towns close to somersworth (Rochester, Dover: apartment, condo, houses)

[justgoonamove]

my husband has been accepted for a job in somersworth and we are planning on moving the beginning of oct. any suggestions

[Ken E]

I always liked the Salmon Falls Rd area coming out of Rochester

[steveusaf]

What do you want - an apartment, condo, or a house in the country? Dover is a nice small city to live in. Rochester - not so much IMO. Portsmouth is even close enough if you want the small city-atmosphere. If you want to be more in the country, Barrington is really nice, but I'm biased since I just spent 10 days drooling over my 7.85 acres of wooded heaven I just bought there (future home site). Lee and Madbury are great also. More rural than that would be Farmington, Strafford, New Durham, or you could cross the border into the Berwicks, Eliot, or Lebanon, Maine. Be aware there are dire tax consequences if you do that, more or less depending on your particular situation.

I'm not a big fan of Somersworth myself, although my in-laws live there and my wife was raised there. There are nice areas, but the downtown seems run down to me.

Good luck...

[Jennymcb]

Any kids or plans for kids? If yes, then learn about the schools in the area and looks up test results on the state education website. Not sure of where you are moving from, but there's not a lot of public transportation in the area and you will have to drive to where ever you have to go. Depending on where your husband is working in Rochester, you could even look up further on Rte 16. There are some nice areas, good luck.

[CityGirl52]

Go for Portsmouth first if you can! I just got an email the other day saying that there high school does circles around the others on the seacoast so remember that bit of knowledge, if you have younger kids, all the better for down the road. There was also an article about it, you'll probably find it on the seacoast online site. That's a GOOD sign and besides that Portsmouth always had a great reputation all around no matter what. If no luck finding a place to live in Portsmouth that you like? Then you go to Dover, Lee or Madbury. It's crazy to go to the state of Maine due to the taxes, you're better off in NH as far as that is concerned. Definitely put Portsmouth on your agenda first.

[NH2NCMom]

I say Dover first, then Somersworth or Barrington, then Rochester. Portsmouth is beautiful but you do have the "bridge" traffic - and the locals know exactly what bridge I mean. I lived in Dover and Somersworth and Rochester - and if I had my pick, Dover would be first!

[fishnfool]

Dover is a great town close by without the higher prices of Portsmouth. It definitely has a lot more going on than Rochester or Barrington if you are interested in restaurants, shops, downtown. That said, Portsmouth is much nicer than Dover if you can afford it.

Honestly when I think of Sommersworth all I can think of is suburban sprawl (without any nearby city) with mega shopping centers and every chain restaurant you can think of. Some people enjoy that I guess.....I personally hate it an love the local small town feel of other NH towns.

[dtkn]

+1 for Dover. Great small city right next to Somersworth.

[justgoonamove]

ok so i guess my next question is where in dover is considered nice. we have a toddler and want a good neigborhood

[fishnfool]

Well in NH, especially outside Manch. there aren't really too many "bad" areas....and those areas considered bad by locals are pretty much Mayberry to anyone who came from areas with true crime.

The biggest problem you will likely run into in Dover is UNH students out partying and making too much noise.

Most of the neighborhoods near downtown and between Rt. 16 are great with gorgeous, restored colonial and victorian homes. Just outside of that are 1950's-70's homes but still nice neighborhoods. The further out you go you'll find more modern houses and even some McMansions in the wooded areas. Depends on what you're looking for I guess....privacy or a sense of community and walking distance to downtown.

If you come out to look at houses you'll be able to case the whole town in a couple of hours and see which part you want to try and seek out. It's not very large at all, but decent sized by NH standards.