What Makes Hollis Feel Like Hollis? Open Space, Agriculture and Rural Character

But somewhere in the conversation, you'll probably hear about the farms, trails, open spaces and rural feel.

It's one of the interesting things about Hollis. You're close to Nashua, Massachusetts and major commuting routes, yet there are places where it feels like you've traveled much farther into rural New Hampshire.

Preserving that character has been a deliberate effort.

The Hollis Conservation Commission's mission includes conserving the town's agricultural and forest resources, aquifers, waterways, greenways and viewscapes. According to Hollis Brookline News, an estimated one-third or more of the town's land is conserved or otherwise non-buildable.

Organizations such as Beaver Brook Association add even more protected open space and recreational opportunities to the area.

From a real estate perspective, this is part of what makes understanding Hollis so important.

Two homes with similar square footage can offer very different experiences depending on their location, lot, surroundings and proximity to conserved land, farms, trails or more developed areas.

It's also why buyers interested in acreage should do their homework. A large lot doesn't necessarily mean every acre can be developed, cleared or subdivided. Wetlands, conservation restrictions, easements, zoning and current-use considerations may all come into play.

For many residents, however, the balance is exactly the appeal.

Hollis offers the opportunity to live in a community that has worked for generations to protect pieces of its rural landscape while remaining firmly connected to Southern New Hampshire.

That's a combination that's increasingly difficult to find.