Where to Move in NH (Conway, Plymouth: sales, house, schools)

[wendyp4]

Hello,

My family and I have been contemplating a move for 5 years now. It's time.

We are considering NH, NC or WV. WV because that's where I'm from, NC & NH for the outdoor and natural living lifestyle. Incase it's not obvious, we're looking to be in/near the mountains.

We are having the most trouble w/narrowing down a place in NH! We are mostly looking to the North... don't have much desire to be where it's crowded or suburban. HOWEVER, we do have young kids, and are used to convenience; I suppose we want our cake and to eat it too. ;-)

We were first looking at Plymouth, and most recently Conway. Any comments? We homeschool, our kids are very athletic, and hubby is a lawyer. We would also need to find a Christian (Protestant) church.

Help! :-)

[fishnfool]

The Conways, Lincoln, Bartlett, and Jackson are all towns that offer, or are close to modern convenience but definitely not suburban. They can get a little crowded (for NH that is) during tourist season but there are plenty of backroads to avoid the tourists.

Also check out the lakes region. You're not necessarily in the White mountains but it's in the foothills....it's similar hilly terrain in the southern Appalachians (The White mountains themselves are much more rugged than those in WV, NC). It's a gorgeous area and definitely a split the difference between southern NH and northern. Plenty of outdoors with the mountains, and convenience close by.

[3DogNight]

Egads...if given a choice between NH and NC I'd take NH every time, and I'm currently living in NC.

I don't know if you have filtered weather conditions into your selection process but...consider the temperature difference - on a good day it's only 10 degrees; on average it's a 15 degree difference between NH and NC at any time of the year. Summers are oppressive. Spring and summer are the only seasons here (in my not so humble opinion... )

The hiking, as I am speaking from experience, is far more exhilarating in NH. Having just coming off a hike in Monadnock 2 weeks ago and hiking in the central and western parts of NC the 3 preceding weekends before that...I prefer NH's outdoorsy lifestyle.

[jamamm]

There is absolutely NO comparing the weather in NH and NC. And if you're looking at NH, there's no comparing the difference in weather from the northern part (Conway area) and the southern part. Here in Conway, our winters tend to run October to May. It's COLD. And the last few years we have gotten over 200 inches of snow. This past summer I got to take my son to the beach ONCE. First off because we got so much snow last winter that most of the riverbanks were too high to have any beach there. (They were also warning people not to canoe on the rivers unless you were very skilled, because the current was so fast.) Second because it rained almost every day (between Memorial Day and July 31st we had something like 3 days that it didn't rain.) Then, because of the rain, the bugs were uncontrollable. We got 2 seasons last year - snow and cold, and rain and overcast with bugs. Also take into consideration that we are an hour and a half from any kind of a city. The cost of living is really high here. We have SOME farm stands, but then when you have a summer like we just had - there was too much rain for the crops to grow, so the farmstands had a really bad year. If you were looking more at the southern part of the state, you're talking something completely different - not nearly as much snow, milder temperatures, closer to cities, they have the ocean, lower cost of living.

Make sure you're looking at weather when making your decision. Living in Conway in the winter can do a job on you. Of course, if you're super into skiing and snowmobiling - maybe you like a winter that never ends! All depends on what you're looking for.

[3DogNight]

Ok jamamm you called my bluff, I was trying to be gentle and not make my love for NH obvious. It's hot as 6 shades of h-e-double hockey sticks in NC, and between NC and Conway, NH, you're looking at about a 20+ degree difference.

Take jamamm's comments about the winter doing a job on you and flip it for here to the polar (no pun intended) opposite.

As for COL...well Google the Tax Research Foundation -- I think that's the name -- and check your 'overall tax burden'. Of course it's not 100% accurate because states jimmy the state and county sales taxes to compensate for other things but you'll get an entirely new perspective of what people think feels like low and high costs of living. My metaphor is lame but it works -- you either have the tax man punching you in the face and taking your wallet (NH) or coming through the back door and taking you with a death by a thousand cuts (NC). I prefer the direct through-the-door approach myself.

[mtlogger]

Originally Posted by jamamm

Here in Conway, our winters tend to run October to May. It's COLD. And the last few years we have gotten over 200 inches of snow.

Which can also be said for our homes in Montana and Wyoming. Maybe not the 200 inch part, but close. Our bad weather starts in late Sept and lasts well into Memorial Day. We've had snow every month of the year in both states. And, the first snow is still on the ground when the melt comes. Reminds me of Alaska.

NH taxes seem a bit out of whack. http://americantaxresearch.org/

[luvmylabs]

hi. My husband and I bought a house this year in Madison NH just outside of Conway. We had searched for about 5+ years to find just the right town to relocate to. We just love it. We are from NJ just outside of NYC and just getting into NH is a breath of fresh air. We love the quiet but also like that we are just 15 or so minutes to get to Conway and shopping etc. Good luck in your search

[Lincolnian]

Originally Posted by jamamm

There is absolutely NO comparing the weather in NH and NC. And if you're looking at NH, there's no comparing the difference in weather from the northern part (Conway area) and the southern part. Here in Conway, our winters tend to run October to May. It's COLD. And the last few years we have gotten over 200 inches of snow. This past summer I got to take my son to the beach ONCE. First off because we got so much snow last winter that most of the riverbanks were too high to have any beach there. (They were also warning people not to canoe on the rivers unless you were very skilled, because the current was so fast.) Second because it rained almost every day (between Memorial Day and July 31st we had something like 3 days that it didn't rain.) Then, because of the rain, the bugs were uncontrollable. We got 2 seasons last year - snow and cold, and rain and overcast with bugs. Also take into consideration that we are an hour and a half from any kind of a city. The cost of living is really high here. We have SOME farm stands, but then when you have a summer like we just had - there was too much rain for the crops to grow, so the farmstands had a really bad year. If you were looking more at the southern part of the state, you're talking something completely different - not nearly as much snow, milder temperatures, closer to cities, they have the ocean, lower cost of living.

Make sure you're looking at weather when making your decision. Living in Conway in the winter can do a job on you. Of course, if you're super into skiing and snowmobiling - maybe you like a winter that never ends! All depends on what you're looking for.

It sounds like you're not situated for the Northeast. The entire Northeast had wetter than normal weather last summer, not just NH.

It is cold in the winter and it snows. That is why many people choose to live in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. They like cold-weather activities and activities that require a lot of snow.

Normally summers in NH are IMHO as close to perfect as you can get. Mid 70s to low 80s with low humidity and cool nights where you can breathe in the fresh air as you sleep without the need or desire of A/C except for maybe 2 or 3 nights a year.

[Merc63]

After spending a week in Conway/North Conway here at the start of November, it certainly didn't seem too bad. It was actually colder here in MD when we got back (for a couple days, at least). There was snow on Mt Washington on the wednesday we were there, but the first few days it was dry and very pleasant (should've taken the Cog train on Monday, as it went all the way up then...).

I'm originally from Seatle, and a lot of the area reminded me of being in the foothills of the Cascades. Gorgeous.

I'd love to move there if there was any sort of economy to get decent jobs in.

[SanfordR]

Lived in Barlett nh for a few years and loved it. Property taxes in Barlett and Jackson are much lower than Conways. It's a nice area with plenty of hiking, skiing, x-country, decent schools, shopping and restaurants. And 45 min to Portland ME. It's a long cold winter but if you're OK with that a very ideal place.