Yet another where to live question!! (Manchester, Nashua: house, school district, living)

[DMickey28]

We are still looking in Derry and Londonderry but DH is on the verge of a hopefull new job which would allow him to work out of the house. He will be traveling about 20% of the time or so. We would need to be within 45 minutes of a decent airport (Manchester would probably be fine.)

What towns would you suggest? Since we don't have to be within a comfortable commute to Boston or the North Shore we want to move a little further outside that zone to get more bang for our buck!! We have a 2 year old and hopefully will have another baby in the next few years. We would like a smallish town but with the large town/city ammenties within a reasonable distance for shopping. We would like something safe with a good school district and a good rec department for the kids.

We want a min. 3 bed 2.5 baths with at least 1600 sq. ft. with mature trees. We would like to keep it under $300K and more towards $250K if possible, especially with the new job idea.

Any suggestions? Thanks!!

[dognh]

If I could work out of my house and didn't have any other connections (family or otherwise) to a particular geography than I would take Manchester airport and draw a straight line 45 minutes north and start looking there.

Only problem is that your post states "large city amenities and close to shopping. In that case you need to live Concord south

[DMickey28]

My large city amenties, I mean shopping. BJ's, Costco, Targe, Walmart and the like. Home Depot, Lowes ... the big box stores.

Also, all our family lives between Bellingham, MA and Cape Cod. We don't mind being upwards of 2 to 3 hours from them but not much farther. We have been living over 1500 miles away for 5 years so we are excited to get back but don't need to be in their backyard!

[WannaComeHome]

That's pretty much what DogNH means, too!

Most of the towns are too small for decent grocery stores (regular shopping, not just mom & pop/convenience shopping), clothing and other assorted necessities. You need the larger places for those, like Derry, Nashua, Bedford, Milford.... and of course Manchester and Concord (not an exhaustive list, but you get my meaning)

[Valerie C]

While you can certainly find a 3-br house under 300K in Londonderry, if you want more bang for the buck in your house shopping budget,you might consider some of the towns just north or west of Concord. Towns like Hopkinton or possibly Henniker. Nice communities, schools with good reputations, and you have the benefit of being under 30 minutes to Concord with all the big boxes you might need (BJ's in Hooksett, Target, Lowes, Home Depot, etc, etc, etc) And less than 45 minutes to Manchester Airport as well

Originally Posted by DMickey28

My large city amenties, I mean shopping. BJ's, Costco, Targe, Walmart and the like. Home Depot, Lowes ... the big box stores.

[DMickey28]

How is Merrimack? Gofftown? Epsom? Epping? Anything in those areas decent?

[Ken E]

I lived in Epsom for a few years and really liked it. Not to far for shopping in Concord or Manchester. Right up RT 28 a ways is Alton Bay and Lake Winni and RT 4 will get you down to the ocean in no time. A nice little town where people seem to mind their own business.A nice town to live in with everything you need within a short ride.

[DMickey28]

Thanks Ken. I just feel so overwhelmed in looking at places, especially without a commuting restriction!

We have lived in S. Florida for three years and a Chicago suburb before that. We are craving the small town feel that we felt when looking around Derry and Londonderry but from a logical perspective I need to be able to get to the big box stores for my weekly shopping and stuff. I just can't fathom how to pick a small town ....

[Ken E]

I lived in a lot of small towns up in N.H. my whole life excpt the last eight years i've been down here. I'm headed back to N.H. as soon as i can sell this place here. You'll love it in NH

[NewNHguy]

head upstate more north....you will not regret it.

There are still ammenities, despite what the 'city folk' would tell you. The ride to the stores might take 5 minutes more, but the lack of congestion is worth it.

My nearest neighbor is 250 yards away, can't hear em, see em.....
I'm 8 miles to Conway, where the stores and 'civilization' are located

Properties abound, town services are great.

Madison, NH

Consider the northern territories.....you'll never look back.