Dover - recommendations on where to live (commutable) (Portsmouth, Exeter: apartment, rentals)

[minibrings]

Hi there

I've accepted a job in Dover and I am very happy to be moving to NH! I always thought I'd end up in southern Maine but not with their tax structure!

Can folks recommend places to live within a good commute (10-15 miles, no more than 20-25 minutes) from Dover? Is Durham doable.. I heard that was a nice college town. I'm a single person and I'm not into the bar scene but I do like coffee shops, culture and the coast.

I plan to rent the first year to get a feel for the area.

As an aside, do you folks need snow tires in the winter? I have a Saab 9-5 with fairly new (5k) all season...

All advise kindly appreciated!

[SFT]

I've never used snow tires and I have a Honda Civic so you should be fine.

As far as places to live, Dover is pretty cheap and you would be close to work. Newmarket you can look up on the map is fairly cheap and has a small little in town area with some restaurants and probably a coffee shop or two I'd imagine. Portsmouth is bigger and right on the coast with a nice downtown area, but rent would be considerably more expensive than Dover or Newmarket. Somersworth is also right next to Dover and seems pretty affordable and same with Madbury.

I would stay clear of Durham unless you rent somewhere in the residential area. Thursday through Saturday, and possibly other nights as well, there are just a ton of drunk kids walking around being stupid. This is mostly on Main Street and areas that are within walking distance. However, it's a nice but small downtown area with a coffee shop, bagel shop, a few stores, etc. and fine during weekdays.

I'd just recommend Dover because of a pretty decent downtown area, fair amount of stores for anything you would need, and pretty affordable rent.

[minibrings]

Originally Posted by SFT

I've never used snow tires and I have a Honda Civic so you should be fine.

I would stay clear of Durham unless you rent somewhere in the residential area. Thursday through Saturday, and possibly other nights as well, there are just a ton of drunk kids walking around being stupid. This is mostly on Main Street and areas that are within walking distance. However, it's a nice but small downtown area with a coffee shop, bagel shop, a few stores, etc. and fine during weekdays.

Thanks much. I did not consider the drunk college kid in Durham scenario.. good advise...

[Ken E]

Madbury is a nice little town.

[buck naked]

Originally Posted by Ken E

Madbury is a nice little town.

yes it is, it's pretty, but it's an EXPENSIVE little town - homes are not cheap there...


try looking at stratham, barrington, rochester, farmington, greenfield...all are within a half hour commute to Dover. There are back roads to help avoid the tolls of the spaulding turnpike, which really add up quick if you have to travel it everyday.

[minibrings]

Thank you so much everyone. .I have looked at a map and now have a better idea of towns.
Thank god for google earth and mapquest, I can see the routes and have ideas of what the areas look like. I am drawn to Durham but someone warned me to be careful where I live as I do not want to be surrounded by drunken college kids.. I like my peace and quiet.

[SFT]

Don't take my comment on Durham as all areas are going to be bad, but renting anything in a building that is anywhere close to campus, you will be living with college kids who will potentially be partying 2-3 days a week, into all hours of the night.

If you're looking at buying or renting a house, it is much less of an issue and there are many quiet areas of Durham. All the neighborhoods surrounding UNH are pretty quiet, the Faculty Dr. area and Bagdad Road are pretty quiet neighboorhoods.

There are also some apartment buildings on route 108 in between Durham and Dover where there would likely be fewer if any students, and much less likely to have parties going on there and keeping you awake. Also, that would put you minutes from Dover.

So don't avoid Durham completely, but if you're in an apartment building within a mile or two of campus, or you think you're going to go out to town at night for a drink or something, be prepared to deal with drunk kids.

And Durham is quite expensive because of the market for UNH students. So, unless you're buying/renting a house I'd stay away from Durham.

[Valerie C]

Minibrings, have you checked out the rentals in Dover or Barrington? I think these would be your closest 2 options, and both are relatively quiet. You could also consider Exeter/Stratham and Portsmouth (though rents in Portsmouth can be pricey) Like Buck Naked said, there are back roads that the locals use to get from place to place w/o using the Spaulding...