603 Stories: A Look at YPs Living the NH Lifestyle
Introducing our NEW blog series shining a light on what life in New Hampshire looks like as a YP!
In this series, we’ll hear from YPs across the state on why they’ve stayed in, or moved to, New Hampshire and what they love about it. From their favorite hidden spots to what a day in their professional life looks like, follow along and meet fellow YPs who have found their place in the 603.
First up, meet Charlie Sebastyn of Montagne Powers—a transplant from Mass who put down roots in NH after attending Saint Anselm College!
SWP: Every NH YP has an origin story - what's yours? Whether a lifer, boomerang, or transplant, lets start at the beginning! What brought you to NH or what kept you here!?
CS: I grew up on the border of NH in Dunstable, MA before attending Saint Anselm College in Manchester to get my undergrad degree. Naturally I spent a lot of time in Manchester testing our restaurants, bars, and all the city has to offer. Add in that I also picked up skiing while I was in school, NH was the place to be for me. After graduation I moved home for a while to save money before I opted to move to Boston, MA with a handful of friends. After 2 years, I realized I missed everything NH had to offer - access to ski areas, all the different natural landscapes, easy access to my family's cottage in Maine, way less traffic, and a close proximity to my entire family. Oh, and that lack of state income tax along with excellent first-time home buyer programs were certainly a draw too. I was looking for somewhere to settle into for my late twenties and potentially into my early thirties (I'm currently 25) and NH just seemed like the right move. It was good mix of everything I wanted, while being more affordable and generally quieter than Boston.
SWP: What is your favorite quality about living in the 603?
CS: I love the mix of just EVERYTHING. I can hit the beach, lake, and mountains in the same summer weekend; I can access a ton of excellent ski areas in the winter; there are restaurant options galore across Manchester, Concord, Dover, and Nashua; my family who lives across MA and NH is all within an hour of me (and all in different directions); we truly have four fully different seasons here; and the people you run into are just excellent. Life is what you make it and NH gives you endless options how you do so.
SWP: What do you love most about your job, employer, or professional life in NH?
CS: When I moved up here in October of 2024, I wasn't employed after spending about 2 months job searching in Boston - what I found was a robust market of opportunity. I immediately started working at UPS in Stratham to keep me busy and keep a paycheck coming in. It was 10 minutes from where I lived and just an all around good experience. It's what I like to call a character building job - it reminded me a lot of my first jobs working a kitchen due tot he comradery, physical toll on the body, and tough hours. All the while, I was sending out applications to different opportunities where I could leverage my years of experience in public relations and my degree from Saint Anselm. In October, I started with Montagne Powers, a PR firm based on Manchester. It's been such a great experience to this point. I'm working for local NH and New England clients really making a difference in the region and it feels great. I look forward to seeing my coworkers on our office days (we have a hybrid situation with 3 days a week in office) and all of our client events. It's a spot I can see myself being for the foreseeable future, and being located in NH is central to why. Something that I really love about being a professional in NH is that we don't have a state income tax. Seeing more of my paycheck come right to me is definitely a draw for me after working in MA.
SWP: How do you like to spend your leisure time in the 603? What are some of your favorite activities for young people outside of school, work, etc.?
CS: I try to really diversify my hobbies so nothing gets too stale for me so I do wide range of things across the spectrum. I love to ski (proud Indy Ski Pass holder), I play hockey in a league in Exeter, I love testing out new restaurants and bars, hiking the variety of trails offered (or maybe just walking with my Bullmastiff Ruby), and I love to beach in the summertime. Oh, and you can't go wrong seeing a concert at the Bank of NH Pavilion in Gilford, with an overnight stay at the Half Moon Motel in Laconia, right on Weirs Beach. But beyond that, I also love NH because it's the center of New England - it's super easy to travel to Boston to see my friends for a night/weekend, up to Maine to my family's lake house, or to Vermont to hit the Indy mountains up there. And, what's better than nice NH weather to do some grilling in the yard with friends and dogs? I try to to keep myself pretty active, but even on a quiet day of no plans, I just love walking the woodsy trails with Ruby or taking my rollerblades for a ride around the area to look at the houses and get some exercise.
SWP: Okay, you are a salesperson now: give us your best elevator pitch for NH to a YP peer considering relocating. We know NH is incredible, but lets convince all the not-yet-Granite Staters.
CS: Whatever you're looking for NH has it. City? Check - look at Manchester or Portsmouth or Concord (or Dover/Nashua on a smaller scale). Beach? Check - NH has about 18 miles of coastline. Lakes? Check - we have a whole REGION named after our lakes. Mountains? Check - White Mountains anyone? Food scene? Check - call me, I'll direct you on where to go, I can't expose all my best secrets. State income tax? UNCheck - only state in the Northeast that doesn't have it! Job opportunities? Check - Look into ReGen Valley, or hubs in Manchester, Concord, Nashua, and Portsmouth - companies big small across all industries. Like to travel? Check - NH is central to New England making your close driving trips super easy, in addition to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport and, if you need it, Logan isn't too far either. Simply put - Live Free or Die.
SWP: Last and best question: what’s your hidden gem in NH? What business, hike, organization, experience, food, etc., should be on other NH YPs lists?
CS: I'll give a few of my favorite spots, but I can’t expose them all - I like a smaller crowd and minimal waits - so my recommendations would be Holy Grail in Epping, Cotton in Manchester, CAMPO in Manchester, Black Trumpet in Portsmouth, Yankee Smokehouse in Ossipee, and Crazy Gringo in Laconia.
