Looking for area in NH with more year round familes & less snowbirds (Manchester: to rent)

[Fenway2013]

Plan to rent in NH and still looking for the best area to suit our needs. Are there areas that tend to have more snowbirds than others? We've heard that some employers downsize in the winter because of snowbirds leaving and if that is accurate, we are hoping to find an area where this isn't as much of a problem. We would also prefer being no more than an hour or so from Boston. Thanks in advance for any info!

[bler144]

1 hour from Boston in rush or for weekend excursions? And do you mean 1 hour to downtown/Logan, or 1 hour to the 128 belt?

Most of the 'populated' parts of the state are predominantly year-round residents, and within an hourish of Boston (Merrimack Valley and the Seacoast), and where most of the jobs are anyway. Depending on your particular area of work you're probably looking at Nashua/Manchester/Concord or Dover/Rochester/Portsmouth/Exeter environs, depending on whether the valley or the coast fits in other regards (budget, jobs).

[Valerie C]

You will find the highest concentration of 'snowbirds' and 2nd home owners in the lakes area, by far. If you are looking into being not more than 1 hour from Boston (and this depends GREATLY on what time you are venturing into Boston!) you'll need to be in southern NH, preferably the south side of Route 101, and not much further west than Nashua. It's not an accident that his is the highest concentration population in NH, for the very reason that you mention.

Other than being an hour from Boston, what other sorts of things are important to you? Need in-town grocery shopping? Lots of towns, even in southern NH, don't have a grocery store (and the residents like it that way). Need public water and public sewer? Natural gas a preference? Want malls, restaurants and theaters nearby? We'll need some more info about what's important to YOU to give good advice