NM vs. NH cost of living (Londonderry: for sale, apartments, to rent)

[greyparrot2]

So....I'd like to move up to NH in the next couple years. I was born in MA, and have lived in FL, and have been in NM since 1991 and I HATE it here. I've always wanted to come "home"....but.....I was looking at the cost of living here in NM (87) vs. the cost up there (115-118 at the towns I was looking at), and I'm a little spooked. I've also noticed the apartment/house rents are quite a bit more expensive. I'm looking to move to SE NH, but the thought of paying $1200 a month for a two bedroom place is enough to make me choke (I'm married and have two boys, we'd really like a 3 BR, 1.5 bath apt./house). Is that really the norm there?? What else can you tell me about the cost of living there?

For example, our gas/electric bill (heat/water/dryer is natural gas) is around $140 a month for a 1385 sq. ft. house. Water/garbage is around $40 a month. Property taxes are quite a bit cheaper here, but we do have sales/income tax, and houses are less expensive here (though before the housing bubble burst, they were climbing quite a bit). Gas is around $3.55 a gallon. How much does it cost to register a car every year? What about inspection?

Thanks!

[motoracer51]

Hey Greyparrot2,
The wife and I are in the same situation as you; we live in Colorado and would like to move closer to NY to be close to family, and to be able to travel easier.

Basically, you and your SO will have to make more than $100K a year in NH to make the lack of income taxes offset the increased cost of living.

Here in Colorado, the income tax is about 4%. My taxes on a 1800sqft house built in 2000 is $654/year. My most expensive gas/electric bull to date, in the dead of winter, was $118.

Good Luck!!

YMMV

[GregW]

greyparrot2 -
Thanks for the information about New Mexico. It will help convince the SO we should retire there instead of staying here. We live in a condo and pay:

250 per mo condo fee
200 per mo property taxes
200 per mo avg electric bill
280 per mo to commute to Boston by bus

Then there are the rest of the costs. Southern New Hampshire is a very good example of upper middle class suburbia or exurbia but is pricy. 100 k per year gross is about minimum for a decent life style around here.

[greyparrot2]

Originally Posted by GregW

greyparrot2 -
Thanks for the information about New Mexico. It will help convince the SO we should retire there instead of staying here. We live in a condo and pay:

250 per mo condo fee
200 per mo property taxes
200 per mo avg electric bill
280 per mo to commute to Boston by bus

Then there are the rest of the costs. Southern New Hampshire is a very good example of upper middle class suburbia or exurbia but is pricy. 100 k per year gross is about minimum for a decent life style around here.

There's more to Albuquerque than the cost of living, IMO, the negatives outweigh the positives.


Where are you guys getting the $100k figure from? The listed average wages I've been seeing reported are significantly lower - in around the $55-$60k range. If I need $100k to live there, it might not be a possibility for us.

[NH2NCMom]

Originally Posted by greyparrot2

There's more to Albuquerque than the cost of living, IMO, the negatives outweigh the positives.


Where are you guys getting the $100k figure from? The listed average wages I've been seeing reported are significantly lower - in around the $55-$60k range. If I need $100k to live there, it might not be a possibility for us.

I don't think you need 100K to live in NH - I know my sisters don't come close to making that much and they live just fine in their apartments. Matter of fact my mother doesn't either. Remember some people are more negative than others - and some are "pollyannas" - but somewhere in the middle is more apt to be the norm. I think the 55-60 is more the norm than the 100K. Of course depends on where you live, and the job you have.

[greyparrot2]

Originally Posted by NH2NCMom

I don't think you need 100K to live in NH - I know my sisters don't come close to making that much and they live just fine in their apartments. Matter of fact my mother doesn't either. Remember some people are more negative than others - and some are "pollyannas" - but somewhere in the middle is more apt to be the norm. I think the 55-60 is more the norm than the 100K. Of course depends on where you live, and the job you have.

Cool, thanks for that.

[Valerie C]

FYI, our family is under the 100K mark as well. We live in Londonderry, have 2 kids in school, drive "regular" cars, live in a "regular" house. Yes I look for sales at the supermarket, check online for the cheapest gas prices, and don't get to go on exotic vacations. Such is life, we do manage to survive

[greyparrot2]

The spouse and I currently make a little over $70k here in Albuquerque, and we could conceivably get jobs for about the same pay up there in NH - possibly a bit more, once I become a paramedic. How would that type of income (~$70k or so) work for that area? Comfortable? Tight?

[GregW]

I too make well under 100k. You could probably duplicate your current life style on that amount around here. There would be few luxuries however.

[buck naked]

, but the thought of paying $1200 a month for a two bedroom place is enough to make me choke (I'm married and have two boys, we'd really like a 3 BR, 1.5 bath apt./house). Is that really the norm there??

yes, it is the 'norm'...my daughter is lucky in that the heat is included - my son's apt. did not include heat, and last year, the heating bill was astronomically high

he has since moved to another complex with heat included

you will pay more for a 3 bedroom house to rent....IF you can find one.