Newmarket, NH - good schools/nice place to move to? (Dover: 2010, Home Depot)

[monkeyhead1]

We currently live in NC and love it here...except for the school situation - major overcrowding and yearly reassignments to different schools. Plus, recently major cuts in budget leading to cutting Spanish and technology classes.

Newmarket sounds like a nice town - how are the schools? We have a rising kindergartner for 2010. Are people friendly to newcomers in town in general? Any other town suggestions would be welcome also.

Thanks!

[true.enough]

Newmarket schools are not generally known for being fabulous. In this area, SAU 16 is considered one of the best districts for schools, this includes Stratham, Exeter, Newfields, Brentwood, E.Kingston and Kensington. Many of these towns border Newmarket. North of Newmarket, you could also consider the Oyster River school district, including such towns as Dover. This would depend on where you want to be in proximity to (work commute?). In general, though, people are very friendly. The Children's Museum of NH is in Dover (fyi). Happy to answer with more details, if you provide more info.

[dubthang]

Newmarket is a nice small town. Nice downtown area, but the schools aren't great. They are decent though. Like stated above, you can't go wrong with going south or north. The Stratham/Exeter area is expensive. The Dover area is cheaper, and a little bit more urban in feeling.

I've lived in Newmarket, Dover, Durham, and have worked in Stratham, Newfields, and Exeter. I'd chose Dover myself if I was to move back to NH.

[crujones76]

Dubthang,
I'm wondering why you would pick Dover over all of the other places you have lived/worked in NH. Schools? Downtown area? Overall feel? Any insight would be highly appreciated. My wife and I are looking at the Dover area for a move with our son and really love it. What else can you tell me?

Thank you!

[fishnfool]

Dover is MUCH larger the any of the other towns listed (but it's still not "big"). It has a larger, walkable downtown consisting of more than a main street (most of the other downtowns are only a block or two). It has many more restaurants, bars, shopping, etc. There's just more to do and more amenities that come with living in a larger town.

Also, it's very close to Portsmouth and (and Newington for that matter...if you need to shop at the mall) and you can easily access Rt. 16, 108, or 4 and get around pretty easily.

[Valerie C]

I think maybe you meant to say Durham instead of Dover? (Dover is not part of Oyster River School District...) The three towns that make up Oyster River are Madbury, Durham and Lee. Taxes are quite high, but for many, worth it because of the quality of education associated with the district.

Originally Posted by true.enough

North of Newmarket, you could also consider the Oyster River school district, including such towns as Dover.

[dubthang]

Originally Posted by crujones76

Dubthang,
I'm wondering why you would pick Dover over all of the other places you have lived/worked in NH. Schools? Downtown area? Overall feel? Any insight would be highly appreciated. My wife and I are looking at the Dover area for a move with our son and really love it. What else can you tell me?

Thank you!

Firstly, Dover is shaped like a crescent (that's why it's called the Crescent City.) This makes it easy to get around since you can avoid downtown if you want. It is also easy to get to places like Rt. 4, 9, 125, 16, Portsmouth, Maine, the ocean, etc.

Secondly, there is a good mixed atmosphere. It has a small town feel in some areas (small neighborhoods, local stores,) other areas provide larger city conveniences (grocery stores, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, major highway access,) and this is all set within the beautiful NH coastal area.

Thirdly, the schools are good. They aren't the greatest, but nobody will fault the education that one recieves in a Dover school.

Fourthly, the surrounding towns are all fairly close, and are decent towns too. A couple of the towns are tiny while others are larger, but they are all nice.

There are many other perks too, access to the woods (hiking, biking,) decent bars, good local restaurants, walkable downtown, etc.

The biggest drawback to living in Dover is that id you work in Portsmouth, Rush hour traffic is awful. There is one bridge in and out of the Portsmouth area for Dover folks (and other towns that way) and it gets slammed every afternoon.