Manchester....or bust? (Portsmouth: school, living, moving)

[LeavinMaine]

Hi Guys,

Portland Maine gal wondering about Manchester. From what I have read on here, Manchester doesn't seem to be a real popular place! I am considering SNHU so therefore a move. I am of course familiar with NH, (very familiar with Portsmouth) but not so much Manchester...only gone through it a few times and have flown in and out of it. Anybody have any personal experience to compare Portland to Manchester? Manchester is bigger than Portland, there are drugs in both places...but other than that, is it pretty similiar? I am assuming that it is, and if so than it would be a good move for me because I like Portland. (I just don't want to commute 1.5 hours during the week.) I understand I can hop over and check things out, but a visit there and living there are two different things. Anybody who has lived in both places or has personal experience with both places I would love to hear from you!! Oh! Hey, is the Manchester Christian Church a good one? How is its reputation? If Manchester is a bust, any recommendations on a different location that would be relatively close to school and church?
Thanks, and have a great evening.

[WannaComeHome]

Manchester's only 'not popular' because most NH-erites don't like big cities. And Manchester is the biggest city in the state. It has the usual things a big city has: traffic, good areas, bad areas... but compared to really big cities most people will concede that it's really not that bad. It's just not 'small town living' that's all.

[LeavinMaine]

Thanks! That puts my mind at ease.

[WannaComeHome]

No problem! If you do some searching (try the search function on 'Manchester New Hampshire') there have been a number of threads discussing some of the good areas and areas to stay away from. There are a couple folks who do live there and they pop in occasionally, but I know there's helpful info on good streets to look around.

[buck naked]

my kids graduated from SNHU. It's a great school and I'm sure you will love it. Manchester, as a whole, is a pretty nice place.

[buck naked]

the Manchester Christian Church is a non-denominational church on Wellington Rd. It's relatively new when compared to the other churches in the same area. It does have a really nice auditorium and cafe.

[LeavinMaine]

Thanks Buck!! I was kind of surprised by all the negativity surrounding Manchester and it made me kind of nervous yet skeptical. We are in the same geographic region so it didn't seem that it could be so drastically different from Portland. Thanks for the feedback on SNHU and the church. The school seems great, it has the program I want, and I'm still in my area. The church sermons at MCC that I have listened to online are really good...so I can feel the draw to Manchester growing stronger

[jthibodeau]

Manchester is pretty similar to Portland except, of course, for the proximity of the ocean. Being a much larger city, Manchester comes with a bit more of everything. Some good and some not so good. That's for you to decide. There is certainly plenty of entertainment to be had for your off hours.

SNHU is great and expanding all the time. As long as you have transportation available, you should be good to go in and around Manchester. I don't believe you'd make a poor choice either way you wish to decide.

Hope our posters help you....

[LeavinMaine]

Thanks J...I reall appreciate all the guidance. I have been spoiled by all the water access that I have in Portland, but water isn't too far away. Thanks for another nod to the city....I'm not frightened about it any longer. I guess just keep my wits about me like I do here and it sounds like I would be okay

[thisguyrighthere]

Manchester is not bad like Camden, NJ or New Haven, CT.

There arent gang shootings in the middle of downtown every other day or anything like that.

It's all relative.

Manchester relative to the rest of NH seems to be a blight or a cancer. Relative to other cities it seems tolerable.

I still hate it with a white-hot fury. Probably because it reminds me of all the garbage I've spent my adult life avoiding and moving away from. Like some childhood trauma you cant forget. Even still I havent been so much as approached by a panhandler in the few times I've actually had to get out my car there which immediately places it head and shoulders above Yale and New Haven, CT.