Urgently Need Feedback: Amherst & Hollis (Nashua, Milford: appointed, renting, houses)

[NH2008]

Hi All,

I have posted about these towns before (and I did go back to the archives) but it now appears we may have to move ASAP. The house we are renting just got inspected and failed on foundation, ceilings, and everything else - if there's an earthquake, this house is going down, and I don't want my kids here when that happens. (If this doesn't end forever the CA vs NH debate, I don't know what would!)

Anyway, I have visited both Hollis and Amherst. I think they're both beautiful. I really fell in love with Amherst, but the Hollis schools sound very appealing. I know that Souhegan is unpopular with a lot of families, but loved by others, and since schooling is probably the #1 concern for us that's an issue. Other than that, I'm really curious what sets these towns apart from each other because they both seem great.

- How are the communities/residents different? Is there a different "feel" to the towns? Is one friendlier, more open, or more keep-to-yourself than the other?

- Any feedback on the schools? How about Souhegan Co-op? I'd also love feedback on the preschools. I have one child in preschool and another in kindergarten. My kids would both be entering mid-year so I'm really looking for teachers that would go the extra mile to help them make friends and get comfortable.

- How is growth/sprawl/development in both towns?

- In Hollis, if we lived on Main St, would there be a lot of traffic/noise? Too busy for our kids to bike?

- Does one town have more services than the other? What about activities? It seems like Amherst has a bit more going on (restaurants, shops) but I didn't see the commercial area.

- If you live in one of these towns, what made you choose one over the other?

Thank you so much from a very frazzled and stressed-out California mom!

[lisa g]

Hi NH2008,
I'll try to answer your q's as best I can, although the comparison is really a matter of personal taste.

Amherst's population is just over 10,000, while Hollis' is just over 8000. Min. zoning req. in Hollis = 2 acres, and growth is very well controlled. Not sure this is true of Amherst, which 'seems' busier to me. Hollis still has lots of farmland/orchards - not just on main routes but all over. The limited growth and expanses of farmland not to mention lots of conservation land throughout is part of what attracted us to Hollis. We wanted to find the anti-SoCal.

In my S. Hollis location, Boston is more quickly accessible as is the nearby city of Nashua, although it most defnitely does not feel like 'the city' is as close as it is (if you need cities).

We've had no Amherst school experience, but my friend's children were very unhappy in the Amherst elementary & middle schools they attended before moving to Hollis. They love Hollis schools in comparison. My kids enjoy school here in Hollis and are safe. Nearly all their peers at school are friendly/respectful/thoughtful. I'm not a fan of public education in general, but chose Hollis for its schools. Hoping to find a decent private HS, and would do it regardless of the town I chose.

The vibe I get from the towns is Hollis = traditional, Amherst = a bit of a hippie element. Hollis is 50/50(Rep/Dem), don't know about Amherst.

Main St., Hollis is definitely too busy for kids playing on the street!

Good luck getting out of CA.

[WannaComeHome]

Let's see... amherst always seemed to have a bit more.. snob-rating it seemed (a grandmother used to live there). We always thought Amherst was a lot pricier than Hollis -which considering the costs of Hollis must be saying something! The Hollis schools are tops in the state. Coming in mid-year is always difficult on the kids, and I think both towns can be kinda clique-ish. But there are probably ways to help get around that.

The towns can't really sprawl as you probably think it: the town boundaries were set a couple hundred years ago, and the borders don't change. I don't know about Amherst, but yeah, Hollis is getting it's share of development -many of the old farms are now built up. Even the back woods I used to hike in is now Tyng Hill! (looks really weird to me).

Biking on Main St? I wouldn't. certainly not young kids. That road is the throughway to Pepperell on one end, and Silver Lake and heading to Milford - and all the schools are on that road. Heck, that road actually has the only traffic light in town! which, btw is at the intersection with a Dunkin' donuts (you knew there had to be one! They're everywhere) and the town diner: Country Cupboard or something like that). There are many roads in Hollis that are fine for biking on, just not that one.

[maestramommy]

DH's coworker lives in Amherst with school aged children. the one remark he made that stood out is that Amherst is really into soccer. As in, everyone's kid is into playing soccer. We weren't really seriously considering Amherst, but that was enough for us, as it sounded just a wee bit too intense. However, if you love soccer, it may be just right for you!

[NH2008]

Thanks. We don't play soccer, but everyone out here plays it too...it seems like it's replaced Little League and football for little kids.

The houses we've liked in Hollis were all on Main Street (we love old houses). It sounds like that's as busy as it gets. Would that be noisy/uncomfortably busy for a family looking for peace, quiet and privacy? We're not hermits and like the idea of being able to walk to the library and general store, but don't want a lot of honking/kids can't play in front yard/etc.

Thanks!

[NH2008]

PS Lisa - Did your friend say what her kids disliked about the Amherst schools? Thanks!

[lisa g]

Pretty sure her kids (very nice, respectful, polite kids, btw) complained that lots of the Amherst kids were snooty & stuck up. They didn't make friends there right away like they (and my own kids) did in Hollis.
Our own experience in Hollis is that my kids elementary classes have felt like big families, which is a really nice experience. In that respect I'd say that the elementary school culture here is one which emphasizes & reinforces good character. Personally, I see the curriculum as having holes in it which we attempt to fill in at home-most people don't feel this way, however many Hollis parents have been disappointed by use of the "Everyday Mathematics" curriculum in particular.

[NH2008]

Hmm, interesting. I love the idea of classes that feel like extended family, because that's the way it is here too. I hate the idea of supplementing math work at home because I am almost completely math illiterate! Once we get past first grade, I'm going to get stuck! What other holes have you seen in the curriculum?

[WannaComeHome]

Originally Posted by NH2008

We're not hermits and like the idea of being able to walk to the library and general store, but don't want a lot of honking/kids can't play in front yard/etc.

People aren't really 'honkers'. You're not going to find that sort of noise. Mostly it's going to be school buses twice a day going to and fro, and general traffic.

As I recall, the houses do have yards, some I think were fenced. It shouldn't be a problem, as long as they don't wander out into the road. But then, Main St kinda stretches out a bit, and it kinda depends where on Main St. I had a boyfriend who's family lived on Main St (heading towards Pepperell), I never noticed street noise when I was over there.

[NH2008]

It didn't seem too busy to me, but I thought maybe I was just there at the wrong times to see it. The houses we looked at were all near the high school. I guess I'm just wondering why such nice houses haven't sold - I mean, I realize the market is terrible and I think the owners had unrealistic expectations, but I'm wondering if Main St was considered undesirable or something.