Yes, Burlington Vermont is perfect for you!

As a recent graduate, from & living in NH, to be honest… there are not a lot of jobs here at the moment and it’s very expensive. The majority of people I know pursuing careers post graduation have moved away. However, if you’re feeling competitive & up for a challenge the seacoast area is great - Portsmouth, Kittery (maine), Dover, New Market.

OP- New Hampshire is actually a pretty rough place to start out. Property values aren’t in line with “young professional” expectations, property tax is not in line with what you get (UNH is one of the most expensive in state tuitions there is, many NHers go elsewhere because OUT OF STATE there is cheaper than IN STATE here). NH doesn’t have a thriving [insert xyz] scene here. This isn’t and never will be eg Silicon Valley or the Insurance Hub or the Port of Long Beach etc. if you succeed here it’s often despite your NH location not because of it.

That said, the Quality of Life here can be absolutely fantastic. We have world class rock climbing, our ski mountains have forged the likes of Bode Miller (and our skiing is literally the cheapest in North America, fantastic value) people use winter hikes up the Presidentials to prepare for Nepalese ascents. There’s fantastic sailing and camping. You can surf and ski in the same day. If you factor in “quality of life” aspects I haven’t found a single place better (Switzerland is close, but still not even NH). As such you should think about what you want out of a move.

“Picturesque Quaint Mountain Towns” try Hanover, Lincoln and Littleton. If you go to Littleton, you will like it. I’ve never, not one time, had someone take me up on a trip to Littleton and come back disappointed

“Happening Hip Places” there’s no NH version of Richmond’s “The Fan” or Bawlmoh’s Federal Hill, so adjust your expectations, but I genuinely think Dover and Portsmouth punch way, way above their weight class. Walk around portsmouth, you’ll see for yourself. Wonderful beaches are just down the road, you’ll love it

“I gotta work in Boston Metro” Portsmouth is still a solid option but consider Bedford.

“My job requires I work in Concord”. Good news! Concord is actually cool! I think it appeals more to the 30 something crowd than the 20 something crowd, but it’s refined and fun. Also check out satellite towns, like Canterbury. C-Bury is full of eccentric hippy types who: raise yaks, have ayahuasca retreats, make maple syrup and surf boards from their timber stands. Hell, we had our own hermit up until recently!

At this point, any place you can afford. Home prices are ridiculous and there is little stock available.

Something to consider is the Upper Valley around Hanover, NH. College town, some high tech, outdoor activities, trust fund babies, restaurants, etc. if you can score a job and housing, you’re all set.

Bethel, Lewiston, Westbrook, York, Portland

Are you vacationing or researching places to live?

Depends on what you’re looking for. NH has everything (like every state let’s be honest). If you want small town city vibes then Dover and Portsmouth are great (but pricey). Manchester, nashua, and concord are the big cities that have their positives and negatives (if you want to be as close to Boston as possible I’d go with somewhere around here in the southern NH region). Or you can go to central NH around lake winnipesaukee (Laconia, Meredith, Gilford etc) that are beautiful small lake towns but also pricey. Much closer to the mountains though which would be great if you like hiking and natural beauty. NH has something for everyone and it’s all pretty close to each other!

I am from MD and so freaking glad I escaped the beltway hell hole. We are really enjoying the greater concord area…..

Depends on where you want to work. You’re not going to want to live in Berlin if you need a tech job.

If you want to make NH more like Maryland politically, I request you move to MA and just visit NH.