Manchester, NH, or Portland, ME? (sales, schools, university) - New Hampshire - City-Data Forum

Jdobbi01 · 09-16-2009, 06:51 PM

Hello! I am looking to move to either Portland, Maine, or Manchester, NH next year. I am applying for grad school at University of Southern Maine and Southern New Hampshire University. Obviously, a good part of my decision will be based on school but I was curious to know others' opinions on the two areas.

Also- any info on the schools and their reputations would be much appreciated as well. I have applied to a few other schools also, but it would be great to be in NE!

Thanks much

BF66389 · 09-16-2009, 07:30 PM

I really like living in NH. Love it and would highly suggest it.

For college though, I would prefer to be in Portland.

fishnfool · 09-16-2009, 07:44 PM

Portland is a MUCH nicer town than Manch...and it's not so much because manchester is bad, but Portland is so great....especially for someone in their 20s or 30s.

For me it would be a no brainer....Portland.

dazy12 · 09-16-2009, 07:49 PM

I can't say too much about the schools because I didn't go to either one of them. I do know people who went to both though lol. I am from Manchester originally and moved from Manchester to northern NH about 4 years ago. I'm not a big fan of the city anymore. I feel like it has gotten so congested traffic-wise and has also gotten quite costly to live there. Actually that's all of NH it seems. I never lived in Portland but have been there numerous times and loved it. It's a much hipper town in my opinion and it's on the water which is nice. Both have crazy snow and very cold winters, both have beautiful foliage, NH doesn't have a sales tax while ME does. That's one difference. It may come down to the schools in the end. I just personally think that Portland is a nicer town. You'd think I'd stick up for where I've lived for almost my whole life lol. Guess that's not the case!

NH2008 · 09-16-2009, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishnfool

Portland is a MUCH nicer town than Manch...and it's not so much because manchester is bad, but Portland is so great....especially for someone in their 20s or 30s.

For me it would be a no brainer....Portland.

Yup. Portland has a great food scene (check out the recent article in the New York Times online), it's on the water, Old Port is really cute, there's a train to Boston. You'd be going to school so taxes shouldn't be much of an issue. It's a great town.