live or visit? (Concord, Keene, Swanzey: ski resorts, renting, crime rates)

[daniellefort]

Originally Posted by MA_brnNrsd

I so agree with this. I used to be able to just jump in my car and drive when I lived in MA. Now that I live in TN its COMPLETELY different. So much traffic. Not so much people in a rush. My fiance is impatient when it comes to driving in traffic so whenever we have to go out, he wants to just go and get it over with. We both miss "the drives" in New England. We can't wait to move back.

We bought land in TN last year. Some day we'll end up moving there when the cold finally takes it toll on our bodies but we bought in a small town so traffic isn't like the big cities. There are some nice rides out there along the foothills though but i think we've done it all already while searching for our property.

[MA_brnNrsd]

Oh I am sure there are nice places around here, we just haven't found them yet.

[booker_one]

someone please answer this for me since this is one of the questions i have been asked. if new hampshire is so great why are there only a little over a million people living there? i can't give her an answer for that one. is it because of the cold winters?

[nicolem]

Originally Posted by booker_one

someone please answer this for me since this is one of the questions i have been asked. if new hampshire is so great why are there only a little over a million people living there? i can't give her an answer for that one. is it because of the cold winters?

Well I suppose you could look at it two ways. We have about 1.2 million people but we were the fastest growing state in New England. Most everyday there is at least one post like yours about people interested in moving here. Sure winter has something to do with it. We are not "right by" a huge city so we do not get the huge suburb growths you would have in that case. Yes we are near Boston but it is not like NY, LA or Philly where for years the suburbs reached very far. Only in recent years have Boston suburbs reached to Concord and beyond. Despite the crazy growth and development that NH has experienced- a good deal of NH is still "rural" and thus good jobs are not plentiful.

I know you said in an early post that you work and many visits are not possible due to $$. As others have mentioned, I highly recomend a visit in the dead of winter and during the snow-especially if she is that concerned about snow. Although visiting and living are totally different, at least she will get a taste for it. NH living is not for everyone-especially if you have no experience with snow. It may look nice and pretty on tv and on post cards, but some people cannot deal with long tough winters-others certainly can and enjoy it!

Nicolem

Nicolem

[Tarastomsgirl]

Originally Posted by booker_one

someone please answer this for me since this is one of the questions i have been asked. if new hampshire is so great why are there only a little over a million people living there? i can't give her an answer for that one. is it because of the cold winters?

Winter is one reason, winter is around 7 months long up there (we had snow early Nov- the day we left which was May 4th) That was in souther NH and Northern still had snow on the ground when we left. Sure snow is great for the holidays but you're talking its still on the ground months after, you child is going to be cooped up in the house, esp at that young age for many months. Also a lot of towns do not want young families with children moving in (I'd highly recommend watching Communities and Consequences I believe its called it covers this and you can see how the small towns think in terms of newcomers and children) Because children bring the need for education which means more taxes. Some towns won't even approve affordable starter home construction for the fact that it will bring in younger people.
A lot of the towns are small and the people don't like new people moving in. Its expensive to live there, even with the "no sales and income tax" ... Remember you have to that tax up somewhere. Many of the towns, even the larger ones are poor. Property tax is insainly high and for what you get its not really worth it. You'll be paying $6,000 a year taxes on an old home with the need for many upgrades and more than likely no a/c which is a real drag in summer up there cause its just as hot as everywhere else. The window ones will suck up your electric though.
Winter heating is absurdly expensive, my heating bill was half my rent ($400) a month for a one bedroom apt with Gas heating. NH is more of a retirement/vacation state. There are more people moving out then there are moving in. The exception is the coast where you have an influx of younger people and more to do but higher costs and huge taxes. IMO its a visit not live state

[vter]

I really don't get this "cooped up" in the house all winter. NH (and Northern New England) has a plethora of things to do during winter - skiing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, etc. The only time I stay cooped up in the house during the winter is when the temps dip below zero and/or there is a raging snowstorm out there. No one I know in either VT or NH stays inside all winter.
It is definately a good idea to come visit in the winter....February would be good. As with where I live in Vermont, many folks come to NNE during the summer & fall and fall in love. Winter is a totally different animal.

[booker_one]

i guess i need to start saving for a winter vacation also then. i don't want to fool her this summer into thinking it is perfect. i'm pretty sure i can handle the snow. but, i don't know about the wife. last night she was cold with our a.c. turned down to 73 degrees.

[dognh]

Originally Posted by booker_one

someone please answer this for me since this is one of the questions i have been asked. if new hampshire is so great why are there only a little over a million people living there? i can't give her an answer for that one. is it because of the cold winters?

Two reasons:

One, access to jobs. There are quite a few in southern NH, but if you're not able to find one there that pays then you'll have to work in Mass/Boston = the worst commute ever!

Two, winters are long and weather is frequently crappy.

That being said, people still move here. I wish they wouldn't.

[nicolem]

Last winter was either the snowiest or second snowiest winter on record. Tara only lived here for that one winter-please take that into account. I have lived here since 1999 and have had every winter possible-I made a post about it in-look under the snow belt post. I have experienced all winters-snowy, mild, freezing cold, etc. Here in Laconia-which broke a record for snow this winter- 140 inches- we have not had snow on the ground in a long time-since early April at least and even then a small amount just as banks. We have not had snow on the ground in a long time.

Snow is great for young families-what better than to have your young child learn to ski, sled, at an early age. Too many kids today are obese. I love seeing little kids ski at such an early age. It helps promote physical fitness-much better than watching tv and playing video games all day. I grew up in NJ and as a kid we had harsh winters. I was out in the snow all the time-sledding, snow ball fights. My parents would have to beg us kids to come in. I personally think the cold fresh air is good for us.


I live in a 1100 sq foot condo and my highest heating bill all winter was $120-usually less than that and that was Gas Heating-Amerigas propane.

We have no income or sales tax-thus we have higher property taxes then some-not all. However, NH is consistently ranked among the states with the lowest tax burden-usually in the top 3, sometimes first.

I will say that with the exception of my car registration and maybe a few other small things , most of my taxes are WAY less than NJ. NJ has income tax, sales tax and higher property taxes than us.

I think the problem a lot of people make is not fully researching a place and visiting numerous times before they move. Then they bash the place. To me, if you do not fully research-you have no one to blame but yourself-just my two cents. Moving to a place-you should fully resarch and visit. If you do not have the time or $$ to do that numerous times, maybe you should wait until you do. It amazes me people move somewhere-anywhere-after only going once or twice. We researched and visited over 6.5 years because we were making a huge change. We visited in all four seasons and did a lot of research. And before I am accused of being a pollyanna and saying that only positives are posted on this boards-are there things that I dislike about NH? Sure- I do not like the fact ourt budget has increased 17.5% or that the commies and rhinos are in control. I do find the people somewhat cold and reserved There are other things that I don't like-isn't that true of EVERYWHERE? But as far as I am concerned-the positives FAR outweight the negatives. Is NH a salvation and paradise? Of course not-no where is. Is it a nice pretty state with lots to do outdoors, clean, realtively safe? Yes. Plus as a few on here have said-home is what you make of it.

Good luck-I urge you to research and visit as much as possible. After all this is a big step-moving your family to a place that is much different in many ways.

Nicolem

[jthibodeau]

Don't forget about the black flies, mosquitoes, ticks, acid rain, Radon, Arsenic, milfoil, rock snot, red tide, poor rocky soil, libertarians, crime rates, drugs, cold ocean water with seaweed, frost heaves, wood smoke, road dust, litter, fast drivers, slow drivers, Dunkin Donuts and rubber necking tourist........Hummmmm, have I forgotten anything?