Questions (Nashua, Derry, Dover: for sale, lease, affordable house)

[lilibrarian]

I posted here over the summer, and got some great info. But I had given up on ever getting my husband to go to NH. However we will be in Portsmouth in January (yay!) and I want to take him through an area or two. Aside from Portsmouth, we'll be in Exeter and Newfields.

I had focused on the Seacoast areas that I was most familiar with, but lately I've been looking around a bit. The following areas seem like we'll get more bang for the buck and have the proximity to different areas that we want:
--Derry/Hampstead
--Londonderry
--Merrimack
--Raymond
--Fremont
--Kingston
I'm looking for good schools, nice community feeling, and if possible a pretty town center. I know that Derry and Londonderry have well-regarded schools, but do any other towns stand out as attractive places? Alternately, are any of the towns boring, ugly, or full of interesting "characters"? I live in a town where people park their cars on the front lawn, and party on the front lawn also, and while it doesn't particularly bother me, we were hoping for something, well, a bit classier.

What town or two is worth exploring? I'm trying to get the husband to want to stay.

[WannaComeHome]

Well, Hollis wasn't on your list (it's not seacoast - it's on the other side of Rt 3), but it's got top notch schools! It's a nice town. The center of town has a mom & pop store, a gift shop, the town hall/fire dept, the Congregational Church, the library.. all arranged around a triangular town common. There are a few newer shops including a larger grocery store (although not a good as the big stores in Nashua), a pharmacy, a Dunkin Donuts (you knew there would be!), a diner with decent food, two large farm stands (Brookdale & Lull's). There's apple orchards all over town which makes it particularly beautiful in the spring when the flowers are out. And a new community center/barn that's very nice.

[time2change]

-York, Maine (a town center, good hs, big place, no bad areas)
-Durham, NH (town center, lots of college students though)

[rmcewan]

You will get more bang for the buck in the area's you mentioned. You'll also get smallish lots on large subdivisions of cookie cutter houses.

Rye - if you can find an affordable house is very nice. Low taxes, good school. No real downtown, but bags of character. Just south of Portsmouth.

Dover - Great, old fashioned main-street. Nice town. Eastern side for the better homes/schools.

Durham - Nice, but taxes will kill ya. However, LOTS of homes for sale at bargain prices (they can't shift em because of the tax!). The downtown is ok. The students are fine, but drive the quality of restaurants down (because they want CHEAP). If you like pizza, you'll LOVE Durham!!

Newmarket - Classic main street, nestled on a river with a mill. Great area, don't miss it.

[barrister1103]

Hi - I'm a born and bred in CT girl who has been in NH longer than i ever was in CT - went to college in Keene, summered in Rye, NH (LOVE) and enjoy the Seacoast area. You seem to be describing Wolfeboro, where I currently reside. Lovely small town, great school system, no cars in the front yard (at least not in my 'hood). I've got a great house which is not on the market yet - may do a lease to own or sell. Lovely downtown - lakes all around - many great town beaches on the lake.

Originally Posted by lilibrarian

I posted here over the summer, and got some great info. But I had given up on ever getting my husband to go to NH. However we will be in Portsmouth in January (yay!) and I want to take him through an area or two. Aside from Portsmouth, we'll be in Exeter and Newfields.

I had focused on the Seacoast areas that I was most familiar with, but lately I've been looking around a bit. The following areas seem like we'll get more bang for the buck and have the proximity to different areas that we want:
--Derry/Hampstead
--Londonderry
--Merrimack
--Raymond
--Fremont
--Kingston
I'm looking for good schools, nice community feeling, and if possible a pretty town center. I know that Derry and Londonderry have well-regarded schools, but do any other towns stand out as attractive places? Alternately, are any of the towns boring, ugly, or full of interesting "characters"? I live in a town where people park their cars on the front lawn, and party on the front lawn also, and while it doesn't particularly bother me, we were hoping for something, well, a bit classier.

What town or two is worth exploring? I'm trying to get the husband to want to stay.

[Valerie C]

If you're considering the Merrimack area, you'll want to visit neighboring Amherst. Amherst has golf courses, tennis courts, an outdoor skating rink and Baboosic Lake to swim, boat & fish. The Joe English reservation (300+ acres) is great for hiking & cross country skiing. The Village Green (the pretty town center you're looking for) looks like something from a postcard with tree-lined streets, historic homes and if nothing else, stop at Moultons on the village green (Amherst NH - Deli Takeout, Soup Bar, Catering, Fresh Baked Pastries, NH products, Wines and Groceries) to get lunch. Excellent sandwiches & soups, lots of "Made in NH" specialty foods, wines, etc. Schools are very good (Souhegan district), and ton of community spirit. 101A is a short hop away and has every kind of store you could need.

Milford is another very picturesque town as well, neighbors to Amherst. I've heard very good things about their schools, and the Milford Loop is a great small-town downtown. Check out pictures: Milford, NH -* pictorial tour of Downtown

Raymond and Fremont schools have lukewarm reputations (sorry, no offense to anyone who lives there) although I've heard that things are getting somewhat better. You may, however, find some cars parked on the front lawns, which may or may not have tires, engines, etc. That's the reputation that remains to this day. Some people chose towns where they WILL be allowed to do as they wish on their own property. We are, after all, the Live Free or Die state

If you're looking at Derry/Hampstead, you may want to toss Chester into the mix as well, since Chester sits alongside both towns, and Pinkerton is the highschool for all 3. Derry taxes are higher than just about any neighboring town, which makes no sense because of all the businesses in town....

I second rmcewan's voice for Dover and Rye. Dover's downtown is a fun place, lots to see and do, and as noted, you'll find a different feel from one side of town to the other. Rye, not so much, but the majority of homes are just beautiful. "Stately" is the word that comes to mind.

Hope this helps a little--I'll post more later if more comes to mind