Art and Science Loving, Multi-Racial Family Moving from Chicago (Boston: sales, apartment)

[ChampagneMolecule]

We are looking to make a home somewhere between Boston and Portsmouth. We are leaning towards northern Massachusetts.

My husband will be working in Portsmouth, NH. I’m self-employed and work from home. We are in our mid 40s and have two kids, ages 9 and 11.

We have spent the last year living in the South Loop of downtown Chicago, and we enjoy the walkability, the museums, the parks, the lake, and the access to a vast and colorful culture. We are renting a tiny apartment in a building that is new and shiny and full of young professionals. It’s been a great experience! But we’d like a small house with a yard, where our kids can stretch out a little bit and, ideally, have access to neighbors with kids. Our current budget is $350K. We would consider renting for a couple years until we save up more for a larger downpayment.

Before moving to downtown Chicago, we lived in an upper middle class suburb outside of Chicago. It was not a good fit for us. We would rather see native gardens than a chemical-soaked, weed-free, extremely well-manicured lawn. And I do not love shopping malls.

We are a mixed race family. I’m caucasian, my husband is asian.

Our eldest daughter excels in math, science, and art and is socially awkward. Our youngest daughter excels in language arts and music and is socially confident. We’d love to find a school that would be a good fit for them.

We tend to gravitate toward quirky, places with a creative atmosphere. A friend who lives in Northampton, MA (which we love, but is too far from Portsmouth) recommended we check out Salem, MA.

We would also consider Portland, ME … but my husband feels better living closer to Boston. He works in technology and wants to be nearer to a big job pool.

Thanks for any an all suggestions!

[jayrandom]

If your husband is working in NH and you're working from home, you'd do better in terms of taxes to stay out of Massachusetts. I'd look in New Hampshire if I were you, perhaps renting. Portsmouth is a fun town to visit (it's not Boston, but it's got a cute downtown).

[Dm84]

Financially living in NH is best as long as your husband works there.

I can say with much certainty that your budget is too low for MA if you want to live anywhere that is safe with a decent school system and a sane commute for your husband.

[ChampagneMolecule]

Good point, thank you! As you may know, the state of Illinois is currently in a financial crisis and the taxes in Illinois and Chicago are some of the highest in the nation. Makes leaving easier! We spent a couple days in Portsmouth this past summer, while visiting with friends who live in Maine, and really enjoyed our time there. Fell in love with the whole area, actually. So, when the opportunity to relocate presented itself, we said YES! Massachusetts has a great reputation, school-wise, which is very appealing. Would you say that trickles into New Hampshire?

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by ChampagneMolecule

Good point, thank you! As you may know, the state of Illinois is currently in a financial crisis and the taxes in Illinois and Chicago are some of the highest in the nation. Makes leaving easier! We spent a couple days in Portsmouth this past summer, while visiting with friends who live in Maine, and really enjoyed our time there. Fell in love with the whole area, actually. So, when the opportunity to relocate presented itself we said YES! Massachusetts has a great reputation, school-wise, which is very appealing. Would you say that trickles into New Hampshire?

No. The mindset in New Hampshire is completely different. There is no income or sales tax and the government spends less on everything, including education.

[gf2020]

With a $350K budget, you're better off looking in NH.

[ChampagneMolecule]

Originally Posted by Dm84

No. The mindset in New Hampshire is completely different. There is no income or sales tax and the government spends less on everything, including education.

Thanks. Good to know. We respect the independent nature of those living in New Hampshire. And we’re not looking for a top-tier, cut-throat school system. Actually, we’re trying to avoid schools with high-stakes testing … with some kids, it can kill the spark and the desire to learn. We just hope to find a school district where the teachers are supported and inspired, and where the kids are encouraged to be decent, thinking people.

[Boston_Burbs]

Maybe Exeter nh?

[bugelrex]

If your husband wants to live near Boston for the job pool, I'm assuming means working in downtown boston, Cambridge,waltham area rather than the tech firms that are out in the far suburbs.

Living commutable distance to Boston with a budget of 350k (2 br at least) puts you in lower-middle class neighborhoods with very poor schools. Given this fact, you might want to scratch Boston area off your list completely.

Due to the NIMBY-attitude of Boston area, not enough housing has been built within commute distance (less than 1 hour) which has caused supply/demand inbalance where top earners have outbid everyone else and have driven any 'STARTER' house in a good school district to 700-800k

[ChampagneMolecule]

Thank you, everyone! My husband has been getting similar advice from colleagues. Looks like we're narrowing our search to New Hampshire!