Tell me about Keene (Manchester, Nashua: real estate, insurance, low crime) - City-Data Forum

iamhadley · 09-24-2009, 04:20 PM

I need to know all about keene...Is it a good place for teenagers, I have 3. How is the economy? Is there any construction, and where do most people find employment. Also, how is crime and high school drug use. Thanx for your help!

nhrocky · 09-25-2009, 06:55 PM

While our family doesn't live in Keene, much to the distress of my 2 oldest DDs, both of them graduated from KHS, 2008 & 2009. Yes there are drugs at KHS, both girls mentioned it and there is definitely alcohol use. Is it more widespread and rampant than other schools? Hard to say.

Keene HS is regional with students coming from Chesterfield, Harrisville, Keene, Marlborough, Marlow, Nelson, and Westmoreland. Keene SAU 29

Keene High School

Keene State College is on lower Main Street, they have just built a new alumni center and the college has encroached upon the nearby neighborhoods over the years and within the last few years it has built new student dorms and parking lots.

Some employers that come to mind are C&S Wholesale Grocers, Federal Express, Peerless Insurance, NGM Insurance Co, Clark Distributors just to name a few. Lots of info on businesses on the Keene Chamber of Commerce

There's shopping on Main Street, several restaurants, theater, banks, along with businesses such as Wal-mart, Target, JC Penney, Hannaford & Price Chopper in the larger shopping areas.

maxxoccupancy · 09-25-2009, 08:47 PM

My friend graduated from Monadnock, and she said that it's a bit better than Keene HS. I currently live in Seabrook (on the other side of the state) and all three are known for low crime and high drug use. The test scores don't really tell the full story, but Monadnock is probably the best of the three. To be fair, the high schools in Manchester are known for the same problem, although crime in Manchester is now up to about 70% of the national average, shocking to locals. If you go to that city, I would strongly recommend West Manchester, rather than Central. Overall, New Hampshire's public school system is still above average in the nation, owing to a preference for high standards and local control, rather than progressive theories and political advocacy. Just my two cents on that.

I have many friends who've moved out to Keene, and there are pluses and minuses. The taxes are the highest in the state, and the zoning laws are some of the strictest in the nation. The winters in town are not as extreme as surrounding areas, though locals have warned about being "locked in" during snow storms (though still being able to get around the town itself).

Most things close early during the week, but there are chain stores just outside of town, including a really nice Borders, that are open until ten or eleven at night.

If you really like Keene, I would check out Portsmouth on the seacoast. If you have the choice, the taxes are much lower, the winters a bit milder, and you have access to a whole lot more businesses and local shops. Downtown Portsmouth is one of my favorite places to visit, and I would strongly recommend checking it out before settling in.

CrazyDave · 09-26-2009, 09:00 PM

Tell you about Keene..uh, they are holding a pot rally right now.

dubthang · 09-27-2009, 05:11 PM

There is tons on here about Keene, a lot by me. Just do a search for it.

luvanicebum · 12-13-2009, 04:40 PM

Keene State Collage won top 10 Collages in High Times for Best Marijuana.
You can find it just about anywhere from anybody.
I used to work in construction for 12 years and decided that it was going nowhere due to the ever increasing illegal immigrant population, so I got into
Machining and CNC programming. Much better career with a higher quality of
people in it.
Keene is extremely over taxed and over priced compared to the access to quality entertainment,
activities, services and education than other cities such as Nashua and Manchester.
Very non-diversified population consisting mainly of collage students, retail workers and rednecks.
People still wear tie-dyed t-shirts around here.

Very strong police population supported by the extremely high property taxes.
I think Keene has one of the highest ratios in the country. Makes for very repressed, paranoid,
un-entertaining environment.

Keene, however has a very laid back vibe. Nothing ever happens here.
90% of the polulation is typically average to below average in every way. Good place to raise
over-valued, sub-average children.

Very good natural resources in this area including Mountain biking trails, fishing, skiing,
swimming, hiking...etc.
So, if you like the outdoors, it's a great place.

Bigfoot424 · 12-14-2009, 06:06 PM

"Keene State Collage won top 10 Collages in High Times for Best Marijuana."

Cool. They put to gether "Collages" in Keene.

sgthoskins · 12-15-2009, 08:47 AM

Here is Keene as an image.

http://blogs.nad.org/ylc/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/hippy-m-cermonies.jpg (broken link)

If you don't mind hippy, stoner, tree hugging, passive aggressive types you'll like Keene. It's a cool little town. I can only take it in small doses though.

chianti1976 · 12-17-2009, 07:42 PM

While I'm sure a teenager will find the supplies they are looking for anywhere in the country. People often choose NH in general because of it's low crime rate. For teens, a lot of young adults end up moving out of the state for employment. I grew up in CT and moved INTO Keene after graduating from KSC and leaving for a couple years- so by choice I've moved back. I love raising my family here because I don't need shopping malls and dressing up is not required to go to the grocers (so I lived in Dallas once and was a bit of an oddball!)
There are lots of small businesses here and lots to do outdoors. I love the community, though it did take me a full year to reconnect with the community as an adult when my husband and I moved to NH from Dallas. We are more involved now and have sought out the things we love to do the most, so have made great friends as a result. We're in our 30's so I'm not yet sure what teen-raising is like in this community.
About the comparison between Monadnock and Keene school district, I'm in real estate and hear it all the time, " I only want to be in Keene district" or "I only want to be in Monadnock" for whatever personal reasons. To each his/her own! Good luck.

mlja · 12-21-2009, 06:04 AM

I love keene..as an adult! I don't have a teenager so i can't help in that area but it is a great place to raise a 9 yr old. Tons of community events. Quaint, small town where you are constantly seeing the same faces when you step out the door. It might be a bit boring for a teenager though. To be somewhat helpful, I can relay my experience as a teenager living in keene and it wasn't very good. It is a college town so naturally there are lots of drugs, plenty of alcohol and people can be a bit discriminating of anyone who is different. I got bullied a lot as a teen because I dressed more cityish. It's such a small town that people haven't accepted diversity & differences as much as they would in a bigger city.
Personally when my daughter reaches her teenage years I'm going to move from Keene. I want her to grow up in a place where differences are more accepted.
Good luck OP!