i am in fes and facing exactly the same dilemma as you are now, I would rather be with young/fun crowd rather and have a life rather than stuck in middle of no where, but convenience can be such an issue, also in dorm might/might not be the best option in social life, considering a lot of grad in dorm just stuck with study, correct me if i am wrong, just what i heard.
same here, i abhor the idea of staying in dorm but really would like to enjoy good social exposure, plus i know NOTHING about NH and have no chance of visiting, pinning down an apartment might be difficult though