Posted on 12/26/2002 5:53:28 AM PST by HiTech RedNeck
I am a conservative/libertarian Redneck, but I am considering the prospects of taking a job in Massachusetts (in the Boston area) but residing in southern New Hampshire. What are the politics of NH like, and what would the economics of the prospective situation be like (will I get taxed by Taxachusetts, NH, or both?) Thanks....
We pay Massachusetts income tax on that portion of income, my wife's, derived from MA sources. My NH income is not taxed by the state, but dividends and interest income is taxed by the State of New Hampshire. Beware, if you just won PowerBall.
The SE corner of NH, Nashua area, has high property values and great numbers of Massachusetts exiles who have crossed over the border fleeing taxes and trying to find semi-reasonable housing. They often demand the level of government services that they enjoyed in the People's Republic of Massachusetts, hence they're called "MassHoles" by the locals.
Politically, NH is still fairly conservative, but I wouldn't call it libertarian.
We have a Republican Governor who's new and we'll be watching him closely, also an all-Republican legislature. John Sununu is our new Senator, got a new Republican Congressman as well.
You mean every single person in it is a Pub? Wow. An N-fecta.
Well, perhaps I exaggerate a little.
Seriously, the SW corner of the state where I live is lovely.
You really have to research community choices, though. They vary greatly by school quality, property taxes, crime, and potential growth problems. You'd be surprised how rural some of this area is. And, yes, there is hunting.
Peachy Keene?
Southern New Hampshire is now a bedroom community of Boston.
Many "MassHoles" are coming up and bringing their politcs with them.
The political scene is vibrant and fun.
We can always use more Conservatives, and you would feel welcome.
My primary reason for my exodus North was property. You can STILL buy a third more house in the Granite State but "inventory" is getting scarce.
I suggest looking for a home in the towns on the East side of I-93 between exits #3 and #5 Salem,Londonderry, Derry, Hampstead .
The better deals tack on an addition 10 minutes of driving but you will reap acreage for your trouble - Danville, Sandown, Chester
You may end up with an old Chevy on blocks in your neighbors yard, but these are my kind of people - I'm a redneck too.
Yee - F-ing - Haaaaa !!!!
I work in Boston and pay income tax to Mass, own two properties in N.H. and pay taxes on both.
My wife "works" for a Mass co, but because it's from home we get to write off the Mass taxes.
I work in PhotoShop for an Ad agency and jobs like that are non existant in N.H.
However, high tech firms ARE getting wise to the New Hampshire business friendly environment and many are moving off the Route-128 belt and coming North.
Gun ownership is a no brainer, ( be 18 with a drivers license ).I'm still largly surrounded by LIBERALS.
The entire state is CRAWLING with huge swamp goats ( White Tail ), you'll never go hungry.
Getting a concealed carry permit only required filling out a application at the police station.
Getting a permit in Mass from out of state is nearly impossible.
Taxes and other concerns aside, doing the commute is worth living in Gods Country.
I made the right move 5 years ago.
The only place in Mass I would live again would be Cape Cod, because "over the bridge" is a state unto itself, but the commute is impossible and you need to be independently wealthy and have thick skin.
FReepr mail me if you want additional info.
That being said, Portsmouth and Concord, in New Hampshire, are two of the prettiest cities I've ever seen.
My location was made possible by the sort of work I do, which allowed me to drive into Boston on Monday morning (leaving NH at 5:30AM) and return on Wednesday evening, with the remaining week being home office work. Monday/Tuesday I'd stay in Boston at a Red Roof Inn or something similar, which wasn't too tragic.
If you can arrange something like that I'd say its preferable to living down near the Mass border. As you head north the real estate and rental prices drop dramatically, so even with my rented condo and the hotels it was pretty cheap living.
Also since I was consulting out of NH I was not subject to Mass tax.
Something to consider, although you may have to wait until spring to find a good property, since there are many properties owned by Mass residents, and they really don't free up for sale/rent until after the ski season, say around March/April.
Finally, there's nothing like small town NH for politics. They'll be trying to enlist you in all sorts of political activities if you show any interest whatsoever, and during the presidential primary you'll have an excellent chance of meeting the candidates and - in a small yet tangible way - perhaps altering the course of the national elections.
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