Pros and Cons - NH is OK
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12/13/2019
I have lived in 6 other states all over the country, making New Hampshire my 7th. I've been here for about two and a half years. Like everywhere else, there are good things and bad things about NH.
Pros are that it really is a beautiful place. Aside from Washington and Colorado, I'd say NH is the most beautiful state in the country. Lakes, mountains, beaches... it's all within an hour drive. Boston is close too, which is a pro and a con! The colors of fall are really stunning. If you are an outdoorsy person, you will never get bored in NH. Other pros include no state income tax and no sales tax on most things, which is a big help at the checkout line at the grocery store. It's a relatively safe state outside of inner-city Manchester. Plenty of outlet malls and decent shopping. Within an 8-10 hour drive of some of the country's largest cities like Boston, NYC, and Philly, yet there are plenty of rural places to escape to if you're tired of people.
Cons include weather. Obviously, it snows. Alot. If you move here, you will invariably get your car stuck in the snow at some point so get prepared. Housing is pretty expensive compared to most other places in the country, and it's not great quality housing either. Finding a place with central heat and A/C is rare, as is finding a place with washer/dryer hookups. The state is in the middle of an awful housing crisis currently, so it's likely that you'll be pitted against dozens of other desperate renters just to get into a place. Not enough housing to go around unfortunately. Another con is the drivers. I have found them to be pretty bad. Not sure if it's NH drivers or neighboring drivers from Mass (they are notoriously aggressive) but driving here has been more stressful than anywhere else I've lived, even southern CA. Summertime brings lovely weather, however you will find that NH gets clogged with TONS of vacationing New Englanders during the summer. Summer brings heavy traffic, long lines, etc... from out of staters. The politics of the state can be pretty whacky at times.
Overall, NH is ok. Of all the states I have lived in, there are better places to live, but there are certainly worse ones as well. Depends on what your preferences are.
Nicholas | Manchester, NH