Differences between Maine & New Hampshire? (Caribou, Fairfield: look for a job, school, taxes)

[CT2MEwoodnutt]

Hello Group,
My Wife & I are tired of the busy/much too populated 'Life in Southern New England/Western Connecticut, and are considering moving to either New Hampshire or Maine. (I have an Aunt in Passadumkeag, ME).
I'm thinking waaaaaaaay North, perhaps Pittsfield/Conway NH or Ft Kent, Caribou area in Northern Maine. ('Just Love MT Washington).
We used to vacation around Lake Winnipesaukee NH, but I'm sure that housing prices are expensive around that area.
We want nature/woods/mountains/lakes/Privacy and quiet!
I've had professional schooling in Photography, and worked in that field for awhile, also Computers/IT, & Office Administrative work.
My Wife is retired (35+ years Office Mgr/Accountant) and collects Social Security disability, but I still work & would like to continue doing so.
She is 65, I'm a 'young' 60, and healthy & very active.
I'm a chainsaw enthusiast, and just Love getting out in the woods, and cuttin' Firewood.
I could work for an Arborist/tree company etc.

What, if any, would be the real world differences between Life in NH, and Life in Maine?
Things like taxes , gas prices, housing costs (we'd rent, probably) area resources, WORK prospects (?), how about cable TV/Internet availability (???).

We both want a more Rural/quiet/serene way of Life!
I Love the Outdoors, nature photography, boating, fishing, hiking, Snow Skiing, and gardening.

And, please don't tell me about "The Cold", as I Love it Cold.
I Love the Snow and Ice on the Lakes (for Skating & ice fishin')!
Winter is my favorite season (well, Autumn in New England also!!!) and it really can't be too cold for me...
Heck, if ya get cold, just put on more clothes!
(I've lived in Connecticut my entire Life (umm, so far...) and the Cold doesn't bother me.
I've just gotta have a woodstove, where ever we go.
What I don't like is The Hot & freakin' high Dew Points of Summer
My friends call me a 'Penguin'

Any advice given, would be greatly appreciated!

CTwoodnutt
New Fairfield, CT.....presently that is

[maineguy8888]

I live in Caribou, and this area is great. But it's really hard to describe. It's not like any other part of New England, except maybe northern New Hampshire.

[mainegrl2011]

Do you have arborist certification/experience? How many trees have you climbed with a chainsaw hooked to your climbin' belt? At your age, you might want to be part of the ground crew draggin' brush and feedin' the chippah......and leave the tree climbin' to the younger workers. IMO you're a little past the age for starting a career as a climber.

You might want to look for a job first and have that determine where you move. ....search the threads for Maine NH comparisons/info and visit Maine.gov |

[michael_atw]

Originally Posted by maineguy8888

I live in Caribou, and this area is great. But it's really hard to describe. It's not like any other part of New England, except maybe northern New Hampshire.

Probably a little more like Canada up there, eh?

[michael_atw]

I don't know much myself other than my own research but I'd figure NH has the cheaper taxes, except for property tax. There is probably no difference between northern NH and western Maine; I'd venture to guess northern NH is different from southern NH as well.

[stevo6]

Can't speak for Me., but my parents live in Northern NH (Northern NH starts at Crawford Notch according to them) and they love it. They burn a lot of wood that they get from their property. Dad bought a wood splitter and found it to be very helpful. From what I gather, the negatives are: 1. few jobs 2. High taxes on assets (property as well as capital gains I think) 3. Not that open to outsiders, but then that has changed a lot in the last few years. They live in Coos County.