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We have lived in suburbia (Torrance, California and Littleton, Colorado) for almost all our adult lives, and now that we are approaching retirement, we want to move to New Hampshire and the quiet, beautiful, four-seasons life. We like things like taking nature walks and reading and playing Scrabble; and our idea of a great night out is a good steak dinner and a movie. We would go to Boston or Manchester for a weekend once a twice a year to attend a symphony or theater performance and go to a museum or two. We are not "snobs" at all, just "solid" middle-class, down-to-earth people -- socially liberal, fiscally conservative, agnostic introverts (but friendly).
As we lived in Bridgton, Maine for three years (from 2004-07), we know we can handle the cold and all the differences between living in a big city suburb and living in a small rural town . . . except one. We do not want to ever again live any place that does not have “city” utilities!
We are looking for a home in the $250K-$350K range (depending on how much "fixing up" is required) that has a wood-burning fireplace and a nice water view that can be enjoyed from the deck or patio. Our only other requirement, besides public utilities, is that there must be a major grocery store within five miles. We also would prefer a well-maintained and picturesque town with many nice places to walk.
So, with the all the above in mind, we limited our search to towns between 12,000 and 30,000 population, and after doing further research, we have now narrowed it down to fairly rural Keene, Laconia, or Goffstown, or to the "southern hub" suburban towns of Dover, Durham, Salem, and Hampton. Does anyone have any strong opinions, pro or con, as to any of these towns potentially being our “perfect retirement home”? Or does anyone have any other suggestions for any other town that will meet ALL the requirements described in the above paragraph?
Thanks in advance for all your input!
P.S. We know taxes will be high, but our monthly retirement income will be about $3,900, and will consist entirely of social security and savings; and we will be doing as much of an "even exchange" regarding price as is possible between our house now in Littleton and the new house in New Hampshire, so we won't have a mortgage payment, probably, unless that would be advantageous for tax reasons.
Hard to meet all those. I'm not sure how you are going to get "places to walk to" and "water view" in one package. You need to be in a town center, generally, to get public utilities.
Regarding the budget...I bought a house there at the top end of your price range. Property taxes, heat and electric ran me about 16 k a year. Up in smoke. If I were you, I'd be looking around the lakes region where property taxes are more reasonable. You won't get lake view in that price range though.
Check out Dover. You may find many of your wants there. Also it is about 15 minutes from the ocean and a great beach in Rye NH. My daughter lives in Dover and loves it there. It has a nice old fashion down town but is only about 15 minute drive to a mall near Portsmouth.
Honestly, as much as I love New Hampshire, I may very well NOT stay here after retirement due to the high property taxes. My house (and a rental house) will both be paid off before I retire, but on my main house alone, I will likely be paying $900-$1,000/month in property taxes (judging by my current $600/month on a $250k house and planned retirement in 15-20 years). OP, I'm in the Monadnock area outside of Keene -- if my house were actually IN Keene, it would likely be worth $350k but I could not have afforded that with the insane property taxes (would be I think just under $1,000/month).
I am lucky in that my current house has city utilities (very unusual -- my particular neighborhood is partly in Keene and partly in a neighboring town). I think most houses in New Hampshire DON'T have city utilities so that might be a tough requirement.
As Newdaawn suggested, Dover might work for you -- no water view, but the ocean is nearby!
Remember Durham and Keene are both college towns - thus more apt to have a very young, progressive population than the older retired population. I'm from Dover and any of the "tri-city" area would probably fit your bill - Dover, Somersworth, Rochester.
Honestly, as much as I love New Hampshire, I may very well NOT stay here after retirement due to the high property taxes. My house (and a rental house) will both be paid off before I retire, but on my main house alone, I will likely be paying $900-$1,000/month in property taxes (judging by my current $600/month on a $250k house and planned retirement in 15-20 years). OP, I'm in the Monadnock area outside of Keene -- if my house were actually IN Keene, it would likely be worth $350k but I could not have afforded that with the insane property taxes (would be I think just under $1,000/month).
I am lucky in that my current house has city utilities (very unusual -- my particular neighborhood is partly in Keene and partly in a neighboring town). I think most houses in New Hampshire DON'T have city utilities so that might be a tough requirement.
As Newdaawn suggested, Dover might work for you -- no water view, but the ocean is nearby!
Consider retirement in the Lakes Region. You can find the tax rates by town online and many properties are available that have a fraction of the property taxes that the Monadnock region features away from the lake..
You should look elsewhere, seriously I don't think you will be happy here at all. None of the towns you mentioned is that good for your requirements. Try Portland Me or Burlington VT if you like the Northeast. New Hampshire is losing its character and value fast, becoming greater Mass.
Out of the towns that you listed I would say Goffstown would be the most peaceful and serene or the greater Keene area. Both Keene and Goffstown have very high property axes however. The lake region possibly. The rest just no. Don't even think of moving to Salem or Derry very mediocre places at best.
Last edited by Know Nonsense; 01-12-2014 at 06:33 PM..
You should look elsewhere, seriously I don't think you will be happy here at all. None of the towns you mentioned is that good for your requirements. Try Portland Me or Burlington VT if you like the Northeast. New Hampshire is losing its character and value fast, becoming greater Mass.
Out of the towns that you listed I would say Goffstown would be the most peaceful and serene or the greater Keene area. Both Keene and Goffstown have very high property axes however. The lake region possibly. The rest just no. Don't even think of moving to Salem or Derry very mediocre places at best.
NH has always been part of greater MA. About 55% of the population is just in Rockingham/Hillsborough counties. Roughly 75% of the state population lives within an hour of Boston, and that's not new.
To people in New England, I say I'm from NH. To people elsewhere in the country (or internationally), I tell them I'm from a suburb of Boston. And, as much as I hated the notion at first, it is pretty true.
But I tend to agree on the larger point, I'm not sure why the OP is settling on those towns other than maybe Dover. You'll also get some benefit from the slightly milder weather near the coast - no reason to retire just to die of a heart attack shoveling snow.
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