Seeking Relocation Advice

Submitted by dadsusernameplus t3_zn4nyx in newhampshire

Hi, y’all.

I’m looking for information on NH that will help me decide if it is a good fit for me.

What are your thoughts on northern New Hampshire, specifically Coos County? Do you have any pros or cons pertaining to this area? How remote do you feel is? Is it at all dependent on Canada for goods and services or are there sizable towns in the area? I’ve tried to gauge it on the map and it looks like there’s not much around?

Where does this area stand politically? I’m from the rural south found it far too right leaning for my liking. I now live in Seattle, WA, and I find the opposite to be true—far too left leaning. I find myself left of center, but I also think common sense and nuance is important. I’m looking for an area that’s a bit centrist, mostly because I’m exhausted of it all. I think I just crave solitude and calm, but wouldn’t mind seeing friendly faces in the community.

Other than Coos County, what are some favorite areas, least favorite areas? How welcoming is the population in general? Would call it friendly? Icy? Something else?

How is the job market? What kinds of jobs are available in the North Woods?

If there’s anything worth mentioning that I haven’t thought of, please feel free to add that.

Thanks in advance!

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Comments

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z-eldapin t1_j0eweqh wrote

Coos County is definitely not relying on Canada for anything.

The county is huge, so all other questions would need to be more specific.

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dadsusernameplus OP t1_j0ex2tp wrote

Thank you for that. I’m more specifically scoping out the area around Pittsburg.

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EvilDrCoconut t1_j0f1gkn wrote

Definitely a beautiful area, a lot of back and forth on that area being "revived" though

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mattergrey t1_j0ez7dd wrote

Colebrook has most things you need. There aren't many restaurant options especially fast food. People are typical New England-like and mind their own business, but will always say hello. Politics are mostly conservative, but not crazy. People mostly don't want things to change. I live in Columbia, which is about 30 minutes south of Pittsburg. Pittsburg is absolutely beautiful if you love spending time outdoors. Winters are cold. We had temps of -27 last year. Vets are difficult to find if you have any pets. It is VERY quiet and peaceful here. There are surprisingly many activities including concerts and theater shows. I'll let someone else speak to employment as I am retired. I hope this helps?

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Low-Head-1493 t1_j0gxsrd wrote

My friend was an EMT up near Pittsburg & he said it was bleak, but he was responding to drug overdoses/driving morbidly obese people to Dartmouth. Beautiful hiking/mountains. Great fishing.

I think they were putting in (or already did?) fiber internet in Colebrook. So you could work from home around there, if that was the case (speculation based on vague recollection; you’ll want to do some fact-checking!)

There is a hospital located in Lancaster that provides some job opportunities and I think it’s the second largest town in the county? A lot of the people I knew who worked there commuted from the Milan area. It’s also not a bad commute from Lancaster to Littleton or St. Johnsbury VT. Littleton is great: nice coop grocery, coffee shop, bakery, brewery, all the standard amenities. There is also a branch of an Old Testament cult (Twelve Tribes) and an annual Free State Project festival in Lancaster. Make of that what you will…

I lived in Gorham and felt like I met a lot of friendly people who recognized me as a regular/local. Grocery store is a Walmart but that was fine. We’d go to Bethel, ME for movies & skiing. Paddled the river a lot. There’s a new brewery in Gorham. For jobs, there is also a hospital in that vicinity, hotels around Mt. Washington, the Appalachian Mt Club (mostly lower paying/unsalaried since their home office is Boston), a prison, a community college branch, a few state parks & some ATV & snowmobile businesses. A lot of people up there will drive down to North Conway for groceries, shopping & movie outings.

Coös county has a decent amount of initiatives designed to support/improve the area (tillotson fund, economic dev grants, etc). I felt like it was fairly easy to get to know people who genuinely cared about the community.

I can’t speak to friendliness or political leanings except where I lived (Gorham). Overall, politics was rarely alluded to. My neighbors didn’t hold the same political views as me and they are who I miss most in terms of living there.

I personally wouldn’t want to live in Berlin, high property taxes and bleak looking downtown. I liked being within a reasonable commute of the other places I mentioned that have more amenities (Bethel, Littleton, North Conway) so for that reason while I enjoy outdoor recreation much further north, I have never felt drawn to living in that area. I’d lean towards Randolph in terms of very small population towns, if I had to choose.

People absolutely respond to friendliness/kindness/common sense. The political ranting on here does not accurately reflect daily life. (I know it’s out there, but it’s avoidable.) So please ignore the random assholes here who’ll pop up saying stuff like “we’re full, try VT.”

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dadsusernameplus OP t1_j0h2wya wrote

Wow! This has been a great response, and is giving me a lot to think about. I’ll try to steer clear of any bleakness, cult activity, and sovereign citizens, but you’ve painted a great picture. Thanks a lot!

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NewHampshireAngle t1_j0fzs02 wrote

In Coos, the bulk of the population is centered around Berlin in the scenic Androscoggin Valley. I recommend checking out Milan and Gorham.

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bingqiling t1_j0gkxao wrote

Depends how rural you're looking to go, but definitely come for a visit first. It's a beautiful area with incredibly kind people.

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dadsusernameplus OP t1_j0h38r0 wrote

Thank you—I will definitely be doing that. I came to Seattle sight unseen and I will never do that again anywhere.

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uglykidjohn t1_j0hmbj2 wrote

Hunting is very popular- lots of pickups/guns. Not much cultural-wise.

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[deleted] t1_j0g7r5y wrote

I think you want Burlington, VT.

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stewie_glick t1_j0hv70j wrote

Lost me at "y'all"

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dadsusernameplus OP t1_j0hzg90 wrote

There’s nothing wrong with saying “y’all.” That’s a colloquialism from my home place in southern Appalachia. Do you say “lost me at ‘shalom’” or “lost me at ‘allo’” or when a Pennsylvanian says “y’ins,” or if an English person called you “mate”? If not then go away and chill with the ethnocentrism. What things do you say that are unique to your corner of the world? Be better than that.

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Lostronaut_ t1_j0r5c90 wrote

NH will not be a good fit for you 🤣. On a serious note my wife’s family owns property and land up in coos county. I personally wouldn’t live there. We live in the lakes region and it’s beautiful here as long as you live in the nicer parts.

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thread100 t1_j0iqe27 wrote

You might have a difficult time teaching us all how we are not woke enough to avoid making fun of people who abuse English differently than us.

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