Nashua, NH vs. Tyngsboro, MA (Concord, Portsmouth: car insurance, home, good schools)

[naga3000]

We are in the military and used to live in south Nashua. We are planning to retire in the East Coast, but we are undecided between Nashua, NH and Tyngsboro, MA. Could anyone help me understand the tax and school between the two places?

First, if we were to live in Nashua, NH:
Do you pay MA income tax if you work in MA, but live in NH?
How is school in Nashua, NH?

Second, if we were to live in Tyngsboro MA:
How is Tyngsboro school compare to Nashua school?
How is MA state wide tax?

Thank you for your all your help.

[motoracer51]

If you believe in the US Constitution, there is only one choice : NH. Just look at what MA does to gun owners, and that should give you an idea about the amount of freedom they'll "allow" you to have.

[Mook1244]

Originally Posted by naga3000

We are in the military and used to live in south Nashua. We are planning to retire in the East Coast, but we are undecided between Nashua, NH and Tyngsboro, MA. Could anyone help me understand the tax and school between the two places?

First, if we were to live in Nashua, NH:
Do you pay MA income tax if you work in MA, but live in NH?
How is school in Nashua, NH?

Second, if we were to live in Tyngsboro MA:
How is Tyngsboro school compare to Nashua school?
How is MA state wide tax?

Thank you for your all your help.

First thing you need to know is Mass. taxes everything (except clothing). If you can think of it Massachusetts will tax it. You live in New Hampshire and work in Massachusetts - you will pay income tax. Don't have health care? It will be asssigned or you will pay a penalty. That is part of the reason it is called "The Peoples Republic" - the elite who run it either love Socialism or are corrupt - can't figure out which but probably some of both. You can find decent schools in N.H.

[BF66389]

Originally Posted by naga3000

We are in the military and used to live in south Nashua. We are planning to retire in the East Coast, but we are undecided between Nashua, NH and Tyngsboro, MA. Could anyone help me understand the tax and school between the two places?

First, if we were to live in Nashua, NH:
Do you pay MA income tax if you work in MA, but live in NH?
How is school in Nashua, NH?

Second, if we were to live in Tyngsboro MA:
How is Tyngsboro school compare to Nashua school?
How is MA state wide tax?

Thank you for your all your help.

1) Yes; you pay taxes where the taxes are earned. If you are on travel/telework- then you can apportion that out of your MA taxes though.
2) Nashua Schools are better than Tyngsboro.
3) MA has higher overall taxes, even the "lower" property taxes aren't THAT much lower. Also other expenses such as car insurance are a lot more.

Also remember something else- Tyngsboro has no real town center. Nashua has an actual main street with stores/restaurants (some good ones). When we were home shopping it was clear that Tyngsboro while "not bad" wasn't really a desirable town because it had no defined middle of town, etc.

[naga3000]

Thank you very much for all your answers I want to live in Nashua, but my husband will be working most likely in MA. Therefore, I have to pay MA income tax one way or another. Plus, Nashua property tax is high, and I will not be able to deduct it either since NH doesn’t have income tax. Hmmm… It’s very hard to decide! Is there any military base in NH?

[sjwaste]

First, let me thank you for your service. I am a current DoD civilian down in DC.

I hear a lot of these discussions around the office because we have a lot of folks that are just becoming CSRS retirement eligible, early FERS, and some military folks who have retired and converted to GS. Please take my advice with a grain of salt since this isn't what I do for a living, but I think I know a few things that can help.

First, do you know where you'll be working just yet? Will both of you be trying for Defense/Fed civil service positions, transitioning to the private sector, or retiring completely?

It's my understanding that Mass does not tax military retirement pay, nor do they tax CSRS/FERS, I don't think. NH doesn't have a state income tax, so neither do they. MA will tax nonresident income earned in MA, so if you intend to work down at Hanscom AFB, for instance, you're not really better off living in NH since you'll pay MA's income taxes and NH's property taxes. If you plan to work in NH, by all means, live in NH. Then your income is tax free and you'll just pay your property taxes instead.

One thing I will alert you to, in case you're not aware. Portsmouth NS is actually in Maine, and Maine will tax the income you generate there. Maine also taxes military pensions, so NH is probably still the place to live if you end up working there. Also, I think Brunswick NAS (in Maine) is a BRAC facility, so don't apply there unless you're ok with a temp appointment!

Basically, unless you're facing a commute into Boston or something like that, NH comes out ahead. NH's position on taxation, civil liberties, etc might be a factor drawing you there too - that's up to you.

I just saw your question about military bases in NH. I've seen some NH NG/ANG opportunities posted on USAJobs recently, but they do require the uniform. Check USAJobs and search in all of NH - should see some ANG in Portsmouth and some NG in/around Concord.

[avlis13013]

I live in Nashua and work in MA. While MA taxes 5.3%, my job pays 30-35% MORE in MA than in NH. My wife has had similar results during her job searches. I work in high-tech manufacturing/R&D. The MA companies I work(ed) for tend to have better benefits and other perks (nicer facilities, better management, better employees). I'd love to work in NH, but I don't see it happening for a long time.

With Nashua property taxes you get trash pickup/recycling, decent snow removal (on my street anyway), some great parks, free events throughout the summer (especially geared for kids/families), and good schools (though my kids are too little yet to know firsthand).

[brepri_h]

Tyngsboro High is very small compared to Nashua. I graduated from Tyngsboro High in 2005 and it was a graduating class of about 150 and my husband graduated from Nashua South in 2005 and was a class of well over 1,000.

I personally didn't like Tyngsboro High at all. I mean thinking back my Sr. Year I was stubborn and refused to do gym. I didn't do it one day and they still passed me with a D, what school system does that?

[CoventryDude]

There is a small AF base in New Boston, NH. it shows up on a net search so it's no secret.