Northwood

Northwood straddles Route 4 between Concord and Portsmouth, a daily corridor for 13,000 commuters who pass through four historic village centers: East Northwood, Northwood Ridge, Northwood Center, and Northwood Narrows. Nine lakes dot the landscape — Bow Lake, Northwood Lake, Pleasant Lake, Jenness Pond, Harvey Lake, and Long Pond among them — making this a water lover's town without the Lakes Region price tag. Whether you're launching a kayak, casting a line, or just finding a quiet spot by the water, the lakes give residents plenty of options without having to drive far from home. Coe-Brown Northwood Academy, founded in 1867 and ranked among the top high schools in New Hampshire, gives the town an educational anchor that families seek out. The antique shops along Route 4 have made Northwood a destination for hunters, and you can grab a locally brewed beer at Northwoods Brewing Company after a day of browsing. The First Free Will Baptist Church, built in 1831, stands as an architectural landmark, while the Northwood Historical Society preserves the town's story in photographs and artifacts. This is a town that lives at the crossroads — literally and figuratively — between rural independence and easy access to two cities. You get the space to breathe with lakes and woods practically in your backyard, but you're never more than a reasonable drive from work or city amenities.