Coming in for a quick tour of NH. Need suggestions.

[aries]

Don't rely on a town profile to guess about the quality of a school. Many small towns dont HAVE schools and instead send their kids to a regional/adjacent town's school.

Besides that... how good can a school be? I mean come on, if you want a really good school for kids, don't worry about it until high school (it's all the same until then), then send them to a private school, either local or boarding.

[Rosie the Riveter]

If I were moving to a town or city for the schools I would pick Bow, Bedford, Amherst, Hollis, or another smallish affluent town as it seems that the smaller affuent towns do a better job with schools.

hahahahahahhaahhahahahahh

I'm glad you liked that one Russell -- believe it or not I end up having this discussion with so many parents in the  "education" relm. Everyone trying to move somewhere with a "good" government school.  Scary and funny that they don't see the writing on the wall.

[BarryD]

Wow! Great responses!

A thing about property tax rates. My rate here in So. Tampa is pretty high. It's on par with, if not higher than, most rates I've seen for NH. I do receive a homestead exemption which lowers it a bit though. Don't know if they have such a thing in NH.

I will definitely be checking out the towns many of you have listed. One thing I have come to realize in my searches is that 90% of the decision making that goes into finding a place to settle is pure gut instinct. That's why it's important for us to hit as many places possible. The proverbial drive-by is sometimes all it takes. (Although I don't think a drive-by can really be proverbial).

For NY2NH, I've seen several very nice homes for sale in and around Derry. You don't sound very impressed with it. Is it that dumpy or is the shopping just limited?

Thanks again everyone. Please keep the suggestions coming if you have them.

Barry D

[cathleeninnh]

Derry is ok. It is heavy on the commuters/residents and light on the commercial. Very convenient for access to Manchester or MA. Going east/west is problematic, but that is true over much of the state. I don't find the house prices reasonable here. We still rent. Yes, shopping is often in Londonderry, but again, it is convenient and even Salem and Manchester shopping is within 15-20 minutes.

There is a sizable rift in the local political scene that has gotten pretty nasty with name calling and a lot of misinformation going around. School taxes have gotten out of hand IMO, but the town high schoolers do go to Pinkerton Academy and it is supposed to be good but expensive for the town.

Cathleen

[Russell Kanning]

Besides that... how good can a school be? I mean come on, if you want a really good school for kids, don't worry about it until high school (it's all the same until then), then send them to a private school, either local or boarding.

Yea ... those jailschool elementaries are no big deal. Your kids can learn their socialist pledges and get good government meals.

[Rosie the Riveter]

Your kids can learn their socialist pledges and get good government meals.

   

[error]

Hey, I went to public school and I came out fine!

[Rosie the Riveter]

Hey, I went to public school and I came out fine!

Hummm -- Yea... that's it -- You're fine!? Just keep repeating it and maybe it will work.

  I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine 

[error]

Hey, I went to public school and I came out fine!

Hummm -- Yea... that's it -- You're fine!? Just keep repeating it and maybe it will work.

  I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine 

I'm OK, you're OK? Heheh, I'm fine. Really. I grew up finely attuned to injustice and wrong.

[Rosie the Riveter]

Hey, I went to public school and I came out fine!

Hummm -- Yea... that's it -- You're fine!? Just keep repeating it and maybe it will work.

  I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine 

I'm OK, you're OK? Heheh, I'm fine. Really. I grew up finely attuned to injustice and wrong.

Dude -- you changed your name to Beavis --  you're OK and finely attuned alright!

Yea -- this is weird now -- Rosie the Riveter and Beavis discussing the fact that they are fine and OK 

[error]

Dude -- you changed your name to Beavis --  you're OK and finely attuned alright? 

Yea -- this is weird now -- Rosie the Riveter and Beavis discussing the fact that they are fine and OK 

I never said I wasn't weird!

[Rosie the Riveter]

Dude -- you changed your name to Beavis --  you're OK and finely attuned alright? 

Yea -- this is weird now -- Rosie the Riveter and Beavis discussing the fact that they are fine and OK 

I never said I wasn't weird!