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New Hampshire

Is it worth it to move north from Massachusetts? – The Boston Globe

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Is it worth it to move north from Massachusetts? – The Boston Globe


A budget of $600,000 can net you a charming Cape-style abode in Chelmsford, Mass. Madore Photography

A Cape in Chelmsford

Price: $600,000

Bedrooms: 2

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Bathrooms: 1.5

Square feet: 1,409

Lot size: 0.17 acres

Estimated annual property taxes: $6,668

PRO: An easier commute

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CON: Less square footage

A budget of $600,000 can net you a charming Cape-style abode in Chelmsford, Mass. This recently sold home measures roughly 1,400 square feet and offers two bedrooms, one full bathroom, and one half bath. Among its selling points are a newly renovated kitchen, a finished basement, a new roof, new windows, a one-car garage, and a fenced-in backyard.

Life in Chelmsford is pretty pleasant, according to listing agent Emily Medwar with Barrett Sotheby’s International Realty. Licensed in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire, she highlighted the value of free school busing for children who live more than 2 miles from their school.

A large deck looks over the backyard in Chelmsford. Madore Photography

“I think Chelmsford is a highly desirable location because the town provides excellent value for housing but also boasts a top-rated school system,” she said.

Other perks? The town offers free trash and recycling pickup, robust programming for seniors, and commuter rail access in nearby Billerica that can get you to Boston in roughly 35 minutes.

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While some of her buyers opt for New Hampshire because there is no income tax (Though New Hampshire residents working in Massachusetts must pay Massachusetts income tax), others are turned off by the increased property taxes in the Granite State. Still, they tend to even out, since home prices in New Hampshire are typically lower than in Massachusetts, Medwar said, explaining that it’s the daily commute that plays a bigger role in the decision.

“Many buyers weigh the trade-off between affordability and commute time, often choosing to live in New Hampshire for the lower home prices while accepting a longer drive to work in Massachusetts,” she said.

There’s close to 6 acres to grow fruits and vegetable and raise chickens at the Weare, N.H., home.Andrew Spieler Photography

Room to roam in Weare

Price: $600,000

Bedrooms: 3

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Bathrooms: 2.5

Square feet: 2,117

Lot size: 5.69 acres

Estimated annual property tax: $7,620

PRO: More space for your money (plus acreage to grow food)

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CON: Higher property taxes

If you’re the buyer who doesn’t mind a long commute, you’ll get more for your money in Weare, N.H., which is about an hour and 15 minutes from Boston via I-93 (on a good day). This newly sold home flaunts lots of room both inside and out, offering over 2,000 square feet of living space and almost 6 acres of land with flourishing gardens and a potting shed.

“The seller had every single vegetable, every single herb, every single spice [in her garden],” said listing agent Niki Loiko with Keller Williams Metropolitan, who’s licensed in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. “And she had chickens.” That could be considered a cost-saving measure as egg prices continue to tick up.

Inside the home, there are a slew of new upgrades, including a primary bedroom with an en-suite bath, twin dressing tables, and a deck.

The town of Weare has benefits, too, with free trash and recycling pickup, free school busing for grades K through 8, free extra-curricular activities after school, and fantastic farmers markets, according to Loiko.

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“We do not have income [or sales] tax, which is wonderful when you’re shopping and working here,” she said. “But when it comes to our property taxes, I have to make sure when I’m helping my clients search for houses, I tell them, ‘Before you even get excited and look at the photos, we should look at the taxes first.’”

Proximity to the ocean and hiking trails are unique to this property in Wells, Maine. Andrew Connors/Hommati

New construction in Wells

Price: $600,000

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2

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Square feet: 1,447

Lot size: 0.8 acres

Estimated annual property tax: $3,181

PRO: Free school busing and after-school programs

CON: No town-sponsored trash pickup

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Built in 2023, this recent sale came move-in ready — and assuaged any fears about outdated heating, cooling, or electrical systems. Open-concept living, a laundry nook, a primary suite, and a two-car garage are among its standout features.

While this house offers a bit more square footage and acreage than the home in Chelmsford, it does not come close when compared to the one in Weare. It’s about the same distance to Boston as Weare — via I-95 — but proximity to the ocean and hiking trails is unique to this property.

“If you’re someone who likes to be outside, especially at beaches, Maine has a lot more oceanfront than New Hampshire,” said Troy Williams, the listing agent with Williams Realty Partners. He’s licensed in both Maine and New Hampshire, and added that even registering your boat is more expensive in New Hampshire than in Maine due to the state’s tax structure.

In Wells, trash pickup is not included — instead, you’re tasked with bringing trash to the town transfer station, where a vehicle sticker costs $5 annually, plus added fees for select items. School busing is free, however, as are after-school athletics and programs for kids. As a homeowner or renter in Wells, you can buy a seasonal beach parking sticker for $40. In addition, depending on where your home is located, you’re eligible to get your electricity from Kennebunk Light & Power, a local and cheaper alternative to Central Maine Power, the dominant utility provider in the state. As a commuter, you may end up paying between 50 cents and $7 in tolls on I-95, depending on your trip length and whether you have an E-ZPass transponder.

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Open-concept living is one of the attractions of this home in Wells, Maine. Andrew Connors/Hommati

The pros and cons for each option are many. Deciding where to move may involve a cost-benefit analysis, or it could just come down to personal preference.





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New Hampshire

Missing motorcyclist found dead after crash in Shelburne, NH

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Missing motorcyclist found dead after crash in Shelburne, NH


A New Hampshire motorcyclist who had been missing since the Fourth of July was found dead in Shelburne late Thursday night.

State police say they received a request from the Berlin Police Department just after 7:30 p.m. Thursday for help locating 41-year-old Wesley Grondin — the Berlin man was last seen riding his motorcycle on Saturday, July 4, and had been reported missing.

Troopers received a call a couple of hours later, around 10:10 p.m. Thursday, from a concerned resident who had been out looking for Grondin along Route 2 in Shelburne. The person told police they had found Grondin dead, along with his Harley Davidson.

According to state police, a preliminary investigation determined that Grondin was riding his Harley on Route 2 westbound in Shelburne when, for reasons that remain under investigation, he crossed over into the opposing lane, struck a post, and came to a final rest in the wood line.

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The crash is believed to have occurred just before midnight on July 4. At this time, police say there’s no indication that another vehicle or person was involved.

All aspects of the crash remain under investigation, however. Anyone with information that may assist investigators is asked to contact Trooper Hunter Newsham at Hunter.P.Newsham@dos.nh.gov.



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New Hampshire

Nashua, NH, woman jailed for falsifying marriage to claim late man’s estate

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Nashua, NH, woman jailed for falsifying marriage to claim late man’s estate


KEENE, N.H. — A Nashua woman who had a town clerk falsely certify a marriage that never happened so she could claim her late partner’s property has been sentenced to seven days in jail, placed on probation and ordered to repay thousands to his estate.

Attorney General John Formella said Wendy Leedberg‑Snow, 60, turned to Winchester Town Clerk Jim Tetreault after the death of her longtime partner, Eric Leedberg — who was born in Lowell — using the falsified license to pose as his spouse and lay claim to property from his estate, an effort prosecutors describe as an attempt to rewrite the couple’s history for financial gain.

“This case involved a deliberate effort to manipulate official government records and exploit the death of a loved one for personal financial gain,” Formella said in a press release announcing the sentencing. “Our vital records system depends on honesty and integrity, and those who seek to corrupt that system will be held accountable. I want to thank the investigators and prosecutors whose work ensured justice for the victim’s family.”

According to Leedberg’s obituary, he was 53 when he died on Oct. 12, 2023, following a two‑year battle with cancer.

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In the obituary, Leedberg-Snow is described as his “significant other.”

Prosecutors said Leedberg‑Snow moved quickly after his death, relying on Tetreault’s signature to fabricate a marriage that never occurred and position herself as Leedberg’s surviving spouse.

Tetreault, who was a New Hampshire justice of the peace at the time, falsely signed the marriage license claiming he had officiated the couple’s wedding. He later admitted he never performed any ceremony for Leedberg‑Snow and Leedberg and had no personal knowledge of them ever being married.

Leedberg‑Snow used the fraudulent certificate to obtain property from Leedberg’s estate, including a pickup truck and trailer, and later attempted to influence a witness connected to the scheme.

Leedberg‑Snow pleaded guilty in Cheshire County Superior Court in Keene to felony counts of solicitation to commit vital records fraud, title fraud, theft by misapplication of property and witness tampering.

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In addition to her seven‑day jail term, she must serve two years of probation, pay $4,600 in restitution, return the truck and trailer to Leedberg’s estate and comply with a suspended three‑and‑a‑half‑ to seven‑year prison sentence, which means the sentence only takes effect if she violates the conditions of her probation.

Tetreault, who continues to serve as Winchester’s town clerk and “fully cooperated with the State’s investigation,” according to prosecutors, pleaded guilty in April to notarial misconduct, a Class A misdemeanor. As part of a negotiated plea, prosecutors dropped a felony charge of vital records fraud. He was sentenced to 90 days in the house of corrections, all suspended for two years on good behavior, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine plus a $240 penalty assessment.

He resigned his commissions as a justice of the peace and bail commissioner and agreed not to seek recommissioning as a justice of the peace or notary public during the two‑year suspension period.

Tetreault could not be reached for comment at his office number.

Follow Aaron Curtis on X @aselahcurtis, or on Bluesky @aaronscurtis.bsky.social.

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New Hampshire

Rescue Crews Help Injured Woman Off Mt. Washington

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Rescue Crews Help Injured Woman Off Mt. Washington


SARGENT’S PURCHASE – On Saturday, personnel from multiple rescue crews teamed up to help an injured woman get off of Mt. Washington to seek medical treatment.

At approximately 7:45 AM, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Conservation Officers were notified that a staff member at the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) Lakes of the Clouds Hut had taken a serious fall at the hut and was left unable to walk.

Fish and Game subsequently mobilized search and rescue personnel to come and help evacuate the young woman from her remote location.

By 10:00 AM, members of the Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue Team (AVSAR), Pemigewassett Valley Search and Rescue Team (Pemi), AMC and Fish and Game had gathered at the Base Station of the Cog Rail. The Cog Railway generously donated room on their trains, and rescuers and equipment were given rides up Mt. Washington to the West Side Trail, which allowed for a shorter and less strenuous 1.6 mile hike than other routes.

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By 11:20 AM rescuers were at the hut with the patient. The patient was subsequently packaged in a litter and prepared for an overland carryout back to the Cog tracks.

Rescue personnel made steady progress, and by 2:15 PM had made it back across West Side Trail and to the train tracks. A Cog Railway train picked up the whole rescue party and brought everyone back down the mountain. Once roadside, the patient was evaluated by personnel from Twin Mountain Fire and Rescue.

She was ultimately driven from the scene by a friend and went to Memorial Hospital in North Conway for further evaluation
and treatment of multiple injuries related to her fall. The patient was identified as Cali Turner, 26, of Willimantic, Maine.

Fish and Game would like to thank all of the people and organizations involved in this rescue effort. Through the help of everyone, the rescue was a great success and got done in a timely manner.

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