PLEASE READ and help us be able to live free as well!! (real estate, homes)

[progressyourself]

Ok, to start, my wife is a marine biologist, Secondly, we come from a small town on CAPE COD, so expensive is a word we've come to terms with, and can handle. thanks the input so far...!

[dognh]

Originally Posted by progressyourself

Ok, to start, my wife is a marine biologist, Secondly, we come from a small town on CAPE COD, so expensive is a word we've come to terms with, and can handle. thanks the input so far...!

Then I would recommend driving up and exploring. NH only has 15 miles of coastline, so you'd could get a good feel for each and every town over a weekend.

Still as a 20-something, I'd choose Portsmouth.

[GregW]

Try for something on the water so your wife could commute by boat.

[movingover]

Originally Posted by GregW

I suggest the towns one town back from the ocean. Ocenside towns tend to be more expensive. Ask the realators on this board.

FWIW - As you are younger the Live Free part does not apply as the savings in income tax is made up by property tax and other fees. NH is a good state to be rich but not so good if you are not.

This is totaly wrong. I keep hearing this constantly and it's just not so. Do people really think that at the end of the day taxes in all 50 states are perfectly even? This is just wrong. When you account for property taxes, income taxes, and all other taxes, plus cost of goods and services, NH is about as close to living free as you can get in this country and still be near major civilization.

[nicolem]

Originally Posted by movingover

This is totaly wrong. I keep hearing this constantly and it's just not so. Do people really think that at the end of the day taxes in all 50 states are perfectly even? This is just wrong. When you account for property taxes, income taxes, and all other taxes, plus cost of goods and services, NH is about as close to living free as you can get in this country and still be near major civilization.

You are correct. NH consistently ranks in the top 3 and sometimes number 1 for the state with the least overall tax burden. Hopefully we can get back to real fiscal responsibility and it remains that way.

[Valerie C]

Portsmouth itself, or one of the border towns would probably offer just what you are looking for

[seamusnh]

Originally Posted by GregW

FWIW - As you are younger the Live Free part does not apply as the savings in income tax is made up by property tax and other fees. NH is a good state to be rich but not so good if you are not.

Wrong. NH has a lower tax burden. The property tax rate is not a measure of how much you pay. One has to take into account the assessed value of the home. My tax rate is $23/$1000 which seems high compared to a similar house in a similar town (ex. Westford, MA which has a property tax rate of $13.97). If my house were in Westford, it would be valued at more than twice what my town assesses it at so the actual dollars paid would be less. I have a co-worker in Sudbury MA that has a similar size house to mine, but I have more land and am on a golf course. He pays $16,000/year which is 60% more than I pay.

Another factor is the schools. My kids go to the public schools and have done fine. Most of my friends who can afford to send their kids to private school (7th or 9th grade onward) do so, unless they live in one of the few towns in MA with good schools.

GregW's theory is easily refuted by looking at the people that have moved from MA to NH. Are they all rich? If NH was only better for the rich, wouldn't those people move back to MA? GregW is still in NH even though he loves MA; he has stayed here; maybe he's rich?

[Shea Higley]

Originally Posted by progressyourself

We are a young couple, mid-twenties, and looking to purchase a house for the first time. We are both from a small town in MA, but have always planned on NH being our destination. Her career requires we be near the ocean, I am a musician. Any suggestions for a safe place to raise a family while being close to the ocean and the arts Please help, thank you!!!

The most wonderful place to raise a family is Hancock, NH. It is not near the ocean but you would not be sorry. Peterborough is the town 8 min. away and it is filled with artist of all kinds. A very "artsy" town. Hancock is a small, beautiful town and so family oriented. It is worth the trip to see.

[notdancingqueen]

Originally Posted by buck naked

just curious - what career requires being near the ocean?


beach sweeper? lifeguard? souvenir shop? captain of a ship?

Marine biologist, oceanography, ocean engineering, aquaculturist, underwater filmmaker, marine economist, marine environmental educator/researcher...

[fishnfool]

As a fellow 20-something living on the coast, you will appreciate Portsmouth the most and spend most of your time there whether you live there or not. It is a little more expensive than some of the other seacoast towns though.

After that, your best bet for "on the coast" will be Hampton, but stick to the North Beach area away from the strip (My wife and I live there).

Another decent option with a younger crowd is Dover, but it's juuuust far enough from coast to make it slightly inconvenient.

The other town I would recommend would be Exeter. Great place to raise a family, and the housing is cheaper (although higher taxes than Hampton).

I think you'll find Seabrook a little dumpy, Rye too expensive, Newmarket dreadfully boring, and Stratham as a suburb without a city.

North Hampton is nice and close to everything but can be expensive depending on your income. It's in between