about 30 min. just for the nearest supermarket.

I know NH isn't the most popular state...but absolutely any advice would be helpful?

It's a big state. Do you have jobs you need to commute to? What town are those in? Children?

Do you go to the beach often or not at all? Mountains?
The more you tell us, the better your answers will be.

Confused because your location currently listed as Philadelphia but is sounds like you are living in NH already?

 

[LuvinLucifer]

Hanover/Lebanon is a nice suburban area with plenty of opportunities. I'm from VT, but we all had to go there for serious medical care. I have relatives who like in Waterville Valley and love it, but that is more touristy.

 

[mickeyboat]

I would agree with Hanover / Lebanon but there is a big difference between the two. You will have a hard time finding affordable housing in Hanover, but if you have children or plan to have chlildren, it might be worth the investment because the schools are phenomenal. Also, some people do not like to live in college towns, and Hanover is all about Dartmouth. But if you like the college atmosphere, there is a ton to do.

Lebanon will have many housing options and the schools aren't too bad.

The nice thing about the Hanover / Lebanon area is that it is all pretty compact, so shopping, employment, entertainment are all fairly accessible without having to drive too far. That being said, the closest mall is in Concord - which is an hour away. There aren't many dining choices other than chain restaurants like Applebee's, Chili's, 99, etc. There is a Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Kohls, JC Penny, K-Mart in West Lebanon, and plenty of grocery stores.

 

[CMA21]

It's a big state. Do you have jobs you need to commute to? What town are those in? Children?

Do you go to the beach often or not at all? Mountains?
The more you tell us, the better your answers will be.


Confused because your location currently listed as Philadelphia but is sounds like you are living in NH already?

Basically my fiance and I are a young couple, without any children. We will be getting married this October (in disney actually). We started our own business (computer graphics) so we currently just work out of our home, so we can really move anywhere without regards to jobs / children.

We do like to get out and do things, we currently live near Loon Mountain so we ski/snowboard but aren't against moving closer to beach instead of a mountain.

I have grown up around Philly, and we both were in school in Philly for the last 5 years, but as of this past October have moved up to NH. My fiance is from Boston, so he wanted to be a little closer to Mass. So, yes I am from Philly originally, but we are now currently living in NH.

So basically, we're a young couple, looking for an area that's isn't too remote, with some stuff to do, but still safe and affordable.

Hope this helps!

 

[Disney Doll]

I had friends who lived in Brookfield NH...the town itself was small but close to Wolfeboro which is an adorable, albeit a bit touristy, town. That area is nice because of Lake Winnepesaukee, which is a beautiful area.

Anything around the Lake is pretty much within an hour's drive, and there were small towns and larger towns which were more touristy (Weirs Beach comes to mind). Lots to do in and around Lake Winnepesaukee.

My friends haven't lived there in a number or years so I have no idea how much the area has grown, but back then Wolfeboro had some interesting restaurants and shops. The bigger stores were in Rochester, about 30 minutes south of Brookfield/Wolfeboro. That may have changed by now...it's probably been at least 10 years since I've been in that area.

Probably worth it to spend a weekend exploring around the Lake to see if it's a spot that would appeal to you.

 

[NHdisneylover]

If you moved down to the Tilton area you would be able to split the difference and have shortish drives up to skiing in Loon (or closer in Gilford if you wanted smaller) or down to shopping in Concord and not even that far to Manchester f you want more. You can get most of what you need right in town anyway--if you add in the shops around ext 93. Living near downtown in Tilton/Northfield or Franklin gives you places to shop and eat without ever driving when you want a SMALL town feel. I love, love, love the Hall Library in Northfield (which is a short walk from downtown Tilton).

 

[threeboysmom]

If I worked out of my home and could choose anywhere in NH to live, I'd be looking in the Portsmouth area for sure! LOVE that town - it's fabulous for shopping, eating, and the nightlife!

Located near the east coast, it gives you access to Maine and its mountains, but also the city of Boston to the south of you, and best of all, the OCEAN!

If I could, I'd move there in a heartbeat!

 

[happily single]

If you moved down to the Tilton area you would be able to split the difference and have shortish drives up to skiing in Loon (or closer in Gilford if you wanted smaller) or down to shopping in Concord and not even that far to Manchester f you want more. You can get most of what you need right in town anyway--if you add in the shops around ext 93. Living near downtown in Tilton/Northfield or Franklin gives you places to shop and eat without ever driving when you want a SMALL town feel. I love, love, love the Hall Library in Northfield.

I was just going to suggest Tilton. Enough stores and close to everything (Mountains, lakes, highway)

 

[dizluvah]

Dover, NH - near Portsmouth, near UNH campus in Durham - great small town feel downtown - but lots of shopping in Dover and nearby

 

[mickeyboat]

Dover, NH - near Portsmouth, near UNH campus in Durham - great small town feel downtown - but lots of shopping in Dover and nearby

Hey dizluvah! Sorry to thread jack ... we are coming to Dover for a hockey tournament soon, and are having trouble finding a hotel for the team. The Hampton Inn, Comfort Inn and Homewood Inn are apparently all booked. We have been directed to the Hampton Inn in Portsmouth or the Holiday Inn in Rochester.

How far away are those hotels from Dover? Do you know anything about them? Do you have any other suggestions? I suspect we will have around 25 people.

Thanks in advance!

 

[bettymae1121]

If you plan on having kids at all, still keep good schools in mind. It's not a given you'll be willing/able to move if you have kids and are in a so-so or even bad school district. Trust me, I found that out first hand! We're stuck in a bad school district so it's either move and bring $50k to closing because we are upside down on the house, or pay $12k a year for private school.

 

[marcyinPA]

My Aunt and Uncle live in Hooksett, which is close to everything but (to me) still pretty remote. My cousins grew up in Bow- which, again- close to cities but still fairly rural.

 

[scrapquitler]

Basically my fiance and I are a young couple, without any children. We will be getting married this October (in disney actually). We started our own business (computer graphics) so we currently just work out of our home, so we can really move anywhere without regards to jobs / children.

We do like to get out and do things, we currently live near Loon Mountain so we ski/snowboard but aren't against moving closer to beach instead of a mountain.

I have grown up around Philly, and we both were in school in Philly for the last 5 years, but as of this past October have moved up to NH. My fiance is from Boston, so he wanted to be a little closer to Mass. So, yes I am from Philly originally, but we are now currently living in NH.

So basically, we're a young couple, looking for an area that's isn't too remote, with some stuff to do, but still safe and affordable.

Hope this helps!

I like Keene. There's a college there, so there's 'stuff' going on all the time.

 

[marcyinPA]

I like Keene. There's a college there, so there's 'stuff' going on all the time.

Yes! Keene is a great little town. We spent some time there this past summer, while we were at a family church camp in Swanzey. Really lovely area!

 

[DVC-Don]

I recommend Amherst, NH. I was a cop there in the 80's. Nice town, easy access to the Manchester airport. I'd live in the northern part of the town.

Keene is nice but, a bit of a haul to a decent airport.

 

[coruth4]

My Aunt and Uncle live in Hooksett, which is close to everything but (to me) still pretty remote. My cousins grew up in Bow- which, again- close to cities but still fairly rural.

I live in Auburn, which is between Manchester & Hooksett. It's close to the highway & puts you about an hour from the ocean or the mountains. I am partial to the town because I have lived here my whole life. Manchester and all the shopping is very close by also. I am also happy with the school system - which has handles all three of my children - two of which have special needs.
I agree wiht a previous post - that if you are planning on staying put & having children, make sure you look into the school systems.
Good luck!

 

[CMA21]

Wow! Thanks so much to everyone for all the advice and information. It really is so helpful, and will definitely help me begin my search. I think over the next week or so I'm going to start looking into the areas many of you have mentioned and then maybe my fiance and I will go check some of them out for ourselves.

Thanks again so much...I really appreciate it!!

 

[HockeyMomNH]

Hey dizluvah! Sorry to thread jack ... we are coming to Dover for a hockey tournament soon, and are having trouble finding a hotel for the team. The Hampton Inn, Comfort Inn and Homewood Inn are apparently all booked. We have been directed to the Hampton Inn in Portsmouth or the Holiday Inn in Rochester.

How far away are those hotels from Dover? Do you know anything about them? Do you have any other suggestions? I suspect we will have around 25 people.

Thanks in advance!

Not dizluvah, but I would say go to Rochester. It's probably about the same distance as Portsmouth, but the traffic between Portsmouth and Dover can get bad depending on the time of the day.

As for the OP's question. I'm in the Mount Washington Valley, which is lovely but probably too far from civilization. I have family in Raymond though. It's close to Manchester/Concord, and also close to the Seacoast. There's lots of new development in that area.

 

[merrily]

Hey dizluvah! Sorry to thread jack ... we are coming to Dover for a hockey tournament soon, and are having trouble finding a hotel for the team. The Hampton Inn, Comfort Inn and Homewood Inn are apparently all booked. We have been directed to the Hampton Inn in Portsmouth or the Holiday Inn in Rochester.

How far away are those hotels from Dover? Do you know anything about them? Do you have any other suggestions? I suspect we will have around 25 people.

Thanks in advance!

There's a place called Microtel in Dover. I don't know anything about it but I drive by it almost daily! There is also a Days Inn right in downtown Dover.

The Holiday Inn in Rochester is on the outskirts of town. Will take you about the same amount of time to there or to Portsmouth so I would personally stay where you get the best rate!

As to the OP's question, I think Keene or Portsmouth would both be ideal places. Both have lots to do and places for young people to go. Portsmouth isn't cheap though. I don't know about Keene.