Claremont, NH?

[mlja]

Personally I do not like claremont for shopping or eating out. It is not very diverse, classy or progressive. This is just my impression of Clarmeont. I live in Keene which is an hour south and find it much better than Claremont in most respects.

[Sporin]

I love Keene as well, but it's hardly an easy commute to Dartmouth.

[mmwm]

Originally Posted by Sporin

Bear in mind that Claremont is a solid 40 minutes each way from Dartmouth, and that's in good weather. In the winter, that's easily and hour each way.

Just something to think about.

Believe me, we're thinking about the winter commute no matter where we end up living!

[GypsySoul22]

If you have a job at Dartmouth, you can find something a little closer than Claremont.

I suggest you try outside Hanover or over here in VT. There are some nice houses in Norwich and the school district is the same as Hanover.

[mmwm]

Originally Posted by GypsySoul22

If you have a job at Dartmouth, you can find something a little closer than Claremont.

I suggest you try outside Hanover or over here in VT. There are some nice houses in Norwich and the school district is the same as Hanover.

The thing is, I really want to be walking distance to a viable town center (with coffee shop, library, cafes, drugstore, banks, grocery, etc.). I don't drive much and I love to walk. (Spouse is the one with job at Dartmouth.)

Since we can't afford Hanover or West Leb within 1 mile or so of Hanover, our other choices are Lebanon near the town square -- and we have seen few houses there that have garages and 2 full baths, a decent lot, and aren't smack next to Rt 89 -- or New London, Claremont, Windsor, possibly White River Junction ... Checked out Windsor and WRJ pretty thoroughly and though house prices within walking distance of town are affordable for us, the towns are really too small, don't offer enough (though I love the Tuckerbox, train station, and local bus service in WRJ; and there's a house in Windsor that I really like). I've mentioned our Claremont exploration already here. So, New London is where we're focused now, with two coffee shops, a couple of restaurants, library, green space, the college all close to the houses we're looking at, and grocery not too far away. Still open to other ideas, though.

[Sporin]

We've lived in Windsor for 10 years and really like it here. Very easy commute up 91 even in winter.

Houses are affordable as well. Taxes aren't bad, schools are average.

[Lincolnian]

Originally Posted by mmwm

The thing is, I really want to be walking distance to a viable town center (with coffee shop, library, cafes, drugstore, banks, grocery, etc.). I don't drive much and I love to walk. (Spouse is the one with job at Dartmouth.)

Since we can't afford Hanover or West Leb within 1 mile or so of Hanover, our other choices are Lebanon near the town square -- and we have seen few houses there that have garages and 2 full baths, a decent lot, and aren't smack next to Rt 89 -- or New London, Claremont, Windsor, possibly White River Junction ... Checked out Windsor and WRJ pretty thoroughly and though house prices within walking distance of town are affordable for us, the towns are really too small, don't offer enough (though I love the Tuckerbox, train station, and local bus service in WRJ; and there's a house in Windsor that I really like). I've mentioned our Claremont exploration already here. So, New London is where we're focused now, with two coffee shops, a couple of restaurants, library, green space, the college all close to the houses we're looking at, and grocery not too far away. Still open to other ideas, though.

New London is a very nice town. The college brings life to the small center and there are always a number of activity-oriented people out and about.