Why do you choose to live in northern New England (Concord: insurance, low crime)

[Brave Stranger]

I"m curious to hear why people have choosen to live in northern New England as opposed to southern New England, or anywhere else in the world. I've lived in Mass, and NYC for extended periods of time because of work, but I always knew that the lifestyle of northern New England was a better fit for me. So I guess this thread is open for folks from Vermont & Maine too.

For me I love the lack of traffic, and a large population base. There are only about 3.2 million people in all of northern New England. The natural beauty of northern New England, the mountains & lakes are something I enjoy. Very low crime rates as opposed to southern New England. Small government in NH. Lower cost housing in general. Lower cost of insurance.

The people, in general, are more relaxed, and more friendly. Much better road cleaning in the winter as opposed to Mass. And.....I like that the state food is "marshmellow fluff" lol. It's a very down-to-earth place up here.....no putting on the dogs.

What about you guys

[KarynO]

Woe...put on the brakes...Fluff is manufactured in my hometown of Lynn, Massachusetts. I've got my Fluff coffee mug and we make fluff-a-nutters everyday...that's a Mass thing. I agree on many of your points but where I am people keep to themselves. Even the locals will say it's hard to "break in". In my neighborhood you get the obligatory wave but in twelve years I've yet to be invited to a cook-out (or seen one taking place for that matter)

[Brave Stranger]

Yup.....it started in Mass, but it's big all over New England now People do keep to themselves up here, which is a plus in my book. People are more friendly up here in public. In public....people in Mass are cold in general from my experience.

[Mrtwigg]

I live in New Hampshire because I'm fed up with Massachusetts. I absolutly despise their nanny state idealism and the corrupt politicians and the Socialist polices they favor.

The town budget where I live here is less than the school district budget where I used to live and the schools were crap.

We've found a much better sense of community up here, the neighborhood is much better and I'd have to say we made a huge increase in our standard of living since we've moved.

I'll say it does help if one likes winter, we ski as a family and I hunt.

Don't get me started on Massachusetts' firearms laws...

[Peony321]

Because I am saving up to move somewhere so that my son can get a better education and quality of life. Its beautiful here don't get me wrong. But cities and towns balance their budgets by taking services away from the people. Where I live most notably the library. Or about fifty percent of the library. I always loved Massachusetts. But New Englanders get territorial lol over opinions on that one!

[NH2008]

I love the history and the old town centers, the sense of community, the traditions, the natural beauty, the four seasons and especially fall, the sense of individual responsibility and the friendliness (guess I have been lucky there.) I love the way seasons change here - you can actually smell fall coming. I love the different foods (cider doughnuts, steamed lobster dripping with butter, steamers, corn on the cob), the country fairs, and having room to breathe.

[Brave Stranger]

Originally Posted by NH2008

I love the history and the old town centers, the sense of community, the traditions, the natural beauty, the four seasons and especially fall, the sense of individual responsibility and the friendliness (guess I have been lucky there.) I love the way seasons change here - you can actually smell fall coming. I love the different foods (cider doughnuts, steamed lobster dripping with butter, steamers, corn on the cob), the country fairs, and having room to breathe.

Cider doughnuts are not as easy to find these days like when I was a kid. I get them at a farm in Loudon just off of 106.

[rmcewan]

Space. Air. Freedom. Healthy, free-range kids. Local politics. Low and better-value taxes. The State Motto. History. Respect for life. Respect for each other. Political poles that both look moderate compared to the rest of the country. Lower cost of living, lower personal debt. Shorter travel distances, cheap gas. Best motorcycling roads in the country. Farms and orchards in my neighborhood. Having a vegetable garden. No thugs, gangstas, or gangs. A ride-on mower. Town-hall meetings. Town, state, and national pride. The Atlantic Ocean. The lakes. The mountains. Snow. Summer breezes. Autumn. Especially Autumn.

[StAcKhOuSe]

Less people & congestion. Too many people get in my way.

[MtDreamer]

KarynO what town do you live by that you don't know your neighbors after 12 years? I am an independent person and looking to move to NH but hope I can at least have some friendly neighbors. So far generally I have been looking around the area southwest of Concord.