Page 1 of 2 1 2 > 07-09-2009, 11:24 AM jojoboulette 258 posts, read 594,506 times Reputation: 87 Advertisements



We're considering a move to NH. Possible towns: Portsmouth, Hollis, Bedford. Most likely southern NH, possibly seacoast.



Given the economy, it might be necessary for one (or both) of us to take full-time jobs (we run a small business here in CA) and that might mean commuting (ack!) to Boston.



What's the best commuting option from southern NH to Boston - train or bus? Which companies for each? How long (each way)? Cost?



Thanks so much for your input - I'm impressed with all of the helpful info on this board. NH definitely seems friendlier than CA... Sorry if this is a bit of a repeat; I searched previous posts but the answers aren't clear.We're considering a move to NH. Possible towns: Portsmouth, Hollis, Bedford. Most likely southern NH, possibly seacoast.Given the economy, it might be necessary for one (or both) of us to take full-time jobs (we run a small business here in CA) and that might mean commuting (ack!) to Boston.What's the best commuting option from southern NH to Boston - train or bus? Which companies for each? How long (each way)? Cost?Thanks so much for your input - I'm impressed with all of the helpful info on this board. NH definitely seems friendlier than CA...

07-09-2009, 11:52 AM fishnfool Location: Kensington NH 758 posts, read 2,673,530 times Reputation: 650 C&J bus service leaves Dover, Portsmouth, and Newburyport MA to Logan and South Station.



I often take it from Newburyport if I'm flying out of Boston. It usually takes a full hour and costs 40 bucks round trip. I assume it will be a little more for the other 2 locations, and tack on an extra 20-40 minutes for Dover/Portsmouth.



The Downeaster Amtrack line leaves from Dover and Exeter to North Station. I've taken it from Exeter and it was 30-40 bucks roundtrip...but don't quote me.



The commuter rail (T) leaves out of Newburyport and that is like 8 bucks a ride. It will take a little longer though as it stops more frequently. That also ends in north station but will hit all major points on the north shore in case you end up working somewhere over the state line but not necessarily in downtown Boston.



Parking is free for all I think....there might be a small fee for the T. 07-09-2009, 12:04 PM GregW Location: Londonderry, NH 41,478 posts, read 53,704,350 times Reputation: 24695 I suggest Londonderry as a location. It has two bus stops (including free parking) that are about one hour from Boston via Boston Express [BostonExpressBus.com] bus. There are no train connections to Boston from southern NH but there is METRO service from Lowell, Lawrence and Haverhill in Massachusetts. These also take about one hour plus the time to drive to the stations.



There are many towns in Southern NH within commuting range of down town Boston. The Boston suburbs are actually harder to get to because there are no, except for some trains, any mass transit to the intermediate locations. You would have to join the fun on I-93, I-95 and or Rt 3. These roads are as heavily traveled as a Cali freeway.



I have been commuting by bus to Boston for about 20 years and have become numb to the inconvenience. Boston employers generally pay more then any place in New Hampshire but the commute adds $75 per week and 10 hours of your time. Ideally you could transfer your business and not commute at all.

07-09-2009, 07:33 PM NH2008 680 posts, read 2,215,455 times Reputation: 458 There are various private bus companies that will take you from Manchester or Nashua to Boston (commuter busses.)



NH Rideshare - Transit Links (http://www.nh.gov/dot/nhrideshare/links.htm - broken link)



There is an Amtrak train from Exeter to Boston as well as bus service from the Seacoast. Theoretically, Nashua will one day get Amtrak service again, but I wouldn't hold your breath! 07-09-2009, 10:16 PM DreamworksSKG 1,270 posts, read 5,012,923 times Reputation: 565 Southern NH-Northern MA You might consider towns like Milford, Jaffrey, Peterborough (an especially nice town conveinent to Boston, Manchester-Concord, the Monadnock region etc etc. -



Many of these towns are only 10-20 miles from Fitchburg MA where the commuter rail into Boston ends. so you could find some back routes and such and take them to the commuter rail 10-20 miles --into Boston.



It sure would be being stuck in traffic for 1-3 hours depending on the weather situation, accidents, backups and construction etc. etc. both AM and PM--the train would whisk you up to Fitchburg and you'd be home in no-time being already well outside of Boston--I'm sure once you learned the short-cuts and all you'll be able to zip into Fitchburg and get the train from S. NH..easily.



I'd say definitely look into Brookline , Jaffrey, and Peterborough...--especially.

could also try Smithville, Mason, Greenville NH as well.



You might also look at some of the border towns in Mass. along the NH border



like Tyngsboro, Dunstable (an especially nice farm like town) with a very small town center though close to everything



You could also look into

Ashby MA, Pepperill MA,



Hope this helps..--



I would say try for the Fitchburg line idea of mine and position yourself about 10-20 miles from Fitchburg , learn the back roads on a Sunday or something when you visit and such using google maps and then research real estate or land property to build your own house out there.--you could get the country lifestyle --out in the woods, yet still close to services....and transit.--and the commute would be a breeze with little traffic hassels and such once you get outside Fitchburg center--



It might work for you and you'd be living in a great area in the NH Merrimack Valley/Monadnock region 07-22-2009, 07:34 AM carychna 14 posts, read 92,499 times Reputation: 12 Yeppers Take the bus, it's super cheap. There are a bunch of buses that run that route. I'm not sure if Megabus and Bolt Bus do, I kind of doubt it actually, but no doubt there are some that do. BusJunction is a good place to find tickets. 07-22-2009, 09:12 AM dubthang Location: portland, me 810 posts, read 1,994,199 times Reputation: 445 There are a bunch of ggod answers here. Now you need to look for the other things that you want to narrow down your search. Good schools? Active downtown? Night life? Urban? Rural? Low taxes?



I am a fan of both the Monadnock region and the seacoast ragion as I have lived in both. 07-22-2009, 10:10 AM msgolightly Location: New Hampshire 4 posts, read 49,312 times Reputation: 12



If you drive, the traffic usually starts getting really bad at exit 36 on 93. I used to live in Los Angeles and I would say it's very comparable to the traffic there - except there are no shortcuts... When I drive, I usually park in the Common Garage ($22 for 10 hours $27 maximum charge for the day).



I also sometimes take the commuter rail train out of Anderson Station in Woburn, MA. It's about a half hour from Londonderry at Exit 37C, (the last exit before all the bad traffic starts). Parking is $4/day and a round-trip ticket is approx. $10. If you get the express train, it's 20 minutes - all other trains take about a half hour. Then you may have to pay for a T pass to get you from North Station to wherever you're going.



So from Londonderry, the cost per day breaks down to:

BUS $15 (approx. 1.5 hours)

CAR $27 +gas (approx. 2 hours - no HOV lane)

TRAIN $16 +gas (approx. 1.5 hours) I've been commuting from Londonderry to Boston for the last three years and the bus is the cheapest and best way to go. Boston Express ( Boston Express â€” Connecting Nashua, Manchester, Londonderry and Salem to Boston and Logan Airport ) has stops at Exits 2, 4, and 5 on 93. They also run out of Nashua, but I'm not familiar with those routes. Generally, the ride is between an hour and an hour and a half for me. The longest ride I've had was 3 hours in a snow storm. The bus has stops at State Street, Park Street, Tufts Medical Center, and South Station in Boston. They also have free coffee, radio, and wi-fi. The bus is $15 for a roundtrip with free parking.If you drive, the traffic usually starts getting really bad at exit 36 on 93. I used to live in Los Angeles and I would say it's very comparable to the traffic there - except there are no shortcuts... When I drive, I usually park in the Common Garage ($22 for 10 hours $27 maximum charge for the day).I also sometimes take the commuter rail train out of Anderson Station in Woburn, MA. It's about a half hour from Londonderry at Exit 37C, (the last exit before all the bad traffic starts). Parking is $4/day and a round-trip ticket is approx. $10. If you get the express train, it's 20 minutes - all other trains take about a half hour. Then you may have to pay for a T pass to get you from North Station to wherever you're going.So from Londonderry, the cost per day breaks down to:BUS $15 (approx. 1.5 hours)CAR $27 +gas (approx. 2 hours - no HOV lane)TRAIN $16 +gas (approx. 1.5 hours) 07-22-2009, 12:49 PM BF66389 1,771 posts, read 4,631,046 times Reputation: 997 There is a Boston Express bus from Nashua's Exit 8 or Exit 6 to Logan Airport or South Station. Cost is $15/day if you're buying in 10 ride packs.



From many parts of Hollis the Exit 6 stop is a 5 minute ride and there is plenty of parking. You'd also pass shopping on your way back from the park & ride which is convenient if you need to get groceries or pickup something from Home Depot, etc.



There are also some van-pool options as well.



Some employers also provide incentives to employees who use public transit, perhaps less in today's economic times- but worth inquiring about once a position is secured.



I also drive into Logan Airport a lot (from Exit 6 in Nashua) and if you're a morning person...its not bad at all early. 07-22-2009, 02:11 PM dognh 371 posts, read 1,051,776 times Reputation: 414 Unless you are working in downtown Boston, I would drive.



Most jobs in eastern Massachusetts are located outside the immediate downtown - office parks, etc with plenty of parking.



Both the train and the bus are heavy time commitments. Once you enter NH there are very few depots - that means you'll first have to drive to a bus or train station, then sit on the bus or train in traffic, then walk or take another bus or train to your office.



the train option is not cheap either and the price to ride/park is only getting higher.



The bus is inexpensive, but do you really want to pack onto bus in August? UGH!



The price to sit in my spacious comfy climate controlled car is worth the added cost IMHO Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.



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