New Hampshire(Nashua) (OR) Bellevue/Seattle area, Washington

[steveusaf]

I've lived in both WA (Tacoma) and NH (Portsmouth-seacoast area). Suprisingly, they're very much alike in access to outdoor activities - proximity to salt water, mountains, hiking, biking, etc. I really enjoyed my 6 years in WA. I sea kayaked, climbed Mt Rainier and many others, even even hiked in a temperate rainforest (cant do that in NH). The winters were not cold unless you went to the mountains and the summers were perfect, with no humidity. Sure, it was cloudy and drizzly for about 9 months of the year, but that's the trade off for nice summers and temperate winters. I got used to it and didn't really mind it, although my wife was tired of it.

NH is home to me. The winters are colder, but I like the mixed forests of softwood and hardwood in the east (no better place on earth in the fall) and the culture/values of New England among many other things. And yes, the summers can be humid at times, but nothing like TX or the south. In New England, you might get a few humid spells per summer over 90, lasting no longer than a week. Down south, it's always over 90 in the summer and oppresively humid. Weather is less harsh on the seacoast of NH than inland. The water moderates the climate. Of course, the same can be said of all of western WA. The Pacific currents moderate the climate there too. I'd say the climate in NH is more like eastern WA, east of the Cascade Mountains.

There's much more diversity in WA than you'll find in NH, although I'm not too familiar with Nashua. I'd bet it's a little cheaper in NH, but I haven't lived in WA since 98 so I'm not too sure. I think traffic and crime are much worse in WA than in NH. Gang violence was getting to be an issue when I left.

If I couldn't live in New England, Washington would be my #2 choice. Good luck in your decision. It's nice to have an option to work anywhere you want with that kind of salary.

I would not recommend North Dakota. It's like the Artic, with not much to look at....

[hubbardpt]

Nashua is getting rough. Lots of drugs and Hispanic gangs flowing over from Lawrence and Lowell, MA. My brother lives there and I spend a lot of time down that way. Stay in the NW.

[WannaComeHome]

yeah, but that's Nashua. Plenty of places that are fine outside of Nashua, easy enough to drive in for shopping and leave for living.

[maxxoccupancy]

By a strange coincidence, I was born and raised in the Seattle area, and currently live in New Hampshire. If the latter is your goal, I would seriously look at the seacoast area, rather than inland. The seacoast (especially in Seabrook, where I live) is fairly mild by comparison, with winter lows about 5-10 degrees warmer than Manchester. The Coast is also not as humid or hot in the summer. Anything east of I-95 gets that ocean effect. NH is one of the lowest taxed states in the country, and you have more rights here than elsewhere.

On the other side of the country, Washington is beautiful, although it's one of the highest taxed states in the country overall. The state and some county governments are openly corrupt (I'm not kidding--it's as bad as New York). If I were going to move back, I'd either have to pick the peninsula or eastern Washington. If you get to Ellensburg, you are in driving distance of Seattle/Bellevue/Redmond, but you can avoid some of the 211 days of rain each year. You can also get more land out that way.

Traffic, crime, taxes, and urban sprawl are major problems anywhere near Seattle, and it's upsetting to see my home town turned into an urban sprawl nightmare. (As an aside, most of the folks moving in vote Democratic, and don't associate voting Democrat with high taxes, crime, traffic, or corruption, so figure on things getting better.)

[jmatt]

Originally Posted by hubbardpt

Nashua is getting rough. Lots of drugs and Hispanic gangs flowing over from Lawrence and Lowell, MA. My brother lives there and I spend a lot of time down that way. Stay in the NW.

While maybe more than when I was growing up there, it's still no big deal. My entire family lives in and around Nashua and no one I know has ever had any sort of problems with gangs. Like anywhere though, if you're looking for trouble, you'll find it.

There are plenty of areas in Seattle and Tacoma that are worse than anything in Nashua or Manchester.

[skasam]

Thanks a bunch for all the replies.

We have decided to relocate to Bellevue, WA and can't wait to see the unsurpassed natural beauty. Worth mentioning that, we have never been to WA yet however, my gut feeling says that, my decision of choosing Bellevue than any other place is the right decision.
We will be moving in about a month. After that, if all goes well, if the rain does not bother much.....I may call Bellevue/Seattle area my home.

Thanks everyone again.

[Zod]

Good luck with the traffic and meth addicts.

[WannaComeHome]

Good luck! We had also once considered the Seattle area as a place to move to - it is beautiful and seemed very nice. DH changed his mind after talking to the rangers about Mt Rainer. I hope WA is everything you want it to be.

[ss20ts]

Wait! You're moving to a state you've NEVER seen???? By now you've moved, but why not visit before moving? What if it's NOTHING like you imagine?

I used to want to move to NC....before the rest of the US decided it was THE place to live. I've been there every year over the last 3 years as I have family there. The first few trips, I loved being there. Now, it's not spectacular...it's friggin hot and getting crowded. The taxes have increased dramatically with that insane influx of people. I'm sooooooooooo freaking happy I didn't move there now!