Exeter vs Keene...help (Dover, Portsmouth: house, school districts, college)

[athomemom]

Hi All,
My husband has been offered jobs in Keene and Exeter. He loves Keene and I have been there and like it too. I have never been to Exeter or the surrounding area. He spent the last two days there, he'll be home tomorrow. Can you all give me the ups and downs of both places? One big difference for us is that the pay in Exeter is higher than in Keene. When we decide where to go, we will live in a small town outside of these bigger towns. Any help you can send my way will help tremendously. Thanks

[WannaComeHome]

Well, Tara lived in Keene for a year or so, and can easily give you all the downs of living intown - although she's probably in the throws of moving back to Naples right now. I think a lot of her complaint about Keene itself (other than bad town management) is that the college kids seem to be extremely liberal to the point of getting in your way. lots of demonstrations (mostly for the sake of being college kids and demonstrations are what they do) against the 'Establishment'. But, if you're in one of the surrounding towns... dunno.

Everything I've read about Exeter sounds like a great place. And the schools are top notch as well.

[dognh]

I would definitely choose the exeter job. Exeter is a great New England town, great school district, close to the beach and close to Portsmouth -restaurants and shopping. You're also just a quick our to Boston or 2 to the White Mountains.

Keene is just Keene. There is nothing else around there.

[NH2NCMom]

IMO Exeter is the place to go...small town and great schools, but yet so close to everything - you WILL love the town...trust me you can live in Exeter and still be small. Keene you will have to deal with a lot of the college kids so living out of the town is probably best.

Exeter gets my vote I lived up the road in Dover for many many years - and loved visiting Exeter.

[athomemom]

Thank you for the responses so far. I have read many of Tara's posts about Keene so I am well versed in her views of the town . I have never visited Exeter, I hope my husband took some picutres or video to show me.

[Valerie C]

Exeter for many reasons would be my choice. There are a number of small towns outside of Exeter that you could consider if that small-town feel is a better fit for you, plus the school systems in the area are considered much better (in general). You could live in any of the Sau 16 towns (Brentwood, East Kingston, Exeter, Kensington, Newfields, Stratham) whereas the Keene area is much more limited (IMO) in choices. You would be closer to the seacoast (never a bad thing!) and access to Boston, Maine, White Mountains for entertainment and culture. A caveat to Exeter (well, anywhere in NH after the last couple of years of spring flooding) is that the river runs through, along with many smaller streams and tributaries. Good luck with your decision--if possible visit Exeter and the surrounding towns, so that you can judge for yourself

[NH2008]

I like Exeter a lot and I love Portsmouth. There's just a lot going on culturally and for kids, and you still have proximity to a college town (Durham). However, one of the sticking points for us was that I wasn't thrilled with what I was hearing about the local school system, so if you have kids that's something to consider. Exeter goes all the way through, and some of the other school districts that are rated a bit higher for elementary and middle school don't have their own high schools. However, the location is great, there's a train to Boston, and you're close to Portland as well.

[aponeil]

We LOVE the Exeter area, however, cost of living is quite high. If your husband's job and salary allow for you to live in the much sought after SAU 16, then that is GREAT. We cannot afford to live in the aforementioned 6 towns, so we live in Fremont, only 1mi over the Brentwood line. What a huge difference. I mention this because you may be able to afford more house being on the fringe of SAU 16 (epping, fremont, raymond, kingston, newmarket), but there is definately a big difference in the schools. You did not mention if you have kids, but if you do, know that these outlying towns do no offer the same caliber of education. The other things is that locals do sort of snub these outlying towns (i know, this is IMO). I happen to live outside the SAU 16 district and I feel like I am on the outside looking in and wishing we could afford to move.
My opinions of coastal NH living, however, is that it's GREAT! Yes, the drive to Boston is easy, portsmouth is FUN, the beahes are great, the mountains are less than 2hrs away, maine is just a short drive... it's a fantastic place to live! .... IF you can afford it. NH is an aging state - now listed as the 5th oldest in the nation. We have a mass exodus of young people in the 25-44 age bracket (down 7.5% since '00) and an increase in the retirement bracket (up 12% ? since '00). Check out the article:
Maine and N.H. are old and gray
Great film to check out if moving to NH is:
Communities and Consequences | New Hampshire's Changing Human Ecology

[fishnfool]

ditto on everything said about exeter. I've never been to Keene but it sounds like a small island in a sea of nothing......(if you consider woods nothing).

[WannaComeHome]

oh and also... the winter weather is 'probably' a little easier in the Exeter area than around Keene.