Husbands job in Merrimack, mine in Lowell MA - ? to live? (Manchester: for sale, houses)

[ghincks]

We're relocating to Southern NH and need a place to live within a commutable distance of both Merrimack NH and Lowell MA. A 20 - 30 minute commute either way would be ideal.

We love Amherst NH, but think it may to a little too far to commute to Lowell.

We also have a four year old son - so school districts are important. Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[NH2NCMom]

Have you looked in Londonderry - I think that might be a good option.

[Valerie C]

I would think that your best option is going to be staying west of the Merrimack River. Londonderry would work, but that would mean jumping on 93S with all the other thousands of commuters. Route 3 is more direct to Lowell, and runs directly down from Merrimack/Nashua into Tyngsborough, and on to Lowell.

Amherst is very nice, but you're right, it would make for a lengthy commute. How about Hollis? The schools are very highly rated (check w/ lisa g, a regular on this NH forum) and a nice thing about Hollis is that you have farms and barns etc. in town, and a short drive away is the conveniences of shopping, restaurants, etc.

Where are you relocating from, and how long before you come here to New Hampshire? Keep us all in the loop Oh and welcome to the NH forum...

[seamusnh]

The Amherst to Lowell commute is not that bad since Rt 3 was widened. I drive every day from Amherst to Bedford, MA (32 miles). If you can get off the highway before Rt 495, it would be a breeze. A lot depends on where you live in Amherst. If you get off at Exit 11 and go west on Amherst Rd, it is 5 miles to Amherst on a country road. I live on the Amherst/Merrimack line. There are some houses for sale on and around Thorton's Ferry Rd II near the Souhegan Woods golf course...

[BF66389]

My wife and I currently drive from Merrimack to Bedford, MA and during "normal" traffic she can make it (she's right off exit 26) in 35 minutes. As long as you are conscious about where exactly in Amherst (some parts are more commuter friendly than others) you could easily make it in under 30 minutes.

I also second the Hollis idea though, commute is easier it seems (which is why we're buying there).

[seamusnh]

We looked in Hollis alot 12 years ago. At the time we couldn't find a house in a neighborhood good for small kids (5, 3 and baby). Lots of nice homes on country roads with cars zipping by the end of the driveway fairly fast. Found a cul de sac in Amherst.

Check access to Rt 3. There are two ways into Hollis, exit 1 and exit 6. Both require a 5 mile drive west to the Hollis line. Go to exit 11 and the same 5 miles west puts you at the Amherst line. For my commute to MA, the difference is really 5 miles north on the Rt. 3 (exit 6 to 11) which really means 5 more minutes at highway speen. It is nice to be between Nashua and Manchester. Hollis is more oriented towards Nashua..