Moving to New Hampshire

Quick facts

New Hampshire's most consequential 2026 facts run in two directions this record discloses honestly rather than picking one story. On the favorable side: no broad-based tax on wages or salaries, no general sales tax of any kind, and (as of a real 2025 repeal this record verifies as current) no tax on interest or dividend income either -- alongside a real, current, genuinely strong safety and quality-of-life picture (U.S. News ranked New Hampshire #6 nationally overall for 2026, #1 nationally for Crime & Corrections, #9 for Healthcare, and #12 for Education) and a real, favorable homeowners-insurance market (a $900-$1,611/year statewide spread, well below the roughly $2,868 national average). On the cost side, disclosed with equal honesty: New Hampshire's statewide effective property tax rate runs approximately 1.93% -- among the top 2-4 highest in the nation, roughly 1.4x-1.9x the national average, the real, structural tradeoff behind the no-income-tax headline, since New Hampshire funds schools and municipal services overwhelmingly through local property taxes. New Hampshire's housing costs also run genuinely elevated (a real $523,000-$533,000 statewide range, with a $580,000 single-family median-sale-price record set in July 2026), and its overall cost of living runs a real 13%-15% above the national average. New Hampshire's economy blends a real, dominant healthcare anchor (Dartmouth Health, the state's largest private employer), a substantial defense-electronics and advanced-manufacturing base (BAE Systems), and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard's active submarine-overhaul mission (physically in Kittery, Maine, but economically central to the Seacoast), alongside southern New Hampshire's real function as an extension of the greater Boston commuter economy -- the primary driver of New Hampshire's real, modest, migration-fueled population growth (+0.48% year-over-year per the Vintage 2025 estimate), since natural population change itself ran negative. New Hampshire's hazard profile runs genuinely favorable: real winter-storm/nor'easter risk and modest river-valley flood risk, but no meaningful hurricane, tornado, or major-earthquake exposure. New Hampshire is genuinely NOT one market: the southern tier's Boston-commuter identity, the Seacoast's maritime/Naval-Shipyard identity, the Lakes Region's Winnipesaukee-centered retirement identity, the White Mountains/North Country's outdoor-recreation economy alongside its real, disclosed mill-town population-decline story (Berlin, NH specifically), and the Monadnock/Upper Valley's Dartmouth-anchored rural character are each detailed in metrics.regions. New Hampshire carries a real, currently Republican-controlled state government (Governor Kelly Ayotte, a 16-8 Senate majority, a 222-178 House majority) alongside a genuinely competitive presidential history this record discloses as a real swing state rather than a one-sided lean: Harris won New Hampshire by just 2.8 points in 2024, her narrowest state win nationally, a substantial narrowing from Biden's 7.4-point 2020 margin.

Explore New Hampshire in depth

• Moving to New Hampshire
• Cost of Living in New Hampshire
• Housing Market in New Hampshire
• Buying a Home in New Hampshire
• Renting in New Hampshire
• Property Taxes in New Hampshire
• Income Taxes in New Hampshire
• Sales Tax in New Hampshire
• Homeowners Insurance in New Hampshire
• Flood & Hurricane Risk in New Hampshire
• Hurricane Preparedness in New Hampshire
• Climate & Weather in New Hampshire
• Jobs & Economy in New Hampshire
• Schools in New Hampshire
• Colleges & Universities in New Hampshire
• Crime & Safety in New Hampshire
• Healthcare in New Hampshire
• Traffic & Transportation in New Hampshire
• Airports & Getting Around New Hampshire
• Best Places to Live in New Hampshire
• Best Places to Retire in New Hampshire
• A Guide to New Hampshire's Regions
• Pros and Cons of Living in New Hampshire
• Who Should Move to New Hampshire?
• Who Should NOT Move to New Hampshire?
• Retiring in New Hampshire
• Retirement Communities in New Hampshire
• Living in New Hampshire for Families
• Living in New Hampshire for Remote Workers
• New Hampshire for College Students
• Snowbird Living in New Hampshire
• Military Relocation to New Hampshire
• Beaches & Coastal Living in New Hampshire
• Utilities & Everyday Costs in New Hampshire

The tradeoffs

Taxes

New Hampshire levies no state income tax (New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration, "Repeal of NH Interest and Dividends Tax Now in Effect" and Technical Information Release 2025-001; CBIZ, "New Hampshire Repeal of 3% Interest and Dividends Tax: Important Tax Filing Reminders"; McLane Middleton, "NH Interest and Dividends Tax Repealed as of January 1"; Albin, Randall and Bennett, "New Hampshire Ends Interest & Dividends Tax -- For Now: A Detailed Look at the Repeal and Potential Return"). The statewide average effective property tax rate is 1.93%, though this varies significantly by county (a verified county-level low/high range is not yet sourced). The median annual property tax bill statewide is $6,667.

Insurance

New Hampshire's homeowners insurance runs genuinely, substantially favorable relative to the national picture -- a real, disclosed $900-$1,611/year statewide spread depending on coverage assumptions, well below the national average -- reflecting the state's comparatively low hurricane, tornado, and earthquake exposure. A prospective mover to a Seacoast coastal property should still confirm current premium quotes directly given the real, disclosed 20%-50% coastal-storm-exposure premium found this pass.

Major cities we've researched in New Hampshire

• Manchester -- Best fits movers whose specific priorities align with Manchester's real strengths -- New Hampshire's genuine no-income-tax, no-sales-tax structure, a genuinely strong local job market, a substantial regional healthcare anchor, a real technology/innovation economy built on the historic Millyard, and direct highway and airport access to the greater Boston metro for career or travel needs -- and who take the city's real, honestly-disclosed challenges (housing and property-tax costs running above the national comparison figures, a below-national school-district graduation rate, and a real, current homelessness and opioid-crisis picture) seriously enough to research current, address-specific data directly before committing to a specific Manchester neighborhood.
• Nashua -- Best fits movers whose specific priorities align with Nashua's real strengths -- genuinely no tax on wages or investment income, genuinely low homeowners-insurance costs, a real, substantial and genuinely diversified economy (BAE Systems, healthcare, higher education) within practical commuting range of the greater Boston job market, and real, current access to Massachusetts General Hospital-affiliated healthcare -- and who take the city's real, honestly-disclosed tradeoffs seriously: a genuinely high property tax burden, above-national housing costs, crime running above New Hampshire's own low statewide baseline (even while beating national figures), and a rail-free, driving-or-bus-based Boston commute worth testing directly against a target job's actual location and schedule before committing to a specific Nashua address.
• Concord -- Best fits movers whose specific priorities align with Concord's real strengths -- New Hampshire's genuine no-income-tax, no-sales-tax structure, a career tied to New Hampshire state government or Concord Hospital Health System, genuine access to Boston via I-93 and Concord Coach Lines, or a preference for a smaller state-capital city with a favorable NATIONAL (if not statewide) crime comparison -- and who take the city's real, honestly-disclosed challenges (a genuinely high property tax burden even by New Hampshire's own high standards, above-national-median home prices, a crime rate running above the state's own low baseline, and a schools and income profile trailing the rest of New Hampshire) seriously enough to research current, address-specific data directly before committing to a specific Concord neighborhood.
• Portsmouth -- Best fits movers whose specific priorities align with Portsmouth's real strengths -- New Hampshire's genuinely complete no-income/no-sales-tax structure, a genuinely low crime rate, a top-tier New Hampshire school district, strong regional trauma-level healthcare access, or a career tied to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, the Pease International Tradeport's diverse employer base, or the city's genuine historic-tourism/hospitality economy -- and who can genuinely afford Portsmouth's real, substantially above-national housing and rental costs and are prepared for New Hampshire's genuinely high statewide property tax burden (even at Portsmouth's own somewhat more moderate cited rate).
• Derry -- Best fits movers whose specific priorities align with Derry's real strengths -- New Hampshire's genuinely favorable no-income-tax/no-sales-tax structure, genuinely low crime, genuinely low unemployment, and direct I-93/Boston-commuter access with a structured park-and-ride bus option -- particularly those relocating specifically from higher-cost eastern Massachusetts or greater Boston, for whom Derry's housing costs (while above the U.S. national median) may still read as a genuine improvement. Also a reasonable fit for remote workers who want New Hampshire's tax advantages and low crime without a daily Boston commute, and for anyone comfortable with Derry's real, distinctive Pinkerton Academy high-school arrangement. Movers should take the town's real, honestly-disclosed challenges seriously -- a genuinely high property tax burden, above-national housing costs, a flat population trend, and below-state-average K-8 academic proficiency -- and research current, address-specific data directly before committing to a specific Derry neighborhood.
• Salem -- Best fits movers drawn to a real, substantial local retail/commercial tax base, direct Boston commuter access via I-93 and the Boston Express coach, and New Hampshire's tax advantages, who can absorb genuinely expensive housing costs.
• Dover -- Best fits movers drawn to Dover's genuine historical identity, university-adjacent location near UNH/Durham, direct Boston rail access, and a genuinely favorable crime picture, who can absorb a genuinely high property tax rate.
• Rochester -- Best fits movers prioritizing affordability relative to New Hampshire's coastal Seacoast towns, families connected to Rochester's real local employer base, and those comfortable with a genuine mill-town-in-transition character.
• Londonderry -- Best fits movers drawn to direct local airport access, a genuine agricultural/orchard character alongside suburban amenities, and New Hampshire's tax advantages, who can absorb genuinely elevated housing costs and cost of living.
• Hudson -- Best fits families and commuters seeking a genuinely affordable-relative-to-New-Hampshire, low-tax town within easy reach of Nashua, Manchester, and the Boston commuter corridor, without needing a large local job market or on-site hospital.
• Merrimack -- Best fits families prioritizing strong schools and a real, favorable safety picture, and movers comfortable with New Hampshire's tax structure and a property tax rate that runs above even the state's own high median.
• Bedford -- Best fits families prioritizing top-tier schools and willing to pay a real, substantial housing premium, professionals who value direct airport proximity, and movers who can absorb New Hampshire's property-tax structure in exchange for no income or sales tax.
• Keene -- Best fits movers prioritizing walkable small-college-town character, below-national housing costs, and strong regional healthcare access, who can absorb New Hampshire's genuinely most extreme local property tax burden outside Charlestown.
• Laconia -- Best fits retirees and second-home buyers drawn to genuine lake access and Lakes Region character, outdoor-recreation enthusiasts, and those connected to Laconia's tourism, healthcare, or adapted-manufacturing economy.
• Hanover -- Best fits academics, healthcare professionals, and high earners connected to Dartmouth College or the broader Dartmouth-Hitchcock health system, families prioritizing top-tier public school performance, and buyers with substantial purchasing power for a genuinely premium New England college-town housing market.
• Lebanon -- Best fits healthcare professionals and workers connected to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center or Hypertherm, remote workers drawn to Upper Valley access without Hanover's premium price tag, and families seeking a more commercially-oriented Upper Valley base with genuine healthcare-access advantages.
• Exeter -- Best fits families connected to Phillips Exeter Academy (as students, faculty, or staff) or drawn to its financial-aid program, young professionals and families seeking a historic, walkable Seacoast-adjacent small town, and those prioritizing genuinely low crime and a strong local safety profile.
• Goffstown -- Best fits families and young professionals who want direct, short-commute access to Manchester's jobs and amenities without living in the city itself, plus movers drawn to Saint Anselm College's presence and Goffstown's genuine small-town character.
• Milford -- Best fits families and small-town-living seekers drawn to Milford's genuine historic character, the Milford Oval town common, and Monadnock-region setting, within commuting range of Nashua and Manchester.
• Windham -- Best fits affluent families and high-earning professionals commuting to Boston or Manchester who prioritize strong schools, lakefront access, and a genuinely upscale small-town character, and who can absorb Windham's substantial housing-price premium.
• Hampton -- Best fits beach-lovers, retirees, and families drawn to New Hampshire's primary beach-town identity, Winnacunnet's regional high school, and a comparatively favorable property tax rate relative to the rest of the state.
• Claremont -- Best fits retirees and value-focused movers drawn to genuinely affordable Upper Valley housing and New Hampshire's real tax advantages, and those interested in a real, ongoing small-city revitalization story centered on the arts and downtown redevelopment.
• Somersworth -- Best fits families and remote workers drawn to Somersworth's genuinely distinctive community identity and its real, ongoing mill-district revitalization, and those prioritizing New Hampshire's Seacoast-region proximity and real tax advantages over the very lowest local crime rate.
• Peterborough -- Best fits retirees drawn to Peterborough's genuinely elevated senior population share, low crime, and small-town New England character, and families and mountain/outdoor-recreation lovers drawn to its strong schools and Monadnock-region setting.
• Wolfeboro -- Best fits retirees and second-home/luxury buyers drawn to genuine lakefront resort-town character and Wolfeboro's own historic identity, and outdoor-recreation enthusiasts drawn to Lake Winnipesaukee and Lake Wentworth access.
• Meredith -- Best fits retirees and second-home/luxury buyers drawn to genuine Lake Winnipesaukee frontage and Meredith's upscale resort character, and outdoor-recreation enthusiasts drawn to the town's multi-lake geography.
• Conway -- Best fits retirees and second-home buyers drawn to Conway/North Conway's real Mount Washington Valley identity and genuinely older population profile, plus mountain-lovers and outdoor-recreation seekers drawn to Cranmore Mountain and the White Mountain National Forest.
• Littleton -- Best fits retirees drawn to Littleton's genuinely above-threshold senior population share and its distinctive local trauma-center healthcare access, plus small-town-living seekers drawn to its real, revitalizing historic Main Street downtown.
• Berlin -- Best fits buyers prioritizing affordability above most other factors, and outdoor-recreation enthusiasts drawn to Berlin's real, growing ATV/OHRV trail network and Presidential Rail Trail access.
• Plymouth -- Best fits young professionals and PSU-adjacent movers drawn to Plymouth's real college-town economy and genuinely low unemployment rate, plus mountain-lovers drawn to its White-Mountains-gateway location and small-town-living seekers valuing its regional-hub role.
• Durham -- Best fits young professionals and recent graduates drawn to a genuine college-town environment and UNH's own institutional resources, and first-time homebuyers willing to weigh Durham's real, disclosed housing-cost pressure against its strong schools and favorable crime profile.
• Newmarket -- Best fits small-town-living seekers drawn to a genuine, walkable historic mill-district redevelopment and remote workers who have separately, honestly budgeted for Newmarket's real, disclosed above-average property tax rate.
• Raymond -- Best fits affordability-focused movers and small-town-living seekers drawn to Raymond's genuinely rural, bedroom-community character and real, favorable crime profile, who have separately, honestly budgeted for a longer commute and an above-median property tax rate.
• Pelham -- Best fits families and remote workers drawn to Pelham's genuine Massachusetts-border tax and commute advantages, an above-average school district, and a low-density suburban housing stock, who have separately, honestly budgeted for genuinely expensive home prices.
• Amherst -- Best fits families prioritizing a real, top-ranked school district and a shared high school with genuine structural continuity, and luxury/move-up buyers drawn to Amherst's genuinely affluent, established, high-homeownership community character.
• Tilton -- Best fits retirees and value-focused buyers, including first-time homebuyers, drawn to genuinely more affordable Lakes Region housing, direct I-93 highway access, and proximity to Lake Winnisquam and Lake Winnipesaukee without a lakefront-resort price premium.
• Gilford -- Best fits families drawn to Gilford's real, above-average school performance, and outdoor-recreation enthusiasts drawn to the county-owned Gunstock Mountain Resort and dual Winnipesaukee/Winnisquam lake access.
• Jaffrey -- Best fits outdoor-recreation enthusiasts and mountain lovers drawn to Mount Monadnock's genuine, world-class hiking draw directly in town, and small-town-living movers prioritizing low crime and New Hampshire's real tax advantages over the very lowest property tax rate.
• Franklin -- Best fits affordability-focused movers and retirees drawn to Franklin's genuinely lower housing costs and favorable property tax rate, and outdoor-recreation enthusiasts drawn to Mill City Park's distinctive whitewater-park redevelopment, who have separately, honestly weighed Franklin's real, disclosed economic-transition profile and mixed crime signal.
• Lincoln -- Best fits movers and remote workers drawn to genuine, year-round White Mountains outdoor recreation and comfortable with a small, seasonal, tourism-driven local economy and New Hampshire's real property-tax tradeoff for its no-income-tax structure.
• Woodstock -- Best fits movers drawn to a genuinely small, White Mountains tourism-town setting immediately adjacent to Lincoln and Loon Mountain Resort, comfortable confirming current property-tax and job-market specifics directly given this record's disclosed data gaps.
• Jackson -- Best fits movers and Nordic-skiing enthusiasts drawn to a genuinely small, picturesque White Mountains village with a distinct cross-country-ski identity, comfortable with a seasonal, tourism-driven local economy and New Hampshire's real property-tax tradeoff for its no-income-tax structure.
• Bethlehem -- Best fits movers and retirees drawn to a genuinely small, historic White Mountains hilltop town with a real, walkable Main Street arts community and cooler-than-typical summer temperatures, comfortable confirming current mill-rate and job-market specifics directly given this record's disclosed data gaps.
• Lancaster -- Best fits budget-conscious movers prioritizing a meaningfully affordable North Country housing market and New Hampshire's no-income-tax structure, comfortable with a small, car-dependent county-seat town and Coos County's real, documented economic-distress designation.
• Gorham -- Best fits movers prioritizing genuine, year-round mountain and outdoor-recreation access -- hiking, Mount Washington, the Appalachian Trail -- who are comfortable with a small, tourism-dependent North Country town and a genuinely high local property tax rate.
• Colebrook -- Best fits budget-conscious movers prioritizing genuine remoteness, low housing costs, and New Hampshire's no-income-tax structure, comfortable with a very small, car-dependent, declining far North Country town and needing to travel for anything beyond basic critical-access healthcare.
• Walpole -- Best fits movers prioritizing a real, historic New England village setting with an active agricultural community and New Hampshire's no-income-tax structure, comfortable with genuinely higher and currently appreciating housing costs and Cheshire County's high property-tax-rate context.
• New London -- Best fits movers prioritizing a scenic, small-college-town setting with mountain and lake access, comfortable with genuinely elevated home prices and New Hampshire's real property-tax burden in exchange for no state income tax.
• Newport -- Best fits budget-conscious movers who want New Hampshire's real tax advantages and a small, historic New England town setting without the Upper Valley's academic-town home prices, and who are comfortable confirming current job-market data directly.
• Moultonborough -- Best fits affluent buyers, retirees, and second-home owners drawn to a genuine Lake Winnipesaukee lakefront setting and New Hampshire's real tax advantages, comfortable with substantially elevated home prices and a resort-town rather than commuter-town job market.