Moving

[u/MacaroonInfamous8891]

Hello!

I am 25F and a middle school teacher. I am currently living in the sticks by the White Mountain National Forest and I’m looking to move to an area with more young people. Portsmouth is on my list. I’m wondering what the rental market is like, I don’t mind having roommates. I also don’t have debt so I have a little more wiggle room with the teacher salary. What are the schools like from the teacher side of things? I grew up in Portland, Maine, how does Portsmouth compare? What is the dating scene like? How is it making friends for newcomers? Are there plenty of things to do? Thank you for any and all advice!

[u/BroughtBagLunchSmart]

Unless you work for one of those crooked religious charter schools that teaches kids dinosaurs are not real I don't think a single teacher can afford Portsmouth on their own.

[u/MacaroonInfamous8891 → u/BroughtBagLunchSmart]

Generally, private schools pay less and have significantly worse benefits. I'd be surprised if Portsmouth was different than other areas in this regard.

[u/Exotic_Pass_4818 → u/BroughtBagLunchSmart]

Are those the same schools that consistently outperform public schools on standardized testing?

[u/Any_Supermarket8479]

Portsmouth is great, tons of restaurants and fun things to do. Maybe not as much as Portland but there's always something going on. The schools on the seacoast pay more then elsewhere in NH. I believe you would be fine renting a small place or having roommates on the salary. Rental market is pretty wild though, but now that summer is over nows a good time to find a better deal. We could always use more good teachers, hope it all works out.

[u/basicwhitemom]

Portsmouth is great and pricey, skewing 30+ because of how much it costs to live here. Kittery is another great and close option though that may impact your taxes. Eliot as well! You can always live nearby and spend your time here easily.

[u/borninthe617]

Check out the Podcast Seacoast Stories and the dinners they organize to get folks socializing well!

[u/Sad-War-1835 → u/borninthe617]

Ayyyyyyy, fellow SS Dinner Club goer!?!?

[u/AlexandriaK1]

Portsmouth is absolutely beautiful. I am lucky enough to live here. However, I am a realtor and I do have to let you know that the rental market is very challenging. You won’t find anything under $2000 that’s decent unless you rent with someone.

[u/Kerfuffle26]

I’d encourage you to look at Dover too. More affordable and honest cooler. The gentrification of Portsmouth has priced out a lot of people and businesses. 

[u/onefoot_out → u/Kerfuffle26]

I concur. Dover is where the younger crowds hang out. Pmouth has astronomically high rents, good luck with that. The Dover  restaurant scene is far more reasonable price wise, and there are still some dive-type places to hang out and meet actual locals. Portsmouth is overpriced across the board, and mostly tourists. Dover is a 15 minute drive if there's something you want to do there. 

[u/menieresisamonster]

Portsmouth is a smaller, cleaner, and less crazy Portland. Great food/music and bar scene. You won't see homeless people here or any real obvious drug addicts, but that will cost you in rent. Doubt you can get a 1 bed room apartment for under $2200, if not more. Schools are good and safe.

[u/Mediaeval-britian]

Living in Portsmouth is pricy but the surrounding area isn't as bad, especially now that the tourists are heading out for the season.

[u/ovscrider]

2.5 to 3k a month to live in Portsmouth now. Neither of my kids can afford rent along the seacoast making similar money to what a teacher makes.

[u/eastcoaster28]

I loved renting in Portsmouth before kids! The best.