Looking at a Job in Hanover area, need feedback (Lebanon: sales, real estate)

[KY-BOY]

Greetings,

I have recently pursued a position in the Lebanon/Hanover area of New Hampshire. I currently live in the midwest and have been here since 1993. Prior to this I lived in Pittsburgh, PA and before that in Amherst, NH for about 11 years.

It has been quite some time since I have been to this area of NH. This summer I was in the White Mountains and the Lakes region. I still like the cleanliness of NH in general along with the climate...though I have not missed having to shovel lots of snow. We get cold weather here as well as snow...it's very hot and humid most of the summer but I have seen -22F nights for a solid week here in the winter...you just can't enjoy the winters here at all because we don't hold snow for winter sports but it is not warm either.

I've grown very tired of living in the midwest, as a skier and cyclist I live to be able to go outdoors and actually breathe the air and not feel like I'm choking on the air-pullution and humidity. At present I own a very nice home here, but I have always said if the opportunity came up I would consider going back to NH. It is early in the process, but I want to do some investigation in the event this opportunity becomes a reality for me.

So, can anybody tell me what it is like to live in this area of the state?

What are the winters like?

Are the people stuffy (remember I lived in Amherst for quite a while)?

What towns around this area would be upper middle to upper class and offer a good value in terms of taxes and purchase price? Grantham looks nice, can anybody comment?

How cultured is this area, i.e. what types of things are available compared to larger cities? Shopping, theatres, cultured events, etc.?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Mustard]

If the people in Amherst are stuffy then the people in Hanover are worse.

[KY-BOY]

I figured it is a very upper class town, however what about the general area and the rest of my questions?

I believe you can find people from all walks of life everywhere...I would highly doubt that I would live in Hanover because the home prices there are out of sight!

Where are you located Mustaaad?

[Sporin]

Outside of Norwich and Woodstock VT, and outside of Hanover NH, it's very much a more working class group of folks... though real estate prices anywhere withing a short drive of Hanover are still ridiculous. Figure 250k for a decent house in Lebanon, Hartford, etc.

Watch the property tax rates, they are insane on the NH side, far less so on the VT side, Norwich & Woodstock notwithstanding.

I lived for 10 years in Lebanon, and Windsor VT for the last 10. This area has a lot to offer, it's just spread out over a few towns, all within about a half-hour of each other.

The Hopkins Center at Dartmouth and the Lebanon Opera House have a LOT of concerts, shows, and art opportunities.

[GypsySoul22]

You can live in Vermont and drive to Hanover in 20 minutes or so. Sporin is right that there are more options in Vermont.

If you check the local paper, there always seems to be something 'cultural' going on as well as wonderful family events like hayrides or nature center shows.

I have found a lot of 'out of state' people move here, so you don't have to worry about some 'weird out of state' vibe.

Hanover is nice but over-rated and crowded in my opinion. I have found that you have to balance out whether you want to be 'near' something or live in beauty. My husband prefers the second, so we'll probably stay in Vermont, if not in our town.

[KY-BOY]

Property taxes may be less in VT, but if you look at the bigger picture, NH has the 2nd lowest overall tax rate in the country. Remember, you pay no state sales tax or state income tax. I think when you weigh it all in, NH is probably less costly overall.

I can afford to be in the 275K to 325K range for a home and it looks decent for this range.

How is the general weather up there? Is it a lot colder than southern, NH or just a few degrees?

[Sporin]

Originally Posted by KY-BOY

Property taxes may be less in VT, but if you look at the bigger picture, NH has the 2nd lowest overall tax rate in the country. Remember, you pay no state sales tax or state income tax. I think when you weigh it all in, NH is probably less costly overall.

I can afford to be in the 275K to 325K range for a home and it looks decent for this range.

How is the general weather up there? Is it a lot colder than southern, NH or just a few degrees?

A few degrees, not a major difference.

I've seen the tax tables and after living in both states, I just don't buy it, at least not with the insane property taxes in Upper Valley NH-side towns. Obviously that's just anecdotal though, everyone has to make their own decisions on that one.

The only time I think about VT state sales tax is when I buy a car since food and clothes aren't taxable. I do most shopping on my way home through West Lebanon NH anyway. Wait until you see what it costs you each year to register a relatively new car in NH... it might make you wish you could just pay a sales tax once and be done with it like in VT.

I really believe NH "gets you" just as bad as any other state... one way or the other.

If you can afford to live in Hanover that is great, honestly. They have a great school system (recent high school cheating scandal aside), almost no crime, it's a great town to walk in with lots of shops and restaurants and a million education/cultural opportunities via Dartmouth College.

[Mustard]

Hanover is completely overrated. You mentioned Grantham. If you are looking upper middle class I would suggest New London on the NH side and Pomfret on the Vermont side.