New Hampshire Living (Laconia, Franklin, Belmont: rental car, sales, renting)

[Valerie C]

Hi Joan It really depends on what you're looking for--we have a grocery store thread somewhere around here from a couple of months back. The major markets here are Hannaford Bros, Shaws, and Market Basket. I find that Hannafords and Shaws have the best "prepared" foods and produce, while Market Basket has the best prices for staple foods like rice, pasta, anything in a can or box. We also have a Trader Joe's right over the Nashua border (TJ's has no NH stores just yet) There are also several butcher shops, specialty shops, etc. that would be local to each town. What I like is that the local shops tend to carry all sorts of different items that you just wouldn't see at the chain grocery stores.

Shelley, were you talking about Greenwood, ME? I thought that Greenwood was out more in the western part of Maine, going toward the Berlin area. Maybe not-- I have lots of inlaws in Maine, but they're closer to the coast in Biddeford, Sanford, etc. There's alot that I don't know about the geography of Maine

[touretteboy65]

Thanks to everyone for the input so far. I was born and raised in New Jersey, and, although I only lived there for 7 years of my life, I can tolerate the cold, probably much more than my wife. She says she'll go and adapt, as long as I buy her a very nice, expensive, warm winter coat (small price to pay to get out of Orlando). We're planning a trip for April 2009, so I imagine the weather will still be cold. We're going to concentrate our efforts mid state (Belknap County, Coos County), so if anyone has advice on specific areas that have good jobs, good schools, and an overall family friendly enviroment, please let me know. Thanks again!

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by touretteboy65

Thanks to everyone for the input so far. I was born and raised in New Jersey, and, although I only lived there for 7 years of my life, I can tolerate the cold, probably much more than my wife. She says she'll go and adapt, as long as I buy her a very nice, expensive, warm winter coat (small price to pay to get out of Orlando). We're planning a trip for April 2009, so I imagine the weather will still be cold. We're going to concentrate our efforts mid state (Belknap County, Coos County), so if anyone has advice on specific areas that have good jobs, good schools, and an overall family friendly enviroment, please let me know. Thanks again!

If you are considering Belknap and Coos I would also add Grafton on to the list. Lebanon/Hanover area has a solid economy, and is commutable from many of the surrounding small towns. I-93 traverses the the length of the county and goes through the towns of Ashland, Holderness, Campton, Thornton, Woodstock, Lincoln, Franconia, and Littleton. The further you go away from the Interstate highway corridor in Grafton the more isolated and rural it becomes with even less job variety. The biggest towns in Grafton are Lebanon and Littleton. Lebanon has a higher property tax rate in Littleton. The towns with the lowest property taxes are generally in Carroll County, but those towns are generally more spendy, and along Lake Winnipesaukee. Towns in Carroll Co. are a little more isolated, and quite a bit further from an interstate highway. North of Concord the variety of jobs will generally be less overall depending on your exact career field. However, prices are generally less, especially outside of resort areas.

[Verseau]

Originally Posted by touretteboy65

Thanks to everyone for the input so far. I was born and raised in New Jersey, and, although I only lived there for 7 years of my life, I can tolerate the cold, probably much more than my wife. She says she'll go and adapt, as long as I buy her a very nice, expensive, warm winter coat (small price to pay to get out of Orlando). We're planning a trip for April 2009, so I imagine the weather will still be cold. We're going to concentrate our efforts mid state (Belknap County, Coos County), so if anyone has advice on specific areas that have good jobs, good schools, and an overall family friendly enviroment, please let me know. Thanks again!

Do you mean Belknap County and *Carroll* County? I wouldn't exactly consider Coos "mid-state"

From what I know, the best school districts in Belknap and Carroll counties are Moultonborough, Inter-Lakes (Sandwich, Center Harbor, and Meredith), Shaker (Belmont and Canterbury), and General Wentworth (Brookfield, Effingham, New Durham, Ossipee, Tuftonboro, and Wolfeboro). However, keep in mind that schools vary within these districts, especially elementary schools as most towns have their own.

Jobs would presumably be more accessible in areas like Meredith and Belmont, which are close to larger towns like Laconia, Tilton, and Concord. I would consider all of the areas I mentioned to be "family friendly," although the towns in the General Wentworth district are a bit more isolated and spread out, so there's less in the way of activities and such.

[Brave Stranger]

Originally Posted by touretteboy65

Thanks to everyone for the input so far. I was born and raised in New Jersey, and, although I only lived there for 7 years of my life, I can tolerate the cold, probably much more than my wife. She says she'll go and adapt, as long as I buy her a very nice, expensive, warm winter coat (small price to pay to get out of Orlando). We're planning a trip for April 2009, so I imagine the weather will still be cold. We're going to concentrate our efforts mid state (Belknap County, Coos County), so if anyone has advice on specific areas that have good jobs, good schools, and an overall family friendly enviroment, please let me know. Thanks again!

The Laconia area are where the jobs are. Nice living can be found in the next door towns of Meredith or Gilford. There are almost NO good jobs in Coos county, none ! Coos county is near Canada, not mid-state.

[Ken E]

I really think it boil's down to what kind of lifestyle do you want. I beleive there's a big difference between the southern half of N.H. and the northern half. If you still have to make big money and be near bigger cities and highways the southern part of the state would probably be best. If you can get by on a little bit less and want a little slower paced lifestyle then the northern half cant be beat. I found a nice little cabin up in Carroll County which i beleive to be one of the nicest areas of N.H. Lakes, Mountains all around and the ocean is less than a hour away.

[GraniteStater]

Belknap County (Laconia micro area) is right in the middle of the state and on top of the Lakes, and right near the mountains. Also, that area is a fairly short drive to Concord via I-93.

[touretteboy65]

Yeah, I should be a little more familiar with the state; Coos County is a little too far north for me. I've seen some awesome properties listed on the Northern New England Real Estate Network, and most listed in Belknap, Carroll, and Grafton counties seem to be the most reasonable; the further east and south into the state seem to be the more expensive. I was watching the Weather Channel the other day and they were displaying areas of fall foilage and what to expect; I really envy you guys. Enjoy it. Hope to be up there in another couple of years. Thanks for all the advice.

[Brave Stranger]

Originally Posted by touretteboy65

Yeah, I should be a little more familiar with the state; Coos County is a little too far north for me. I've seen some awesome properties listed on the Northern New England Real Estate Network, and most listed in Belknap, Carroll, and Grafton counties seem to be the most reasonable; the further east and south into the state seem to be the more expensive. I was watching the Weather Channel the other day and they were displaying areas of fall foilage and what to expect; I really envy you guys. Enjoy it. Hope to be up there in another couple of years. Thanks for all the advice.

The nice thing about the Laconia area is you can jimp on I 93 & be in the state capitol of Concord in about 35 minutes, if you drive fast Good luck with everything.

[touretteboy65]

One of my biggest concerns is the higher property tax. What's the low down? I hear everything from no-cap property tax (which is subsequently raised each year), to outrageous amounts that drive people out of the state. Are the tax rates stable? From various real estate websites, I've seen the property taxes listed for the homes for sale; some are high, but still pretty competitive to what we're paying here in Florida. I don't mind paying a higher property tax, as long as the sales tax remains non existent and my pension is not taxed. Any info would be greatly appreciated.