Concord has been consistently noted as one of the most desirable communities in New Hampshire in which to live and work. It offers the best of city and country living with a quality of life that is hard to match.

The region boasts schools that produce an above-average number of college-bound graduates, warm communities, grassroots government, and diverse cultural and recreational activities. Concord and the surrounding communities have some of the lowest crime rates in the country. Greater Concord is also known as the finest health care network north of Boston.

Concord (visit website)
Concord offers the warmth, friendliness and local color of a small New England town, while still offering all the services, entertainment, dining, shopping, cultural and business opportunities of a modern city. The buildings and streets of downtown Concord reflect a community steeped in tradition, yet well-adapted to change. In 1803 the First New Hampshire Turnpike opened, linking Concord with Portsmouth and thereby assuring the town's position as an important trading and transportation center. Concord's central location within the state led to its designation as state capital in 1808 and secured the community's role as the heart of political and social life in New Hampshire.

Cultural sites include the 1,360-seat Capitol Center for the Arts, which has experienced packed houses for its performances and unique pre-performance show-theme gourmet dinners. Other attractions include the Museum of New Hampshire History, the Silk Farm Audubon Center of New Hampshire, Concord City Auditorium and Kimball Jenkins Estate, Canterbury Shaker Village in Canterbury, the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium, the Gould Hill Apple Orchard in Hopkinton, and the Mount Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner.

Towns in the Greater Concord area, such as Bow, Hopkinton, Canterbury, Henniker, Warner, and others described below, are typically-New England rural areas which offer a quality of living that rivals anywhere in the country.

Allenstown (visit website)
Minutes from Concord, Allenstown combines a rural feel with many conveniences typically found in larger cities. The town has its own public library, several churches of various denominations, the New Hampshir Snowmoile Museum, a municipal park and tennis courts. Outdoor enthusiasts will also enjoy Bear Brook State Park, which offers cross-country skiing, swimming, snowmobiling, camping, and other recreational opportunities.

Bowcawen (visit website)
A mainly residential community, most residents commute to Concord for work. The town keeps the Jamie Welch Memorial Park, which has tennis courts, ball fields, picnic areas, and a playground. A boat ramp gives residents access to the Merrimack River. In addition to recreational activities, residents can participate in many civic groups including the Lion's Club, police and fire Auxiliaries, Boosters Club, snowmobile Club, and Boy and Girl Scouts.

Bow (visit website)
A suburb of both Concord and Manchester, Bow has ranked among the fastest growing communities in Merrimack County in recent years. Originally incorporated in 1727, Bow is a vibrant, growing community which has an excellent school system, including a state-of-the-art high school that opened in the fall of 1997. The town's property values are among the highest in the area. In addition, Bow offers a number of recreational facilities, including five baseball fields, a track, soccer field, playground and outdoor skating rink. Community organizations include an active historical society, men's club, garden club, Rotary, and Boy and Girl Scouts.

Bradford (visit website)
Located in the beautiful Lake Sunapee Region, Bradford offers a wealth of opportunities for outdoor pursuits, including several lakes for swimming, boating, and fishing. Downhill skiing is nearby at Mt. Sunapee Ski Area. Mainly a bedroom community, Bradford has a thriving artisan community that includes writers, painters, and furniture makers. The town is located squarely between Concord, Manchester, Keene, and Lebanon.

Canterbury
Incorporated in 1727, Canterbury's planning and zoning regulations preserve acres of rolling fields and forested land, which makes for the perfect setting for Canterbury Shaker Village, a living tribute to more than 200 years of the Shakers' gentle way of life. Canterbury's town center is also replete with New England tradition from the bandstand on the town green to the white colonial homes. Community organizations include the outing club, historical society, 4-H Club, and Boy and Girl Scouts. Dances and cultural programs are held year-round. In addition, a beach area is maintained on the Merrimack River.

Chichester (visit website)
Chichester is a traditional rural town affording residents an easy five-minute commute to Concord and easy routes to Hooksett or Manchester, which are about 20 and 30 minutes away, respectively. In addition to Boy Scouts and a historical society, the town has an active recreation commission and every August gets newcomers and old-timers alike together for some fun on Old Home Day.

Derry (visit website)
Located in Rockingham County, NH, 12 miles south of Manchester, Derry was originally known as Nutfield. The first settlers arrived in 1719 led by Reverend MacGregor, of Londonderry, Ireland. During the Revolutionary War, a large number of men served this Country, notably General John stark and Matthew Thornton who went on to sign the Declaration of Independence. On July 2, 1827, Londonderry separated with the eastern part being called Derry and the remaining part of town being called Londonderry. Derry thrived with family business, the most famous being H.P. Hood Company. In 1856, Harvey Hood established his dairy farm, which supplied milk for business in Boston. Derry is also known as the birthplace of Alan Shepard, the first U.S. astronaut in space whose famous voyage gave Derry the nickname "Space Town." Robert Frost also lived here as a young adult.

Dunbarton (visit website)
Dunbarton is a rural community located in Merrimack County, bounded by Goffstown to the south, Weare to the west, Hopkinton to the north, and Bow and Hooksett to the east. It was granted in 1735 by Governor Jonathan Belcher as Gorhamtown. The town was incorporated 1765 as Dunbarton after Dumbartonshire in Scotland. Historic sites include the Molly Stark House, the Blacksmith's House, and the Dunbarton town pound.

Epsom Established in 1727 and then incorporated in 1743, Epsom is a growing residential and commercial community with close proximity to Concord and an atmosphere that is both suburban and rural. The historic home of Captain Andrew McClary once stood here. Captain McClary died while leading his troops at Bunker Hill during the American Revolution. The home of Andrew McClary's brother, John, is still standing in town. In addition to the Old Home Day festival each August and an old-time minstrel show each autumn, the town sponsors an active athletic association at the local school.

Henniker (visit website)
Henniker prides itself on being "The Only Henniker on Earth." Home to New England College, Henniker is rich in the arts and cultural activities. Quaint antique shops and country inns add to the charm. An easy commute to Concord, Henniker is primarily a small college town and residential community. Located on the Contoocook River, the area attracts whitewater enthusiasts in the spring and rafters and canoeists in summer. In winter, Pat's Peak ski area offers downhill skiing.

Hopkinton/Contoocook (visit website)
Incorporated in 1735, Hopkinton was originally settled by people from Hopkinton, Massachusetts. The town is considered to have established the development pattern for other New England towns. Main Street is lined with lovely Colonial homes and a traditional Town Hall, which once served as the state capital. The village of Contoocook is Hopkinton's business center. A stone's throw away, 10,000-square-foot library opened in 1998. The Contoocook River is excellent for water sports, and other activities can be pursued at George Park which has ball and soccer fields as well as basketball and tennis courts. The town hosts the very popular Hopkinton State Fair each September, featuring rides, food, shows and competitions.

Loudon (visit website)
Loudon, named for Scot soldier John Campbell, the fourth Earl of Loudon, the town was chartered in 1773 when it separated from Canterbury. Located eight miles northeast of Concord, Loudon is best known today as the home of the New Hampshire International Speedway, the only super speedway in New England. Loudon also has a private campground, a Little League diamond, a town beach and summer programs for area children. Major employers include the New Hampshire International Speedway, Pleasant View Gardens, and D.S. Cole Growers.

Manchester (visit website)
Located in south central New Hampshire along the Merrimack River, Manchester NH is the largest city in northern New England. Manchester and the surrounding communities contain a rich and diverse history that can still be seen today in the unique architecture, museums, culture, and demographics of the region.

For many years Manchester was known as Derryfield until it was renamed Manchester in 1810 to honor Samuel Blodget’s vision of a great industrial city like that of Manchester England. Samuel Blodget developed a canal and lock system around the Amoskeag Falls that opened a trade route from Boston to Concord. The canal and lock system made it possible for the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company to open its doors in 1838, becoming the world’s largest cotton milling operation with 64 mills lining the banks of the Merrimack. The mills brought cultural diversity to the city as immigrants moved to Manchester looking for good paying mill jobs. During the Depression, the city’s economy was badly affected and for a number of years Manchester lost jobs and population. What followed, however, was a period of rebuilding. By the mid-1990’s Manchester had not only recovered but was one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities, renovating and using the mills once again for large and small business alike. The millyard now houses The University of New Hampshire Manchester campus, several high tech companies, web site companies, museums, and insurance and manufacturing companies just to name a few.

Manchester residents point with pride to the fact that the area is “close to everything”, yet many people find they never have to leave home to pursue their favorite activities. In fact Manchester has recently been ranked among the top cities by a number of different Magazines. The Manchester metro area was selected as one of America’s “Best Places to Live and Work” and rated as a “Four-Star Community” by Expansion Management in May of 2003. But this is nothing new to the residents of Manchester. They know that Manchester has seen a renaissance of restoration, renovation, and rebirth, and is positioned well for continued growth and prosperity.

Northfield (visit website)
The town of Northfield is twin to Tilton, just across the Winnipesaukee River, and the two towns share a long history. In the eighteenth and nineteenth century, the power of the Winnipesaukee River was harnessed to operate mills up and down its banks. These banks were home to several gristmills, woolen mills, and other textile mills. Many dams existed in this stretch of the river that runs through Tilton, Northfield, and into Franklin. History abounds; downtown Tilton showcases fine examples of eighteenth and nineteenth century architecture, including ornate commercial Victorian buildings, a gothic revival church, a Victorian hardware store, and nineteenth century statuary. Island Park, in the Winnipesaukee River at the east end of downtown, was created by Charles Tilton in 1865 and was once home to a Victorian summerhouse and many pieces of nineteenth century statuary.

Pembroke (visit website)
Incorporated in 1759, Pembroke was originally part of Suncook and called Lovewall's Town. The Suncook and Soucook Rivers flow through the town to the Merrimack River, attracting outdoor enthusiasts for fishing, kayaking and sculling. During recent years, Pembroke has experienced residential and commercial growth, while at the same time retaining its country charm with a downtown lined with quaint antique shops. Pembroke is home to the 18-hole Plausawa Valley Country Club, and residents participate in organizations including the Lion's Club, VFW, Little League and summer sports leagues.

Pittsfield (visit website)
Pittsfield is the business center for several towns just north and east of Concord, such as Chichester and Epsom. Thanks to its convenient location along the Suncook River, the small town's roots lie in textile manufacturing. Pittsfield boasts more than 40 active organizations and service clubs. Each summer, its skies fill with hot air balloons for the local Rotary Club's hot-air balloon rally. The town's business community surrounds a town center registered as a historic district.

Sutton (visit website)
Incorporated in 1784, Sutton (pop. 1686) is located 25 miles northwest of Concord with easy access off of Interstate 89 and NH Route 114. Sutton encompasses an area of 36 square miles, with over 17,000 acres of predominantly forested open space. With its rolling hills, streams, ponds and lakes, Sutton abounds with rural character and 'rural characters' which make it a great place to live and visit.

Warner (visit website)
Nestled at the foot of Mt. Kearsarge, from the summit of which (on a clear day) hikers can enjoy views of Mt. Washington, the Boston skyline and the Green Mountains of Vermont, is the quaint New England village of Warner. Mt. Kearsarge is a popular destination for family hikes and is known for its wonderful blueberry and raspberry picking. The town recently completed a new soccer field and supports a town beach and baseball field. Its proximity to I-89 makes it a residential community for commuters to Concord, Manchester and the Hanover/Lebanon region. Warner village features brick sidewalks, gift shops, and restaurants. Downtown is a favorite meeting place for the many artists, writers, poets and craftspeople in the area. Each year, the town celebrates autumn with its Warner Fall Foliage Festival, featuring a street fair, contests, parades, a road race, and entertainment.

Weare (visit website)
Weare was incorporated in 1764, in honor of Colonel Meshech Weare, who served as the town's first clerk. Colonel Weare served New Hampshire as its first president from 1776 until 1785. Weare is now one of the fastest growing towns in New Hampshire. Boaters can enjoy two lakes in Weare: Everett Lake, otherwise known as Clough State Park and Horace Lake. Not far from Weare is Pats Peak Ski Mountain for people to enjoy their winter skiing.

Webster (visit website)
Webster is a quiet, rural town that's a nice place to come home to and relax. Beautiful old farms, fields and homes are prevalent in this residential community. The town is home to the Blackwater Dam, a U.S. Army corps of Engineers recreational area. The Blackwater River is used for world=class whitewater kayaking competitions.