Rural Nottingham has highly rated schools and accessibility
The open greenery of Nottingham is 24 miles from Portsmouth and offers access to the coast, nature and highly rated schools. “It has proximity to the coast, it’s still affordable, and part of a great school system,” says Maria Shute, a real estate agent with RE/MAX Shoreline. Shute has worked in the industry for 13 years. “Nottingham still feels rural, but it’s accessible.” The Nottingham school district covers student tuition and allows students to attend the private Coe-Brown Northwood Academy or Dover High School, which are highly rated schools. Nottingham is positioned near many small towns for shopping, dining and employment. It maintains its rural atmosphere with protected lands and state parks such as the Pawtuckaway State Park and the Mulligan Forest.
Parks and recreation in Nottingham
Pawtuckaway State Park has hiking trails, camping, fishing and boating. The park also includes Pawtuckaway Lake, where Nottingham Town Beach offers an unsupervised sandy area with a picnic table and nearby green space. The beach is open for swimming and recreation from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Mulligan Forest, in the northwest portion of Nottingham, spans over 2,000 acres and has two ponds and 5 miles of trails for hikers, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Fishing is allowed and camping and horseback riding are permitted, but motorized vehicles are not. The Nottingham Parks & Recreation facility has a gym, where sports events and activities are held. There's a baseball field and a playground and the department organizes events, such as a summer camp for kindergarten through sixth graders from June to August and a monthly lunch for adults.
During the summer, residents head to the coast. Hampton Beach State Park, 25 miles east, has the usual swimming and boating opportunities but also offers hiking and biking along its multi-use trail system.
Secondary and primary residences near lakes and ponds
Most homes are off major roadways or near Pawtuckaway Lake. The area is primarily rural, with little farmland. Houses are surrounded by thick, wooded areas and near bodies of water. “Throughout New Hampshire, we have a high water table,” says Shute. Homes near lakes and ponds may have a higher flood risk during severe weather.
Houses along Pawtuckaway Lake are mainly second homes inhabited during the summer. “Pawtuckaway Lake is a destination lake for day trippers from the north, so there are a lot of seasonal dwellings,” says Shute. Homes near lakes and ponds have a higher price range than other homes in the area, ranging from $675,000 to $900,000. Nottingham's homes are mainly single-family, with a few townhouses and condos available. They are in the Colonial Revival, saltbox and ranch styles. Single-family homes range from $350,000 to $615,000, and townhouses and condos range from $380,000 to $460,000.
Students attend highly rated schools in Nottingham and Northwood
School Administration Unit 107 oversees the Nottingham area. Children may attend Nottingham Elementary School, which gets an A-minus, for prekindergarten through eighth grade. Students may continue to the private Coe-Brown Northwood Academy, which also receives an A-minus or Dover High School, which gets a B. The Coe-Brown Northwood Academy hosts a Holiday Craft Fair in November in the school gym. Vendors sell artisanal crafts, and guests may participate in a raffle. All proceeds go to the academy. Dover High School offers a career and technical education program that includes animal science, computer programming, welding and other programs.
Commuters use U.S. Route 4 and state routes
“There is a mix of commuting to Portsmouth, Dover, Rochester, Manchester, Nashua and Concord. Many residents do work remotely as well,” says Lynette Aucoin, a Realtor with Bean Group brokered by EXP Realty. Aucoin has been working in the real estate industry for eight years. The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is 24 miles east on U.S. Route 4 and Concord is 28 miles west. Many residents work at Pace Industries in Dover, 16 miles north along state Route 125. Manchester and Nashua, are about 24 miles away on state Route 101.
Houses of worship include Nottingham Community Church and the New Hope Church, along state Route 156 and Liberty Baptist Church and Higher Ground Church, near Route 4. The Wentworth Douglass Hospital is 18 miles away in Dover. The Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is 28 miles away.
Shopping and dining in Epping
Liar’s Paradise, a convenience store along state Route 152, also sells pizza and sandwiches. More shopping and dining are available in nearby towns, including Epping, 8 miles away, where residents go for big-box stores like Lowe’s and Walmart, and chain restaurants. The Holy Grail Restaurant and Pub, a local favorite, is along Epping’s Main Street and serves bar and comfort food. Epping also has a Market Basket.
Events in Nottingham
The Blaisdell Memorial Library hosts events throughout the year, including a community coffee hour every Wednesday with complimentary coffee, snacks and discussion. The library also offers story hours, game nights and book clubs. The town hosts a summer concert series at the Nottingham Town Hall on Tuesdays from July to August.
Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
