Moving to Stratham/Exeter/Portsmouth which one?? (Hampton, Hampton Falls: to rent, houses)

[almypal]

Hi. We are moving within a year to the seacoast area. Now we live in southern MA. I'm looking for a town with good schools, parks, young families...just an all around great place to live. We have 3 children 4 and under. So schools are most important. Any ideas? We like Portsmouth but would a young family want to live there? So any help would be great. It is all just to much to figure out. I really don't want to rent. Thank you.

[NH2008]

I love Portsmouth but I think Exeter and Stratham both have stronger school systems. Exeter is a real town with a small but bustling, upscale downtown: restaurants, boutiques, cool movie theater. It's home to a top boarding school (Phillips Exeter Academy or PEA) which brings a lot of cultural amenities and well-educated people to the area. The public school (from what I've heard) is considered good but not great.

Stratham has a more rural feel. You could buy a house on a few acres and look out over conservation land and feel like you're really in the country, but still be close to Portsmouth and Exeter. Anecdotally, it seems much more affordable than Exeter and Portsmouth. However, the whole area is pretty built-up by NH standards so you'll find lots of strip malls/car dealerships/big box stores in certain areas of each town.

Other really beautiful towns in this area that all have top-rated elementary schools are New Castle (a STUNNING but very pricey island 5 minutes from Portsmouth) and Hampton Falls (lots of conservation land.) In NH many towns have their own elementary & middle schools but merge with others for high school, so a lot of these wealthy small towns that have great school systems end up in less successful high schools in other areas. The best K-12 school system (from the research I've done) is in York, ME which is lovely and very close to Portsmouth.

[Annabelle]

I'd recommend a day visiting each of the communities (without the kids in the car) so you can really get a feel for which one fits your lifestyle. With both Exeter and Portsmouth you have a downtown area and the ability to walk/bike to a variety of parks/schools, etc. Stratham is nice but since it is more rural if you are going to go anywhere, you need to get in the car.

[newhampshiregirl]

Originally Posted by NH2008

I love Portsmouth but I think Exeter and Stratham both have stronger school systems. Exeter is a real town with a small but bustling, upscale downtown: restaurants, boutiques, cool movie theater. It's home to a top boarding school (Phillips Exeter Academy or PEA) which brings a lot of cultural amenities and well-educated people to the area. The public school (from what I've heard) is considered good but not great.

Stratham has a more rural feel. You could buy a house on a few acres and look out over conservation land and feel like you're really in the country, but still be close to Portsmouth and Exeter. Anecdotally, it seems much more affordable than Exeter and Portsmouth. However, the whole area is pretty built-up by NH standards so you'll find lots of strip malls/car dealerships/big box stores in certain areas of each town.

Other really beautiful towns in this area that all have top-rated elementary schools are New Castle (a STUNNING but very pricey island 5 minutes from Portsmouth) and Hampton Falls (lots of conservation land.) In NH many towns have their own elementary & middle schools but merge with others for high school, so a lot of these wealthy small towns that have great school systems end up in less successful high schools in other areas. The best K-12 school system (from the research I've done) is in York, ME which is lovely and very close to Portsmouth.

Yeah, what NH2008 said!

[fishnfool]

I would probably rule out stratham unless you're mostly homebodies. There isn't any central downtown, walkable streets, shopping etc. Like said above, you're going to drive ANYWHERE you want to go. It's basically incorporated country/suburban homes. Exeter is great but IMO there isn't a huge draw downtown. Don't get me wrong, I think the downtown is gorgeous but there are only a few restaurants, no bars, etc that make me repeatedly walk around. It's really only 1 intersection too, not a multiple block downtown like portsmouth or newburyport......keep in mind I'm 26....things I look for are going to be different than a family, or boomers, etc. If I had kids or was thinking kids I would look in Exeter. Houses are cheaper there as well. Personally, I love Portsmouth and think there is something there for everyone.