NH is much nicer than Maine. Maine is one of the worst welfare states in the US and has an absurdly high unemployment rate. It's better than Mass, but it's still a stink hole. Great place to visit, horrible place to live.
And for the record, Lake Winnipesaukee is a bit nicer than Lake Sebago. But, the White Mountains top either.
I wouldn't say NH is Much nicer than Maine. I think they are on par with each other from what my friends say about NH. Each one has it's pocket good and bad towns.
Maine's biggest issue is some of the old locals that don't want to let resorts into Northern Maine were there are a TON of lakes that could support reports that could run summer,fall, and winter. But if done right it could still keep and old town feeling while bringing in a ton of jobs.
Now unless you like out door things there isn't much to do. It's getting better in Bangor, were we have a new auditorium, and a counsel member that really has been pushing to have some thing going on just about very night in the city. It is a really good state to raise a family because the people on the most part are really nice and it's not crazy busy. The crime rate is low, we do have a drug problem, and the homless is increasing, but thats because Mass has been sending them to Portland and Portland has been sending them up to Bangor. And at some point Bangor will send them up to Canada!
