Tell me about Keene (Manchester, Portsmouth: 2009, insurance, low crime)

[iamhadley]

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]

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]

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]

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

[dubthang]

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