Wow, that’s a huge statement. I’m attracted to NH because it’s the most freedom-oriented state in the Northeast, and the Northeast is where the jobs are.
I’m a bit concerned how much it varies by town though. In one town they have some good laws, in another, not so good at all.
There’s a lot to be concerned about. But I’ve been thinking that living in NH & working in MA might be the way to go for a few years.
Not so.
The most jobs in the country are in North and South Dakota. Plus, the ratio of cost of living to average family income in those state is extremely favorable.
There’s a big crowd that does that. That’s why 93 is being widened from Manchester to the state line. And that’s why Rockingham County is the reddest part of the state, thank you very much.
You’d still be paying Massive taxes but at least you wouldn’t be living there. I wouldn’t live in Mass. on a bet. I’d move to Maine were I to leave here. It’s sorta like New Hampshire but a lot flatter and poorer with lots more room. People are nicer.
Been there, done that. First, MA will tax you, since you’re earning money there. The out-of-state tax is unnecessarily complex. Also, the commute is difficult. Most of the jobs in MA are down in and around the Boston area, and there are really only two major highways going from NH to Boston. One is Rt 3, which was widened a few years ago, but in good weather, it’s still a good hour drive to get to the NH border in rush hour traffic; in a snowstorm, that can go as high as 4 hours (as me how I know). And then, the only real city up RT 3 is Nashua, which is nice enough, but not really “in the country”. I-93 is the other route, and will take you to Manchester in about the same amount of time, but again, not a great place to live come the collapse. To really get away from the disaster, you need to live someplace like New Boston, Mont Vernon, Goffstown, and others. And living there adds another 20-30 minutes to the commute, not including delays for weather. The roads outside the cities are also very old, and often not cleared well.
There are plenty of places further north that have that small-town charm, but you pay the price in commute distance and lack of amenities like hospitals, grocery stores, schools etc.
If you think NH is that free, you havent lived there. When I was there in the late 80’s its was “Live Free or Die....as long as you live the way we want you to.” I hated it.
Northern NH might be OK, more like Northern VT.