US News and World Report (9/20/07)Listed Concord, New Hampshire as one of the ten top places in the United States for retirement.
Some of the reasons cited are Low Crime, Good Health Care Facilities and Access to Education. New Hampshire also has no Sales or Income Tax.
Concord has Theatre, Shopping, Museums and Restaurants. For the active minded retiree, Concord is close to the Mountains,Lakes and Seashore.... all are within an hour drive! Downtown Concord is a vibrant center of activity from the State House Dome the Political Center to the many examples of Historical Archtecture -The Tuck library, The Legislative Office Building and the buildings surrounding Fountain Square.
As evidence of this older population shift...Concord Hospital has the briskest joint -replacement office in the State. However finding qualified Hospital Workers can be a challenge. Many have interest but few can afford the city housing. By the year 2020 it is estimated that New Hampshire's over 55 population will nearly double from 21 tp 38 percent. As discussed in my previous report The 55 Initiative , aging Baby Boomers
are moving in and younger people are moving out in search of work and less expensive housing! Many of our newest Neighborhood are restricted to those over 55. This is contributing to a lack of balance in the City.
Nan Hagen is the director of Main Street Concord. Her vision is that of a downtown whose buildings "upper floors" are rehabbed and rented or sold as condos to a mixture of older and younger people who are looking to work, shop and play within a stones throw of home! This would enable a person to "walk to the store", "grab a bite to eat" or meet a friend for coffee!
Perhaps the biggest drawback to Concord or any other NH city is the State's heavy reliance on Property Taxes. The weight of this burden is becoming increasingly evident in cuts in services and an increase in various fees. This dilemma is again front and center in the Legislature!
Taxes not withstanding....it's easy to see why Concord was picked. The positives of People, Places to Go, Things To See and Do....
equate to a quality of life that's hard to beat!
Concord, NH-A Main Street Community and a friendly place to live!
Concord New Hampshire Realtor Local Information
NH's Four Seasons
Joan Mirantz - Joni is a Realtor® with Homequest Real Estate, a locally owned, Customer Service oriented Firm.
Joan Publishes a monthly Newsletter "Food For Thought" under the pen name Realtor Sherpa.
(Joan also answers to Miz Maven and Miss Joni.)
Joan works in Buyer and Seller Representation with concentrations in the Merrimack Valley Area and towns surrounding Concord NH - the Capital City.
"I love what I do, and it shows in how I do it"
Having crossed over to the "other side of Middle Age" herself....Joan is an ongoing source of information about local programs, facilities and issues specific to her peers!
Livin' the Life...and Ridin' the Wave
Joan,
Concord is awesome!
I agree NH has a big problem. When the younger generation can't afford to live here...whose tax money and spending habits and employment will support the services the older people need as they get older and older...Not a pretty picture.
We need balance.
Monika...I think what bothers me is that the "powers that be" still go on as if everything is still tha same!
I don't know what it takes to be proactive instead of the usual reactive as things happen!
Hi Joan...I was just thinking I hadn't seen you on in a while!
We probably won't be able to afford here either! We were thinking Florida but I've been reading a lot of nice things about Tennesse lately (plus...I don't think retirement is in the cards)
It sounds like Concord has much to offer and is a great place to live. Higher taxes that continue to climb sure are causing people to start looking for states where taxes are more manageable. Thank you.
Hi Joan - Concord is suffering the same dilemma that many cities are undergoing. Toledo included. We would love to hold on to the successes of yesteryear, but the global market has changed the way our cities grow and survive. We have to compete and that takes money. Money has to come from somewhere....so WE (the citizenry) are chosen to participate - with or without enthusiasm. LOL
In Toledo we have property taxes, sales taxes, state income tax, city income tax....it's like living in Massachusetts all over again! (Fondly remembered as Taxachusetts)
Progress, economic development and stabilization of the housing industry are paramount in assuring the success of many urban areas. But unless we compete with the global market....
It's a ripple effect - and we haven't even begun to see the far-reaching impact.
Thanks for getting me fired up on this Sunday morning! :)
Joan, New Hampshire sounds to me like the perfect place to retire to...it seems to have everything and the fact that there are no sales or income taxes is a huge bonus ! We're taxed to death here in Ontario...
Very informative post !
Jo
Hi Mike...Actually Robert Frost was from here..his homestead is a historical sight! Also last years poet lauriate Donald Hall is from NH as is this years (well he lives here)....I have forgotten his name!
JD Sallinger is a recluse here too!...retired I guess!
Laurie...we definately could use more business and actually this is a very business friendly State.
I went leaf peeping today and got some great pictures! Keep your eyes out for the next post!
(PS:no taxes....but the fees will kill ya!)