Raising kids in New Hampshire

[NHRocks]

Hi, I was raised in northern MA and was interested in NH when I started my family mainly because of its scenic beauty and conservative nature. My kids are now 15 & 16 and play football and lacrosse and are good students. What I ended up finding is a gem of a town that many of my friends and relatives wished they had lived in while raising their children. We moved here 10 years ago and couldn't be happier. Many of our best friends are people that we have met in this town. Hampstead NH is town of about 8,000+ residents, it is located about 15 minutes north of Haverhill MA at the junction of Route 495, about 15 minutes east of Route 93 in Salem and Derry NH, we are less than 1/2 hour from Manchester NH, less than 45 minutes to Boston, less than 45 minutes to the ocean and less than 1.5 hours from the Lakes Region and the White Mountains. Hampstead has, low crime, great housing values, trash pickup, parades, concerts, road races, festivals, local campgrounds, plenty of stores and restaurants, three lakes, town beach, many parks, sports facilities (best in the state) fantastic schools, Hampstead Central and Middle Schools, which were both ranked #1 in the state of NH this year and the kids get to attend Pinkerton Academy for high school which is a beautiful 188 acre historic school in neighboring Derry NH (Shopping, gyms etc) Pinkerton is the second largest High School in New England but it is very unique because it is a campus setting, dispersing students without crowding, while offering an outstanding education with historically successful sports teams (sometimes nationally ranked) Band, theatre (you should see the Stockbridge theatre) etc. You get the best of both worlds living in Hampstead, small town feel, one of the most scenic Main streets in NH, town beach, and three lakes, plenty of youth and family activities, proximity to everything. We often say being at home is like being on vacation, so why go! There are many towns in NH that offer a good deal of these amenities such as, Exeter, Stratham, Amherst, Bedford, Milford etc but they don't have Pinkerton, so if you have kid's keep that in the equation. ChesterNH kids also go to PA and the town is beautiful but I can’t speak to the amenities and they are a little further away from the major routes.

Hampstead all the way!

[LoveSnow]

Wow! I will add Hampstead to my list

Actually, where I am now, my biggest wish is cooler summer so my kids can be outside. I know my wish list will expand once this one comes true. Now I find it impossible to go to the playground when it is 90+. And it's been like that pretty much since May and still is in the upper 80s. It sucks My kids are indoors, and I feel super guilty.

Farm as a theme park - I am all for it!

[McUnG]

NHRocks, Thank you so much for sharing that best kept secret with me! I've added it to my list with lots of astericks! Is there a semi-larger town nearby that you think might be suitable to put our family fun center?

[deportallofthem]

What places are on your list? Maybe we can offer you some insight.

[Valerie C]

McUnG
Towns within easy driving distance the might be an idea for your fun center...
Plaistow comes to mind first. Actually Plaistow might be a GREAT place to consider for business AND living. LOTS to offer, tons of business along Route 125, with more being added all the time. Plaistow is MAYBE 15 minutes from Hampstead. As far as business location, Hampstead would be a little too far from where the shoppers go. The nearest play gym type of place to Plaistow would be at Cedardale Athletic Club complex, all the way on the other side of Haverhill, 4 or 5 exits south on 495. Haven't been there in a couple of years, so the play center may or may not still be there. In any case, your market would be Plaistow, Atkinson, Hampstead, Sandown, Kingston, Newton. Many of these towns have experienced record growth, many MANY new families in the past 5 years or so. Check your demographics LOTS OF KIDS!!!

Chuck E Cheese (THE COMPETITION!) has stores in Manchester and Newington NH, and Lowell and Metheun MA.

[Katlakat]

O.o did someone say wish list! My all time favorite list to make. We should open a thread and share some of our wishes....I'll go get my glitter wand and pointy hat. BRB LOL