[GypsySoul22]

Another weird thing...so many people SMOKE in NH compared to Vermont. I know my son's school did a big anti-smoking campaign this week. I don't know if they bother in NH.

We cross the border and they are smoking everywhere. Here, not so much.

[momnh]

Gypsy- that's a good observation! I moved from Manchester, where a lot of people smoked (and littered). I don't see it so much here in Chittenden County.

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by GypsySoul22

We cross the border and they are smoking everywhere. Here, not so much.

When I was getting my master's at Antioch in Keene there were always plenty of students smoking outside the building. I rarely see that scene in Vermont. I figured it was about grad school. Maybe it was also about NH!

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by maileen

NH,accept Manhester.Good medical.Transportation much better than VT.I went to school in Keene,NH when I was in High school.NH really put money in public schools.Except for maybe Fair Haven or Bennington,Vt I would not put my kids in public school! If you do come to Vt send children to Jewish or catholic school. You may pay a little more to live in NH ,but the money does go back into the system.Great public libabaries and medical assistance in NH. Vermonters are usually friendly,but guns and drugs also run rapid.I was shocked after I moved here from SC.

VT is a fairly well armed state, for 233 years we have had few restrictions on guns, and we're the only state where our supreme court has said concealed carry is a constitutional right (others have held open carry a right but not concealed) but our crime rate is quite low. I can tell you NH has plenty of guns too, the only true restriction there on the law abiding that VT doesn't have is a license is needed to carry concealed, but it's quite simple to obtain. And it's legal in NH with a CC license to carry in schools, whereas it's not legal in school buildings in VT (school grounds are different here, it's legal, but the buildings and vehicles are off limits). That struck me as an advantage in NH when I still wanted to work as a teacher. NH has less places off limits to guns but I hate the license to carry concealed (and carrying at all in cars in NH is considered "concealed"). And yes I always carry a gun. I'm not paranoid but I've always been of the mindset to be prepared for anything.

Drugs are everywhere in the country, no place is immune. Compared to several states it's not too bad here. NH is not really much different as far as drugs go.

To the OP: I'd probably go with Northern NH, and try to get a place near the National Forest. NH property taxes are really high, but VT has an income tax. VT's politics have just gotten way too weird for me lately. NH is more libertarian (that's what I consider myself) in its politics. I'd visit both states and see which you'd prefer.