Worst places in N.H. (Manchester, Concord: sale, renting, townhouse)

[Katlakat]

I really appreciated your post manchy. Personally, I never cared for Manchester. My brother went to school and worked there, but I always felt a bad feeling when I drove through it, so I never stopped there or introduced myself to the city. I was always too scared.

But reading your post (and I had to give you rep for it) really made me stop and think. More people with positive feelings about a place, passionate even, will make the difference. Looking behind the crime and faults of a city, which thrive in every large city as you stated; I tend to see the good points too. I'm very glad you're passionate about Manchester, and when I find some time, I will introduce myself to the old mill, textile buildings that stand still beside the highways, and perhaps change my perspective. I'm one of those quirky new-age weirdo's who believes bringing positive vibes and good energy to a space, house, town or even a car, can change your life. Even if it is minuscule, it feels good to do it.

[s2bmanchy]

Thanks Katlakat! I think many people are unexposed to the big cities (which I have to say I hate Boston, St. Louis, DC, NJ, NYC) so when they go through or visit Manchester they experience a sense of culture shock. I agree with you about positive feelings about a place. I also would like to add that a town/city is not made on the people that make it bad, since there are a lot less, but the people that make it good.

[s2bmanchy]

I also forgot to add that I plan on living in Machester but since I also love the outdoors we are planning on buying a 3 season home in Northern NH, Maine, or VT.

[Valerie C]

Manchester is a funny place, which I happen to love, especially the north end which has the greatest neighborhoods. You just can't find architecture like that in the newer homes... the elegant Victorian (finding original unpainted woodwork with such detail is priceless) They truly are the ONLY houses that can take being painted 5 or more colors... the low sloping roof line of the bungalow (my personal favorite!!) The north end has it all, and some great neighborood deli's and restaurants (try Angela's Cheese & Pasta Shop!) Yeah there are some neighborhoods that are less than stellar, but this is by comparing to NH standards... Compare Manchester to just about ANY city [NOT TOWN] in the northeast, or anywhere for that matter, you'll find considerably less violent crime, drug use, illegals, etc. It's not ghetto by any means, it's a city, and has all the elements (good and bad) of a city.

Point in fact: The tv news still has stories regarding slain officer Michael Briggs, killed in the line of duty last year. I can't help but wonder where but Manchester NH this would still be a story a year later... Not that that's a bad thing (remembering the fallen) While not commonplace, I don't remember hearing about these things over the course of time when I did live in other areas

[hdk1999]

The really important factor though would be the schools. We are in a very good district now and I would not want to compromise that.

I have read some nice things about Littleton.[/quote]

We live just outside of littleton in a small town called Bethlehem. I am not sure about the schools in Littleton but I am very happy with the schools in Bethlehem, very small classes (or atleast what i consider very small). My son is at the elementary school and there are 12 kids in his class. It was the same when my daughter went there, compared to where she went to school in 1st and 2nd grade on Cape Cod where there were 22 kids in each class. The teachers are great also and a lot of parent involvement. i hope this helps.

[moonshine14]

We live just outside of littleton in a small town called Bethlehem. I am not sure about the schools in Littleton but I am very happy with the schools in Bethlehem, very small classes (or atleast what i consider very small). My son is at the elementary school and there are 12 kids in his class. It was the same when my daughter went there, compared to where she went to school in 1st and 2nd grade on Cape Cod where there were 22 kids in each class. The teachers are great also and a lot of parent involvement. i hope this helps.[/quote]


It does - Thank you!

[buck naked]

great thread - read the whole thing and love some of the response. I agree that Alton and Moultonboro on the lake are very nice towns to live with a fairly low tax base. Alton just got a supermarket (Hannafords) and we don't have to travel an hour to get groceries.

"I been reading all the quotes about New Hampshire, I have a brother- in law that live Rochester, NH in good neighborhood it was quiet. Is taxes where high in Rochester around $3600 I think."

^^^ $3600 is cheap for NH. anywhere south of Rochester will be higher.

I would not recommend Wolfeboro as people are leaving that town in droves. It is a one street town and traffic is horrendous. You just can't get there from here. hehe They also have their own electric company which pushes the rates up. On the up side, the taxes are not as high as some of the surrounding towns. They also have a regional high school with fairly small classes.

[jahosafex]

From reading all of these posts I can see none of you have ever lived in southern nh. It may be true that the mighty land to the north of concord is "nicer", but that's only because all of the state's funding for things like schools and such is poured into the north. Also what you may call "Southern NH" is not even close to southern NH, concord is still a ways up there, you want souther go to Chesterfield, Keene, or Hinsdale to name a few. The sad part is, the real southern NH is also really beautiful, and for the most part the schools are not over crowded, I would know, I was still a student not that long ago. To comment on property taxes, they're high because we don't have a sales tax. Hello, the state has to get its money from somewhere, and sadly all the money we here in souther nh pay to the state get sent right up north and we never see another dime. It's true we have our thugs, but I've been to MA and you guys have them too, and if MA residents want to talk about thugs they should consider their unwarranted theft of Keene's Jack-o-lantern record. It's also true many houses are broken down, and have old rotting cars out front, but if people weren't such muckrakers it wouldn't matter. Oh no! a car on a lawn that's not yours, it's so hard to not look at it. So until you've lived here, you have no opinion on what it's like to live here, the only reason I want to get out of my town is because the music scene sucks, and that's the only down side to here. The people are overall nice, you get to know everyone and you like most of them. The schools are good for the poor funding received from the state, in the smaller towns there is a great teacher to student ratio. If anyone asks me a recommendation on places to live, I would happily tell them the real southern NH (except winchester)

[buck naked]

" From reading all of these posts I can see none of you have ever lived in southern nh."

I lived in Derry for 22 years and just moved north 4 years ago. Derry used to be a fairly small town but now has over 35K residents and extremely high taxes. My modest one acre home was taxed at $10K annually so we were literally taxed out of our home. We have basically the same house now but the annual taxes are $3600. A lot more affordable.

[autumnleaf07]

There's quite a diversity of opinion on this thread about Manchester! It sounds like the North and West are the best areas and the "inner" city should be avoided. Can anyone give me a bit more specifics? I'm looking into the possiblity of purchasing a condo in Manchester - I currently rent in Concord - and I want to make sure that I stay out of the places that are bad. I've never been married and don't have any kids, so I'm looking for a place that has more of a young professional vibe that what Concord seems to have, but want to stay within commuting distance of Concord. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!