To people who have lived in Seacoast NH AND Greater Portland area (Dover: how much)

[Moxie]

Hi,
Our family will be relocating to either the NH Seacoast area (Dover, Durham, etc) or the Greater Portland, Maine area. I would love to hear from folks who have lived both places and what they liked/didn't like. We'll be moving with our 4 boys ages 3-10 and elderly parents (1 with Alzheimers). I have been reading on the forum quite a bit and I know some hate or love a place (and the whole tax burden debate) but I'd really like to hear from folks who have lived both places to get a good overview.
Thanks!

[Annabelle]

Moxie,
I lived/worked just south of Portland from '90-99 and I've also lived/worked on the seacoast NH since '99. While you can get more house for your money in the greater Portland area (and with 8 people that has got to be very high up on your list), I have found living in NH to be an improvement over living in Maine. First there are the differences in taxes. You will be paying more for just about everything in Maine and salaries are lower. Not that seacoast NH salaries are great in comparison with Mass. salaries but Maine pays even less. The coastal areas of Maine are middle to upperclass but the rest of the state is very poor and that fact sucks the life out of the state and how it is able to function and provide services to its residents on various levels.

Have you visited each area for several days to see which location speaks to you? I have been fooled before believing I would just love a location because everything I read about it and heard about it was what I wanted but when I arrived, it just didn't do it for me. If you haven't already done so, visit both areas for at least a week and ride around to check out the schools, parks, YMCA, senior centers, etc. etc. to see how each location fits into what your family needs.

[Moxie]

Thanks Annabelle. I have been to both areas for years, but not to look at to live. The cost of houses and property tax in NH freaks me out a bit. I also hear about the over crowding and the fact that NH is becoming Massachusetts. In general I have been more drawn to Maine, but am afraid of costs and jobs. We have a very old cottage that has been in the family for years in the Sebago area and want to be able to get there easily. My parents last lived in Maine in the 1950s year round. So a lot has changed! We'll be back up to scout things out in less than a month but I want to make an educated move and to limit how much looking around we do. Thanks for your response.

[nibseysgirl]

Originally Posted by Moxie

Hi,
Our family will be relocating to either the NH Seacoast area (Dover, Durham, etc) or the Greater Portland, Maine area. I would love to hear from folks who have lived both places and what they liked/didn't like. We'll be moving with our 4 boys ages 3-10 and elderly parents (1 with Alzheimers). I have been reading on the forum quite a bit and I know some hate or love a place (and the whole tax burden debate) but I'd really like to hear from folks who have lived both places to get a good overview.
Thanks!

Hi there,
I have never lived in Portland but I know ppl that have and loved it. I lived in Dover..and I adored it. I owned there and it was the BEST place to live in NH in my opinion. I would move back in a NY minute if not for the snow...Dover has a great apple festival and is a small town with the charm that goes along wtih it. It has a main street and Dover also has many activities(afforable) for kids all seasons...check out the rec center...they have rollerskating, ice skating, communit pools, Y,(in rochester nearby) and some beautiful fishing areas as well as parks. I loved the schools in Dover..I had one in elementary, one in HS and one is MS ...no complaints whatsoever...
Restraunts are plentiful(try the Fish Shanty..awesome..and Harveys Coffee Shop on Main Street...to die for homemade bakey (within the restraunt)...amoung others..They also have some farms with fresh produce etc..and some great shopping. I cant say enough about it.
I will say my impression of Portland is it is a nice place to visit and sightsee but I wouldnt want to live there, its too conjested and its a big city. I prefer a quieter type of place to live...
Good Luck
Lisa

[Moxie]

Thanks for your response. We have been looking at Dover as a possibility as it seems we could afford the houses there as well as the schools being fairly good. Durham taxes scare us. We'll be up there in less than a month to start looking around so any more opinions out there I'd love to hear them!

[nibseysgirl]

Originally Posted by Moxie

Thanks for your response. We have been looking at Dover as a possibility as it seems we could afford the houses there as well as the schools being fairly good. Durham taxes scare us. We'll be up there in less than a month to start looking around so any more opinions out there I'd love to hear them!

Dover schools in my opinion are GREAT! I had three kids each in a grade at each level of school and they all did great....testing and grades were all very good and my youngest has maintained a high honor since day one in Woodman Park which I feel gave her great tools to be able to excell in all her academics...
Good Luck
Lisa