Hi, Robert.
This area is a good one. On both sides of the Connecticut River Valley/Dartmouth area, in New Hampshire and Vermont, you can find good schools and a Rustic Home with privacy. I'm thinking perhaps you want a home with character, in a "woodsy" area, with views or water of some kind.
Here are some communities you might consider: Lebanon, Enfield, Canaan, Grantham, Lyme, Plainfield on the NH side. Thetford, Fairlee, Hartford, Hartland, Sharon, Strafford on the Vermont side.
Sharon's Sharon Academy has an excellent reputation as does Thetford Academy. Plainfield, NH high school students go to the excellent Lebanon schools or to the private Kimball Union Academy. There are fine programs in most public schools in the area. I would look at your daughter's particular interests and interview principals and teachers to get a feel of whether her interests would be well-served.
Cheers, Hal Sheeler

Hi Robert

The tend we have seen over the years is away from wood siding and towards vinyl or composite even in higher end homes which may explain some of the difficulty you are having. About 8% of the newer homes in NH are log and only about 1% post & beam or timber frame. In your price range you have option of considering a new home where you can get what you want. A popular concept is a hybrid home, for instance an energy efficient stick built with post & beam accents on the interior. On the outside you can use cedar siding or whatever you prefer. Also some stone work on the exterior can add to the rustic feel.

Robert
Your best bet to find the home you want is to find a Realtor who is willing to set up a search for you and then take the time to go with you to actually see the homes that fit your criteria.
Take the time to interview agents who will do this for you. Please consider me for and interview.

Rustic to me is either a Post and Beam, a Log or Cedar home. Basically a Wood exterior. A Wood Interior is even better. 5 Natural Acres ( God is the best landscaper that I have found). Around $500k.

Try Orford or even Thetford, VT...both within a short drive!

Do you have a house to sell?

Hi Robert,

It would seem to me that if style of architecture is the main driving force to your home search, that you would simply go to NNEREN and look at all the photos of houses in your price range. (Or go to Realtor DOT com and do the same--or right here at TRULIA). When you find one you like, check to see where it is, and call the Realtor.

If schools are important, Google up best schools in NH--and you will find the "best" schools as well.

But my questions to you are, "what's rustic?" And what constitutes a "good school", in your mind"

And why Hanover? And what's your budget? And how many bedrooms? And how big a parcel of land?

People call little cabins rustic, others call woodsy homes with grape arbors and trellises nestled into a fern studded dell rustic, other call a broken down tract-home rustic. So being specific will help.

With regard to schools, some people go with the SAT scores, saying the best scores come from the best schools; some demand after-school programs (saying it's not a good school without after school music or art or sports programs). Others think classroom size makes a big difference. So you have some homework to do on where the good schools are--and it's better that you do that research on your own so you are happy with the final decision. Once you find a school district, and with your family's guidance, I'm sure we can find that rustic home.