Real Estate Directory - New Hamshire

Population: 1,287,687 (2003 figures)
Capital city/population: Concord 41,823
Largest cities/population:

  • Manchester - 108,871
  • Nashua - 87,285
  • Concord - 41,823

New Hampshire is the 46th largest state, with a total area of 9,351 square miles. It has long, sometimes severely cold winters, and pleasant, warm summers. Average annual temperatures range from 21ºF to 70ºF. Annual precipitation ranges from 38” – 114”. New Hampshire’s current constitution was adopted in 1784, making it the second oldest in the country. It achieved statehood on June 21, 1788.

HOUSING

Manchester – Currently, there are over 750 listings in the city, including multi-family, commercial, and rental. Prices ranged from $72,000 - $520,000. The home buyers market has slowed a bit, with appreciation at a near-standstill. This community has easy access to local highways, which is a plus for commuters.

Nashua – Home listings are down slightly, taking a longer time to sell, resulting in slight price drops. Choosy home buyers have an advantage due to these factors, and home sellers are going the extra mile to prepare their properties for sale. This community has a high quality of life, low unemployment and crime rates, and wonderful, scenic attractions.

Concord – The market is neutral in this city, with agents encouraging home sellers to carefully consider list prices – some homeowners have overpriced their homes, resulting in homes remaining on the market for a longer period of time, often selling at a lower price. Lower interest rates are enabling home buyers to “size up.” Situated in the southern portion of the state, Concord has major highway access leading easily to Boston, the ocean, and the mountains. Strong industry, retail, and schools make this a great place to live.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Principal industries include tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, trade, and mining. Manufactured goods include electrical/electronic products, plastics, and fabricated metal products. Agricultural outputs include dairy products, nursery/greenhouse products, hay, vegetables, fruit, maple syrup, and sugar products. Total state product for 2003 was $49 billion, with a per capita income for that year of $35,140.

SCHOOLS

The New Hampshire Department of Education has established guidelines to support the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation, providing education leadership to schools that are in need of improvement, as well as promoting high education standards for all students. The Board is in the process of developing a single, statewide accountability system, which should increase learning and improve school performance. Public sector student-teacher ratio for 1994 was 15:6, with an average teachers’ salary for 1995 of $35,792.

The present system of public education began in 1919 with the establishment of the State Board of Education. Schools of the University System of New Hampshire include the Universities of New Hampshire - Durham and -Manchester, Keene State College, Plymouth State College, and the School for Lifelong Learning at Durham. Other colleges include Dartmouth College - Hanover, St. Anselm's College -Manchester, Rivier College - Nashua, Colby-Sawyer College - New London, and New England College - Henniker.

HISTORY

This area was first explored in the early 1600s. In 1620, a royal grant of land was received, allowing for the formation of the Council of New England. Later, the French and Indian Wars prevented settling of inland areas, but after the war, a land rush started, with lumber camps and sawmills appearing on the streams. Soon after, the textile industry began. New Hampshire was the first colony to declare independence from Great Britain, and became the last necessary state to ratify the new Constitution.

After the Civil War, the state’s industrial economy grew, along with a steady population growth. Textile manufacturing and logging continued to dominate, until necessary conservation measures controlled that portion of the industry.

In the late 1980s, New Hampshire had one of the fastest-growing economies in the nation, with high-technology firms spurring the growth.

RELIGION (2004)

  • Christian – 80%
    • Protestant – 43%
      • Congregational/United Church of Christ – 7%
      • Baptist – 7%
      • Episcopal – 4%
      • Methodist – 3%
      • Other Protestant or general Protestant – 22%
    • Roman Catholic – 35%
    • Other Christian – 2%
  • Other Religions – 1%
  • Non-Religious – 19%

DEMOGRAPHICS (2004)

  • White - 95.1%
  • Hispanic - 1.7%
  • Asian - 1.3%
  • Black - 0.7%
  • Native American - 0.2%
  • Mixed race - 1.1%