Concord

Anchoring the eastern sector of the city and brushing up against the Merrimack River, Concord Heights exudes accessibility, complete with everyday needs and recreation. “It has a little bit of everything for buyers. Single-family homes and condos galore, plus amenities for young and seniors alike. Our city parks offer something for everyone – no matter your age,” says Ofe Polack with Coldwell Banker, who has over 20 years of experience in real estate. Locals have dubbed main thoroughfare, Loudon Road, the “Food Alley” of Concord, and it cuts right through the Heights, bringing dozens of dining options to the neighborhood. These amenities, as well as its extensive lineup of big-box shopping options, make Concord Heights a central location in the state’s capital. Keach Park is the neighborhood’s main community green space, featuring a playground, a Little League baseball diamond, soccer fields and a lighted basketball court. In 2023, the city installed a soccer mini pitch, used for games confined to an enclosed court with built-in walls and goals. The park’s paths total almost half a mile, with a story-walk installation for kids. Under 5 miles north, Merrill Park has more athletic fields, another playground and a seasonal pool. The park covers appoximately 16 acres, and its pond holds fishing tournaments for children. Golf enthusiasts can play on Pembroke Pines Country Club’s public 18-hole course. The Concord Public Skatepark and Douglas N. Everett Arena for ice hockey sit near the water, along with Terrill Park’s multi-use trails along the riverfront. Under an extensive improvement process, this park will soon expand with picnic areas and a multi-purpose field. Phase 1 of this project was completed in October of 2020 with the installation of one of Concord’s only dog parks. For other outdoor adventures, plenty of conservation land can be found to the west of the river. Shaw’s, Target, Aldi and Walmart are just a few of the many shopping options in Concord Heights. PetSmart covers furry friends; Dick’s Sporting Goods provides for the athletes, and The Home Depot has the tools. Locals can pick up Asian-Nepali groceries and meals at Katmandu Bazaar in Papa Gino’s strip mall. Loudon Road, or “Food Alley,” is packed with fast and casual options including Olive Garden and Starbucks. “Anything you can imagine is there on Loudon Road, where franchises rub elbows with local spots such as Red Arrow, El Rodeo, Man Yee and Arnie’s” Polack says. The Red Arrow Diner has served up classic American fare for over 100 years, and El Rodeo and Man Yee offer Mexican and Chinese eats, respectively. Arnie’s Place, a family-owned barbecue, burger and ice cream joint is housed in an old red barn, formerly a Dairy Queen until 1990. Arnie’s is recognized as a community staple and local hot spot, and during Christmas, it sells trees and wreaths in the parking lot. Formerly the Dame School, The City Wide Community Center has meeting rooms, exercise areas, auditoriums and a senior lounge. Residents come here for anything from pickleball and dance class, to picking out a book at the Heights Branch of the Concord Public Library. The center is not the only spot that holds events, as the city also hosts antique shows and a Christmas parade on Loudon Road that bring in many visitors. “We have great memories when our grandchildren would line up the road to watch the parade go by,” Polack says. The Douglas N. Everett Arena has many functions, as well, including the Kiwanis Fair that features carnival rides and vendors. The Kiwanis Group is a local service committee that works to improve and bring together the Concord community. Homes in Concord Heights come in a variety of styles, from ranchers and Capes to larger colonials. Single-family home prices tend to run between $350,000 and about $450,000 for two- to four-bedroom properties. Condos are another popular choice in both complexes and detached units, often falling in the $100,000 range. Most homes feature driveways or garages, making street parking uncommon. The lack of sidewalks does not deter residents from strolling under the shade of mature trees, along the neighborhood’s well-kept lawns. While many residential streets are quiet, houses close to the Concord Municipal Airport in the center of Concord Heights may experience more noise, though not comparable to the commotion of major hubs, which are outside of the city. Students in prekindergarten through second grade can attend Mill Brook School, which has a B grade on Niche, followed by Broken Ground School, which earns a C-plus for Grades 3 through 5. The Concord School District elementary schools all lead to Rundlett Middle, with a C-plus, and Concord High, which scores a B. The district ranks No. 5 in the state for diversity by Niche and No. 9 for best athletic programs. Concord Christian Academy serves as a private option for prekindergarten through twelfth grade, where 95% of its graduating class advances to higher education at university or college. Concord Area Transit provides public buses throughout the neighborhood. “There are three routes: Crosstown, Heights and Penacook that cover most of the city,” Polack says. Major arteries, like Interstates 93 and 393 run right through town, as well as Route 3, which flows from Boston all the way up to Canada. The 23-mile commute to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport takes about half an hour, while private flights take off from Concord Municipal Airport within the neighborhood. Trips out of town are not necessary for health care, as Concord Hospital sits about 3 to 4 miles west.

Known for a slow-paced, nature-centric lifestyle, the South End neighborhood sits on the cusp of downtown Concord without sacrificing a suburban feel. “This area was developed later than other Concord neighborhoods, around the 1940s and 1950s,” says Barbara Ruedig with Ruedig Realty, who has been a broker in the area for 35 years. Parks and state forests contrast with small businesses, restaurants and big-box shopping. Some residential streets are more densely packed than others, while lot sizes and home prices increase with distance from downtown. Plenty of conservation areas and state forests, including Russell-Shea and West Iron Works, provide miles of hiking trails. For those who prefer water sports, the Merrimack River and Turkey Ponds have boat launches and spots for fishing along wooded shores. Community gathering spaces at Rollins Park and Memorial Field remain the busiest outdoor attractions, though. Rollins Park is the main hub in town, with open fields encompassing an event gazebo, walking trails and a playground. Residents can use the park’s public pool, while winter days can be spent at its ice-skating rink. The park also hosts summer concerts and open-air markets, and local recreation leagues make use of the athletic facilities, which include baseball fields and tennis courts. Concord Public Schools teams often hold their games at Memorial Field, which has a football stadium, multipurpose fields, basketball courts and baseball diamonds. Each facility at Memorial Field can be rented out or used for casual play. New Hampshire Climbing and Fitness’ rock-climbing walls are open year-round, as well, providing indoor recreation during cold New England winters. The main events in the South End include concerts and sporting events at Memorial Field and Rollins Park. Closer to downtown Concord, though, the City Wide Community Center and Concord Public Library plan plenty of other activities throughout the year. The CWCC has family open-gym sessions and exercise classes, and the library hosts guest speakers, language clubs and reading groups. The library’s true crime club meets twice a month to discuss theories on real-life cold cases. From concerts and plays to comedy shows, the Capitol Center for the Arts holds performances almost nightly off Main Street. The city also puts on various antique shows that bring in large crowds throughout the year and a Christmas parade on Loudon Road during the holiday season. Main, Storrs and South Streets feature most of the neighborhood’s businesses and restaurants. Rite Aid and the South Street Market convenience store provide quick, everyday essentials, while the Capitol Shopping Center has a Market Basket, NH Liquor & Wine Outlet, and casual dining spots, like Playa Bowls and 110 Grill Concord. The closest Target and Walmart are about 9 miles east, across the Merrimack River off Loudon Road. For a sit-down breakfast or lunch, Tucker’s has been serving locally sourced meals for the past decade, with specials like carnitas breakfast bowls and lemon blueberry French toast. Smokeshow BBQ offers Texas-style barbecue with a popular house-made sauce. For a fine-dining experience just a bit farther north on Storrs Street past the Market Basket, Revival Kitchen & Bar is run by award-winning chef Corey Fletcher, who prepares striking seafood and meat dishes. Single-family homes comprise most of South End’s housing market, with the occasional multifamily property thrown into the mix. Colonials, Cape Cods and ranch-style houses make up most of the neighborhood’s architecture, with prices often ranging between $400,000 and $600,000 for three or four bedrooms. “Every house here is so well maintained, and many were built when contractors were still using hardwood instead of plywood,” Ruedig says. Residential streets are busier toward the city’s center, where sidewalks lead to neighboring houses featuring modest front lawns. Lots begin to sprawl wider with proximity to the state forests, closer to Bow and Dunbarton. New Traditional homes on these larger pieces of land can surpass $700,000, and homebuyers can expect privacy on long, country roads enveloped by trees. These houses are often tucked away off cul-de-sacs, the only indication of a property being a mailbox peeking out of the driveway. The Concord School District consists of several primary options that lead to one middle school and a single high school. The district ranks No. 5 in the state for diversity according to Niche and No. 9 for best athletic programs. The South End has Abbot-Downing School for elementary education and Rundlett Middle, which both earn overall C-plus grades on Niche. Abbot-Downing is situated adjacent to Rundlett Middle, making for a convenient carpool experience. Students can then attend Concord High, which Niche gives a B grade. Private schools include St. John Regional School for prekindergarten through eighth grade and Trinity Christian School, which has students in kindergarten through Grade 12. Interstate 89 cuts through the South End, providing access to neighboring towns to the northwest. Interstate 93 runs nearby, providing one of the main routes into downtown Boston, an approximately 67-mile drive that takes about an hour. Concord Area Transit buses stop along busier streets in the neighborhood, as well. The closest airport hub sits about 21 miles south in Manchester. Trips outside of the South End are not necessary for houses of worship like churches and the Temple Beth Jacob synagogue, while the Islamic Society of Greater Concord is about 2 miles closer to downtown. North of Franklin Pierce Highway, Concord Hospital is complete with an emergency room and family health center.