Commuting from Nashua out the 101A or???? (Merrimack, Bedford: rentals, credit)

[LarkspurLady]

Hello Folks. It is likely that my husband will take a job in Nashua, and we are wondering what the commute might be like out the 101A, as we are hoping to find a rural rental house that will accomodate and accept our family of 4 and several doggies (a separate issue which causes anxiety We currently live in the southwest.

I've seen on CL and various newspapers, several yummy sounding rentals come and go in the New Ipswich & Milford areas, and am wondering if such a commute is really doable? After some reading on this board, I've got the message that a 53 minute commute might be grueling in the winter, even with the excellent road care that seems to be the case in NH.

Anyone have a some reality on this to share? Thanks for your time!

[WannaComeHome]

well, commuting from Milford to Nashua is doable, people have managed that. I think my mom used to go from Mont Vernon to Nashua daily. From New Ipswich.... would be more of a haul and would get old fast. I know it will take me over 1/2 hour just to get from the west edge of NI to the grocery store in Milford!

[jthibodeau]

I agree with Wanna. There are a number of small towns located to the west of Nashua that may fill your bill. You may find, with the economy the way it is, Landlords bending the rules slightly concerning your pets. I also am seeing a dip in rents, especially for single family homes.

Best of luck...........

[LarkspurLady]

Hi, thanks for writing back. My husband thinks it would be worth it to live in the country... He is there now for an interview, and thought the drive down from manchester to Nashua was pretty good. The Weather Channel made it seem like it was a disaster. Any other suggestions to keep us close to work but put us in a more bucolic setting? Sounds like Hollis is good, but possibly more expensive. Our budget kind of tops us out at $1600 a month for housing, and we will be in that awkward position of trying to scout out a place from across the country.

[BF66389]

You may want to look into Brookline; it shares the middle/high school with Hollis (for your two children) but due to its location (further out) it's a bit cheaper. It wasn't doable for us because we work in MA/wanted quick access to the highway; but if your husband works in Nashua it wouldn't be bad at all.

I don't know the town too well; but a co-workers brother lives there and loves it (if that helps)- just a thought.

[GregW]

Avoid trying to live on the East side of the Merrimack River. Not enough crossings.

[WannaComeHome]

Originally Posted by LarkspurLady

Hi, thanks for writing back. My husband thinks it would be worth it to live in the country... He is there now for an interview, and thought the drive down from manchester to Nashua was pretty good. The Weather Channel made it seem like it was a disaster. Any other suggestions to keep us close to work but put us in a more bucolic setting? Sounds like Hollis is good, but possibly more expensive. Our budget kind of tops us out at $1600 a month for housing, and we will be in that awkward position of trying to scout out a place from across the country.

Brookline has higher taxes than Hollis, not sure whether their assessments balance it out or not. Milford is still reasonable commuting (though I heard 2 R-E agents discussing that Milford schools had lost their accreditation?!). Mont Vernon is a very charming town. Bedford is nice, but again a little pricey.

[seamusnh]

Mt Vernon is really nice.... Check the views from the top of the hill. From 7th grade onwards, the Mt Vernon kids go to school in Amherst, a very good school system...

[Merjolie8]

Commuting down 101A from Milford or points farther west it's doable but it's not as easy as looking at a Google map would lead you to believe. There are lots (more than 15) lights in between Nashua and Milford once you leave Rt. 3. That adds up to more than 20 minutes in a good day and around 30-40 most days. And that's just getting to the oval in Milford.

Winter is not a problem, the fact that 101A has lots of stores on both sides and lots of traffic is the issue. The start-stop-start-stop is really tiring.

[BF66389]

Originally Posted by WannaComeHome

Brookline has higher taxes than Hollis, not sure whether their assessments balance it out or not.

I want to say that when I did a comparison that the tax burden on similar sized homes was comparable between the two towns. Which goes along with the whole lower value/higher tax rate.

We did find some neat homes for what comparatively were lower prices; but the added "east" commute wasn't worth it since our commute from Hollis is now entirely "south".