Sandown is a border town offering a lower cost of living
Sandown is a small town of about 6,500 residents in Rockingham County. Because it’s near the Massachusetts border, the community attracts many people from nearby states moving to New Hampshire for a lower cost of living. “Almost everyone I’ve sold to is from out of state,” says Sylvia Makarios, a real estate professional with Coldwell Banker Realty, who has sold many properties in the area. “There’s lots of new construction, and you can get a property on tons of land. You can’t find those prices for a relatively new home in Massachusetts, no matter where you go.” But on days they aren’t in office, Sandown residents can enjoy the town’s natural beauty, scenic seclusion, classic New England architecture and proximity to nearby towns.
Hiking Sandown Town Forest, summer camp at The Sandlot
The Sandown Town Forest offers wooded hiking trails of various lengths, passing wetlands and waterways. The area also has many ponds, like Phillips Pond, where residents can fish, kayak or canoe. Nearby, the Sandlot Sports & Entertainment center – or just The Sandlot – is an event venue with popular summer camps, from multi-week musical theatre programs to day camps. The Sandlot also has Bandshell, an outdoor amphitheater that hosts concerts, and fields for soccer, football and baseball, all of which can be rented for private events.
Variety of home styles and minimal overall taxes
Potential homebuyers can find ranch-style homes for about $300,000 to $500,000, while two-story Cape Cods or Colonial Revivals can cost around $600,000 to $1.5 million, with larger lakefront properties at the top of that range. Townhouses can cost between about $290,000 and $730,000. The area’s few condos run around $380,000. Land is also available and can cost around $200,000 to $330,000, depending on the size of the plot. While property taxes are higher in Sandown than in surrounding areas, Makarios notes that New Hampshire offers a lower cost of living overall for those moving from other states. “They save on so much more,” she says. “Basically, the only taxes that you pay in New Hampshire are property taxes. There’s no income tax, no excise tax, no taxes on clothes.”
Most local bites and shopping in nearby towns
There are a few local restaurants in Sandown. In the center of town, near the library, town hall and fire department, Bruchetti’s Pizza serves homemade pies, subs and more. Right next door, Elm Coffee & Ice Cream is a go-to for breakfast sandwiches, wraps and pastries in the morning and a sweet treat in the evening. Locals can grab the essentials from A&M Sandown Market or drive about 4 miles to the Hannaford grocery store in East Hampstead. On the weekends, Zorvino Vineyards is popular. The family-owned and operated winery hosts tastings, weddings and a free summertime concert series on the outdoor patio. “It attracts people from all over,” Makarios says.
Students zoned for Timberlane Regional School District
The Timberlane Regional School District serves Sandown. The district receives a B-minus from Niche, educates about 3,300 students and has a student-teacher ratio of 11-to-1.
Taking a car or train from Sandown to Boston
Sandown is car-dependent. New Hampshire state Route 121A – or Main Street – is the area’s primary thoroughfare, running northwest-southeast and leading about 10 miles to the Massachusetts state line. Salem, New Hampshire, is about 12 miles southwest and offers big-box shopping, grocery stores and restaurants. It’s a 30-mile drive east to the Seacoast region of New Hampshire, and Boston is about 50 miles from the center of Sandown. The closest commuter train is in Haverhill, Massachusetts, about 15 miles away. “It’s less than an hour to Boston and close to the Seacoast,” Makarios says. “You’re surrounded by areas that you’d want to be close to.” Boston Logan International Airport is also about 50 miles away.
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Adreanna DeMarino
