Considering New Hampshire For Next Move (Manchester, Nashua: sales, apartments, for rent)

[NEOhioBound]

My husband and I along with our toddler son are preparing for an upcoming move this spring. He, my husband, is a military recruiter and it has come time to start making our 3 choices for our next duty station (not that we will get any of the ones we list, but it has happened 2 times so far)

Anyway, he wants Kansas or Oklahoma. He is taking first choice and leaving the other two to me. He will have his choice narrowed down by the 1st of Dec when we fill out our list.

I am considering New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Washington. I have never been to any of those states. We have lived in Texas, Hawaii, South Dakota (where he is from) and now Ohio (where I grew up).

I came here to see if those living in the state of NH could give me some insight on what you like and don't like about living in the state. Maybe some info on crime rate, cost of living (for apartments) schools, what there is to do for fun, ect.

We do not get to pick exact city, just the state unfortunately.

Thank you so much in advance for any feedback

[fishnfool]

Pros:

-Safest state in the country
-Lowest crime in the country
-No Congestion (some on the seacoast and Nashua/Manchester..but nothing compared to bigger cities)
-Ocean
-Mountains
-2nd most forested state in the country
-True Wilderness
- Outdoor activities that come with those above (skiing, surfing, fishing, sailing, hiking, climbing, riding, boating,kayaking, hunting, etc.)
-Close to just about everything in the Northeast
-No Income Tax
-No Sales Tax
-Countless small, historic, colonial towns with real New England Charm
-Great quality of life overall
-Mild summers
-Best fall season of any other region
-Cold, long winter (for some)
- Live Free or Die attitude

Cons:
-Higher cost of living when compared to the Midwest, SW, and South. Cheap compared to California, comparable to the PNW
-Job can be tough to find
- Cold Long Winter (for some)

Honestly I could not imagine living anywhere else in the States (FYI...I grew up in Ohio....will never go back after living here).

[nelsonneighbor]

I agree with everything that fishnfool said. I would also add that New Hampshire communities are among the most friendly and most neighbor-involved in the whole country.

I've been a military wife and have lived all over the country and even spent a few years in Germany. Nowhere did I ever feel more at home than I do in New Hampshire.

[NEOhioBound]

Can you find a decent house or apartment for rent that is between 800-900- maybe 950mth at the most? What about electricity and heating costs? What are those like?

[steveusaf]

I have lived or been stationed in each of the 4 states you are considering. My thoughts:

Maine - grew up in the southern part of the state, right next to NH so not any different geographically. People are just as good as NH, politics are a little more liberal IMO, more expensive to live in (southern) with income/sales taxes and property taxes not much better than NH, lots of character and history, beautiful coast, wild interior with extremely remote lakes, mountains, low crime. Economically, not as good as NH though.

Vermont - Absolutely beautiful mountains, lakes, interesting people of all types, not as good economically as NH (maybe a little better than ME?), lots of transplanted NY people (Yankees, yuk!), polarized politics (they have a socialist for a US senator but the rural natives are very conservative), great gun laws, low crime, high cost of living and tax burden for what you get. Tough to recruit military folks there with the prevailing liberal attitude (lots of people who still think it's the 60's there). I knew an AF recruiter there and he told me it was very tough - with it being so rural he had a lot of territory to cover. Maine would be the same way. A beautiful place, but the prevailing social and political attitudes and tax burden vs. services delivered turned me off.

Washington (Tacoma area, specifically) - I haven't been stationed there since the late 90s, but I really enjoyed it when I was there. Outdoor activities were the highlight there. Stunning mountains, glaciers, temperate rainforest, and wilderness coastline was all within a couple of hours. Crime and congestion are terrible there. Not sure about cost of living, but probably comparable to New England. More racially and ethnically diverse than NH, ME, or VT. Weather was temperate, but it was cloudy/drizzly/rainy a lot. Not much snow though unless you go to the mountains. I'd go back, but I'd be very careful about the area I lived in. The crime and traffic would scare me off, compared to what I'm used to. Eastern or Central Washington, or an hour or two outside of the Seattle/Tacoma area, it's a different state.

New Hampshire - Like Washington, it's got mountains, ocean, and a big city nearby (Boston). Lots to do. People on average are as friendly as they are in ME or VT. Friendlier than Washington, IMO. High cost of living (southern), but no sales or income tax, so not as bad as it might first appear. Politically, a world of difference apart from VT, although its moderated recently. I like the "Live Free or Die" mentality - fits my Constitution loving personality. Lots of history, arts, outdoor activities of all types. I like the weather on the seacoast, but like to be able to go inland in the winter for tons more snow. Being from the area, I miss the culture, the accent, the seafood, and the Boston Red Sox. I chose NH for my post-military retirement for what I perceive to be a brighter economic outlook job hunting-wise, local control of a town's destiny by its citizens through old school local government, and of course, the license plate that says "Live Free or Die". Really, compared to all the other places I've lived, I feel NH really does have its act together fiscally, socially, and politically. Its the best fit for me - your mileage may vary.

Good luck. Recruiting is a tough assignment!

[NEOhioBound]

Thanks for the great insight Steve and fishnfool! greatly appreciated (you too nelsonneighbor)

We have been a part of USAREC (recruiting) for 8 years now with 8 more to go- we at least know what we are getting into with that part. Just finding a state where he would want to be a recruiter and where I would want to live has been the hard part

[NEOhioBound]

Think I am really leaning towards NW as a place I would like to call home for 2 years. Found a gorgeous apt that is in an old mill and feel in love! Now if I can just get us near that location

[NEOhioBound]

Sorry.. meant NH. I can't wait to fill out our transfer request form on Dec 1

[kizziepup]

Originally Posted by NEOhioBound

My husband and I along with our toddler son are preparing for an upcoming move this spring. He, my husband, is a military recruiter and it has come time to start making our 3 choices for our next duty station (not that we will get any of the ones we list, but it has happened 2 times so far)

Anyway, he wants Kansas or Oklahoma. He is taking first choice and leaving the other two to me. He will have his choice narrowed down by the 1st of Dec when we fill out our list.

I am considering New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Washington. I have never been to any of those states. We have lived in Texas, Hawaii, South Dakota (where he is from) and now Ohio (where I grew up).

I came here to see if those living in the state of NH could give me some insight on what you like and don't like about living in the state. Maybe some info on crime rate, cost of living (for apartments) schools, what there is to do for fun, ect.

We do not get to pick exact city, just the state unfortunately.

Thank you so much in advance for any feedback

NH is a wonderful State to live in..We have the mountains, ocean and some of the most georgeous lakes in the country...We are one of the best vacation states people from al overthe world come her to vacation and peole from many arts of the country own vacation homes here.......
We are a military family.....Good Luck where ever you land....
Carole

[NEOhioBound]

Since we are military we would not be buying as we would just be in the area for two years. We would just be looking to rent. Thank you though Carole