ME Or NH? (Portland, Bangor, Augusta: sales, low crime, house)

[blueydson]

This website is a Godsend! I just stumbled upon it today and I havn't been able to tear myself away from it. My wife and I have been wanting to move to New England for years, particularly New Hampshire or Maine. For years I've been reading up on the two states and running numbers to make sure that the move is doable. Even with all of my reading I have never come upon a website or forum with as much direct input as I have found here.
Basically, my story is that I currently live in Eastern Pennsylvania with my wife and daughter and we have always had an interest in moving to Maine and have visited many times and have always loved it. I know the story of Bostonians moving in and things changing and I understand it with New Yorkers and New Jerseyans moving in and changing things in Eastern Pennsylvania also and I know that no place is perfect as all places have their problems. Basically I am looking to move to a place where I can get work as a teacher, raise our daughter in a more rural setting where there arn't as many worries and threats as we are starting to have in this area such as gangs, murders, etc. I know that housing is not cheap in Southern Maine and New Hampshire but most housing stock that I have found sets on a larger lot of land in my price range than around here. Also, I love the proximity to both the wilderness of the North of both Maine and New Hamsphire as an avid fisherman and to the ocean but yet still within range of cities like Portland with numerous immenities as necessary. Basically, I am looking for opinions on regions and towns in both states. I am trying to get as much bang for my buck as I can in the best area possible. Like duh, who isn't right? Anyways, I am thinking Seacoast or Lakes Region New Hampshire or Southern Maine. I have leaned toward New Hampshire of late due to the lower taxes and less socialist governmental structure but understand that property taxes are quite high in some areas and I currently researching tax rates in the areas in which I am interested. Not that these are the only areas that I will consider but simply for a little more focus. Basically, I am a teacher, my wife has a Bachelors Degree in Social Work but never found work in the field as she is not fluent in Spanish which is imperative evidently in our area more recently. So we won't bring down huge amounts of income and our daughter is turning 7 this month so my wife will need a flexible or part-time job to work around our daughter or possibley an afterschool program. Any information on living in, teaching, part-time or flexible jobs, or afterschool programs, or anyone who's found themselves in a similiar situation as Arlo Guthrie says would be greatly appreciated.

[Coaster]

New Hampshire property taxes are high because the state has no sales tax or state income tax, so education is funded almost entirely from the property tax. Overall the NH tax burden is one of the lowest in the country. Your wife shouldn't have much trouble finding a social worker job in Maine. Several of my friends and acquaintenances are in the field, and Spanish is not a prerequisite.

[mollysmiles]

ok, so I'm biased, but after all, you did post this under Maine right....

We need teachers and social workers here. I live in an area of the state that is very economically depressed right now, and frankly has been for quite some time. That being said however, there are job opportunities for both teaching and social work here, as well as many areas of the state. My husband has a management position in health care, and I'm a stay at home mom. We have 4 children, ages 8, 13, 15, and 17. You hear a lot of good and bad on here, and most of it is true, but this is an outstanding state in which to raise kids. Southern Maine is more crowded, and most of us north (and east) of Augusta would probably say that it is completely unlike the rest of the state in terms of income, property costs, and even the type of people, among other aspects that you just can't quite explain. Property is affordable here in Washington County. We paid $120,000 for a 5 BR, 3 BA house that in southern Maine sells for triple that. Of course, we're not directly on the coast, but last year we bought a summer home in Eastport for $70,000....3 BR, 2 BA....and it's two blocks from the ocean. We live in a small town of about 3500, have a very active rec dept for the kids, and when they want to go out to play we don't worry the same way we would in the city. Drugs are a problem here, but so far, we have been blessed in that they haven't touched our family or friends. Our kids love their schools, their teachers care about them as individuals, and if something does happen to be going on that isn't cool, we manage to hear about it! We moved from the Bangor area a few years ago, but we loved it there too. We have close friends from PA. One family moved from Philly to Eastport 5 years ago, and would never go back. They just recently moved into a beautiful home on the water with 5 acres of land, and paid less than $200,000 for it. Our other friends grew up in Bethlehem PA, and she swears that out of every where they have lived (he was in the Army, now in Homeland Security), this is the best and she'll never live anywhere else. He isn't quite as enamored as she, but does like it---just wishes the Flyers would move here! They recently built their own house on 15 acres in a town of about 1500. Not sure what they paid, but they're driving a BMW, and a 2003 Jeep, and don't seem to be hurting. She's a stay at home Mom, like me. My suggestion is to make another list of what you'd like to have in an area, and search based on those criteria. I really think you'll find what you're looking for right here in Maine!

[blueydson]

for the great info. I am just trying to gather as much as possible, real opinions from those who live there that it. Also, I have seen many social worker openings in ME online and have sent my wife's resume in but to no avail. It's been so long that I'm not even sure that she would want to get into that anymore. And so looking for other flexible positions would be our goal for her. Right now my wife works a job with flex time which means she decides when to work as long as she gets in 40 hours a week. I'm a stickler for things and I am trying to get as much info as possible so as to make a prelininary budget so as to gain greater insight into the financial implications of a move before doing so.
Thanks
Chris

[rabbitlover]

Originally Posted by fishinginasuit

for the great info. I am just trying to gather as much as possible, real opinions from those who live there that it. Also, I have seen many social worker openings in ME online and have sent my wife's resume in but to no avail. It's been so long that I'm not even sure that she would want to get into that anymore. And so looking for other flexible positions would be our goal for her. Right now my wife works a job with flex time which means she decides when to work as long as she gets in 40 hours a week. I'm a stickler for things and I am trying to get as much info as possible so as to make a prelininary budget so as to gain greater insight into the financial implications of a move before doing so.
Thanks
Chris

Go to the state of New Hampshire web site, there are a couple of job offers in Laconia for BSWs. They don't pay too badly either..I need to look through my favorties and I will post the link.

[BacktoNE]

Born and bred Mainer here, but I also love NH for its incredible beauty, especially up in the mountains. Choosing where to live, for me, would be easy. Maine. The people are so friendly and easy going; there is a very low crime rate; once you get outside of anything within driving distance to Portland, housing becomes very affordable. Yes, taxes are high with with a small family and 2 incomes you should be fine.

As for finding jobs. It is always easier to obtain interviews once you are actually in-state and potential employers know you are serious.

Good luck to you!

[blueydson]

thanks for the info i'll have to check it out
chris

[dramamama6685]

I've only been to Maine once and that's all it took to fall in love. My husband's family had settled there (I believe in the 1800's) and went to Eastport to meet relatives living there( and visit the graves of the one's who passed). I have been in Southwest Ohio all my life and can't wait to get back up to Maine (we're going in September). However because of the job situation we will have to wait until the planned early retirement to move. ):

[Mark S.]

I noticed some pretty sharp differences between NH and Maine.

For the most part, NH homes and neighborhoods tend to look more cared-for, cleaner, and well-kept. There were exceptions, of course. (Berlin, NH was icky.)

Most smaller towns in Maine still seem to be hanging onto their smalltown identity. There are still a lot of home-owned shops and stores. NH, on the other hand, seems to have FAR more strip malls, chain stores, etc.

In my experience, NH people were generally polite but much more reserved. Mainahs on the whole seemed more genuinely friendly and personable.

Maine, while poorer, seemed to have a more down-to-earth sense. NH seemed much more touristy, more artsy/hippy, and much more conscious of "being New England."

Folks in NH seem to have an odd fondness for personalized license plates on their cars. I've never seen so many in my life.

I think the thing that finally sold ME over NH in my mind was that NH is much more settled. Even in the middle of the White Mountains, I never really felt like I was "in the wild." Southern ME is certainly like that, too, but northern and western Maine...wow. Up in Aroostook County, driving from Presque Isle up to Fort Kent, I felt like I was in Siberia. Granted, the huge late-season snow storm I was driving through really helped. It was awesome.

Don't get me wrong. NH is a lovely place with a great quality of life. But Maine was much more suited to my own personality.

[tkx7]

NH has one of the lowest tax burdens in the country. It is a nice state with a lot to offer. NH is very libertarian, with less government than other places, no sales taxes, etc. Maine and NH are very similar in terms of the people and scenery, I guess you should just visit the areas and see what you like best.