Reviews & Comments
Madbury, NH
GREAT semi rural town with access to sea/mountains -
6/8/2017We have lived here for 10 years now, and we love it. We have lived from coast to coast, and in between......California, Texas, Colorado, Nebraska....and my wife has worked in almost all of the country. Madbury is on the path, yet out of the way and has very easy access to the mountains, sea, and lots of outdoor recreations....mountains are an hour away and sea about 25 minutes, not including Great Bay which is literally my back yard. Very safe community, extremely good(if not great) schools(for those with children), and yet close to cultural points in Portsmouth, NH.....Boston MA, Portland ME, and Manchester, NH are all about an hour with Portland being 75 minutes at worst. Airports are about an hour again with Logan being 55 minutes from my house, Manchester about 50, and Portland's Jetport about 1hr 5 minutes. Best medical possible in Boston....doesnt matter what type.....they have some of the best hospitals and doctors in literally every field. A very middle of the road community politically(I would say evenly divided with edge going to liberals in numbers).....and almost no crime. Every now and then a major crime happens, and makes front page news, but mostly a rural suburban upper middle class community. Almost even split of political ideologies. Property taxes are high! No sales tax, or personal state income tax, but I do pay a business tax because I own my own business. I have to emphasize how safe an area this is. UNH just a stone's throw. We love the weather, as it is 4 seasons, although it seems winter can be long. Fall is wonderful with all the colors and moderate temps that can last well into November. We can get a lot of snow, mostly January through March, but sometimes smaller amounts in April and December. Quite self contained homes as most are propane or heating oil homes with septic. The homes are well maintained and pleasing. There is no real center of town, or "main drag". The ideology of self reliance lives here, and so is the keep to one's self to a degree. Live and let live should be a theme. A town that is growing considerably people wise, although it is hard to notice when your town goes from approx. 1600 to 2000(from 2007 to 2017). I would say this is well educated town, with very well meaning people. Madbury is just 10 to 15 minutes access to most normal home''s needs.....ie grocerty shopping/bjs/home depot/trader joe's....all in Newington about 15 minutes or less for most. Rather unique, and on an upward trajectory. I think the community is starting to resist the never ending upward trajectory of property taxes.....my only real gripe. But, the largest expense, schools....ORSD....does produce a quality education....very highly rated. A wonderful place to live, especially the more you make, the more the no personal/sales tax themes benefit. Could use better hospital closer, but even that is being addressed at Wentworth Douglass with their joining the Mass Gen family. Big City life is just an hour away in Boston, Ma.....if you seek that form of entertainment/shopping. We personally follow UNH hockey and basketball, not to mention their perennial post season football teams in DII. Lots of community spirit, yet a hands off approach. Lots of political involvement and you have direct access to your town's budget and decisions through town hall's and direct representation by being there yourself! A very unique New England process. I personally feel we are needing to reign in our town's spending, in a few areas, otherwise it is great for what we get. You really get what you put into it here......I dont know that I would say we are close enough to commute to Boston, but you could do that through AMTRAK with the Downeaster should that be an option for you. I think a car is pretty much mandatory, or at least a very unthusiastic bicycling mentality. Motorcycles are an option from May thru October, and just depending on weather a bit longer here or there. So to sum up, #1 safe, #2 access, #3 quiet, #4 very good schools from k-12/even a very good college one town over #5 good quality people that are active, and take an interest in the community. Only bad side is high property taxes that seem to be rising a bit too fast, and somewhat higher cost of living. I think this is a somewhat hidden gem, that has room for more people. I just hope that those that come take an interest, and get involved.....it takes a town, together to make things work.