you guys that get free wood are lucky. I have friends that work on the tree crews I could have all the pine I can handle so I will properly end up putting in a outdoor wood boiler.
Less than 600 a load not bad, Most of the loggers around here are getting around 700 for a 6 to 8 cord load. Still better than 250 a cord cut split and delivered, or 4.50 a gallon for oil and propane is not far behind. What really drives the price of the wood up around here is that the big energy plant here in NH witch is 5 miles from Maine and 20 miles from Mass. Will pay the guys more for wood that is chipped up than they can get for it as firewood.
steviep, you live 2 towns from me and we're in much the same situation, though we're both in the 2nd most forested state in the country, with nearby Maine being the most forested.
I've not had that much luck with the tree guys (even if they don't sell, many give their employees first crack at the wood as a fringe benefit, while others have relationships with the commercial sellers). But it would be worth getting to know some of the local builders. As you know, with Portsmouth and even Rochester getting expensive, towns like Milton are experiencing lots of development - though less so recently with the downturn in the economy.
That said, there's a lot to be said about relationship building. Even private homeowners are a source of wood for me. Just this past weekend, I caught site of a dump-bound trailer filled with 3"-7" logs in a driveway. Pulled in and came away with a truckload and an invite to come back with saw to clean up some deadfall (big poplar, oak, maple, and apple - even some long-dead white pine I might go back for if needed later in the gathering season.)