Peterborough (Hollis, Jaffrey, Antrim: rental, how much, house)

[gradRun]

My wife and I are looking to buy a house in the next year and really like the town of Peterborough - but the property taxes seem really high, at least compared to what we have in Lincoln. For example; 10k for a 370k house. Does anyone know the reason for this? I see that there is public sewer, water and a high-school. Is that it, or are there other reasons?

Any other advice about the town would be much appreciated. The town's artsy background really appealed to us - my wife works as a freelance illustrator and I paint so we're looking for a community of artists, with access to events, lectures or classes. I telecommute to a design job during the week so driving is not too much of a problem.

Thanks!

[Rexicana]

We're kinda mystified by the tax system in NH, since, although there is a standard rate, there are exemptions and changes all over the place. $10K for $370 seems really high, but I'll ask around. We're paying property tax this year and don't expect it to be that high (although it seems high to us still). The rate is $22.64 with Equalization: 94%. I think my landlord was paying higher taxes because he had a rental properties, but that is just a guess.

The school department is regional. People in Peterborough grumble from time to time because they feel they bear an inappropriate share of the cost, but I have no idea if that is true.

[gradRun]

I saw that the taxes looked a little lower in Jaffrey and Antrium. Maybe it's a Peterborough thing? You do have that lovely library and public utilities, at least in town.

[GregW]

Public utilities are not free and Peterbough has a veery good school system. Welcome to New Hampshire the bastion of high local taxes instead of a state wide progressive income tax.

[gradRun]

I assumed that residents who are hooked up to the public water and sewer pay for the service, I think it's that way in every community. I was wondering if the property taxes payed a part of keeping up the infrastructure - trying to find a reason that the property taxes were so much higher than what I've seen in the Northern end of the state. If some of these properties I've looked at were on water or had a few acres then I'd understand, but none of them have been. Maybe it's just a quirk of zoning.

[BF66389]

When we were looking at home it appears that high property tax rates generally coincide with three things:
- Good Schools
- Solid Safety Services (Police/Fire)
- Conservation of Land & "Cute New-Englandy" Historic Area

It's worth researching, in Hollis we've basically discovered that you get what you pay for... Obviously some towns are probably more "efficient" than others though.

That said, a friend of ours from PA who used to do business up here a lot was/is in love with Peterborough...I've never been there but she's a pretty good judge of things.

[JCPTNH08]

As artists you'll probably love Peterborough. I've lived and worked there for years and it is a nice town, just a little far from anything else. The taxes in NH are set by the town and vary year to year as a result of many factors, most of which are voted on by the residents. For instance, if an expansion is planned for one of the schools in town, the cost of that renovation is voted on and if passed goes into the budget. You'll find that the rate will go up and down year to year, but not by much. Schools are funded in part by the tax payers as well.

Since your taxes are based on your home's assessed value, you'll find that the nicer towns, with the best schools and downtown areas have higher priced homes with higher taxes attached to them. You get what you pay for.

I've lived in Jaffrey and Antrim too. Peterborough is the nicest of the three by far, in my opinion.

[gradRun]

I saw this posted in another thread and thought I'd share - it's the tax info for all the towns as reported to the state

Historical Data-2007

Total tax rates for a few towns in the Manadnock region;
(I think I'm reading this correctly)

Peterborough: 25.39
Jaffery: 23.47
Hancock: 17.38
Antrium: 20.48
Dublin: 19.95

[Rexicana]

When I saw those rates you listed, they make a lot of sense. The Peterborough rate I gave is the one currently listed on the town website, so it is a little lower though.

It depends what you want from a town and what you are willing to compromise on to get lower taxes. Peterborough has industry, lively arts, schools, services, a great recreation department, etc. Hancock, which is listed as the lowest, is a beautiful place to live *if* you don't mind staying home or driving out of town for a lot of things. It has a small farmer's market, small downtown, and lots of roads winding around. It is beautiful though and it would be a great place for someone who wants that kind of life. I don't know about the level of services there, but I do know a lot of Hancock folk use their town pond for swimming/skating.

Antrim seems to have more of a downtown and services, but less than Peterborough. Dublin has some neat rec programs, but a lot of Dublin kids use Peterborough rec services. I know folks from all these towns who regularly use the P'Boro park, coffee shops, Harlows, etc.

I still need to find someone whose house is valued at around $370 K and ask them how much they pay in taxes, but my best guess would be around $8 -$9 K. You can always call the town to ask for a better ballpark.

Hope this helps! All those towns have something cool about them, so a lot depends on what you want from a place.

[WannaComeHome]

well... it's not too much of a town, but it is directly below Peterborough, so you can always go there for stuff, but have you looked at Sharon? The total tax rate for last year was $14.97. Yep, that low - but like I said: it's not that much of a town. If you want rural... you got it. But again, abuts Peterborough.

And Temple was $17.70 - that's nestled just southeast of P'borough. Oo, and Harrisville (between Dublin & Hancock, just northwest corner of P'borough) was only $13.51!

So low taxes are out there, what are you willing to do without and drive a touch to get to? P'borough is the 'big city' in that cluster it has more ammenities. If you don't care about those.. look adjacent.