Moving to New Hampshire: A Town-Picking Guide

Many people who end up moving to New Hampshire start the same way: a ski trip, a summer week on a lake, a fall drive, and then a quiet question on the ride home about what it would be like to live there. The state is small, but its towns are very different from one another. A condo near the Nashua line, a farmhouse in the Monadnock hills and a cottage near the Seacoast are three very different lives. This guide walks through how to pick a town by region, what to think about before you commit, and the local real estate agents and movers in our directory who can help.

This is a travel guide, not financial or legal advice. Taxes, school assignments and zoning change, and you should confirm anything that matters to your decision with the town office, the state, or a licensed professional.

New Hampshire at a glance

New Hampshire had 1,377,529 residents at the 2020 census. Most of them live in the southern third of the state, along the Merrimack River and toward the Massachusetts border. The north is far less populated, and much of it is national forest.

The state is known for having no general sales tax and no broad-based tax on wage income. Local government is funded largely through property taxes, which are set town by town. That trade-off is the single most important money question to research when you compare towns: two places a few miles apart can have very different rates.

Local government is also unusually local. Many towns still run on the town meeting form of government, where residents vote directly on budgets and articles. If you want a say in how your town works, New Hampshire gives you one.

Step one: decide what kind of day you want

Before you look at listings, picture an ordinary Tuesday. How far is the drive to work, and is it to a New Hampshire city or into Massachusetts? Do you want a walkable downtown, or land and quiet? Is being near a hospital, an airport, or a ski area a priority? Your answers will narrow the map faster than any ranking.

A useful rule of thumb: the further north and west you go, the more space and scenery you get and the longer the drives become. The further south and east, the more jobs, shopping and services, and the more traffic.

The Merrimack Valley: cities and commuter towns

The Merrimack Valley holds the state's three largest cities. Manchester, the largest, counted 115,644 residents in 2020. Nashua, near the Massachusetts border, counted 91,322. Concord, the state capital, counted 43,976.

Nashua and the border towns. Nashua and neighbors such as Hudson, Salem and Windham are the natural pick for anyone who works along Route 3 or I-93 into Massachusetts. Nashua has a real downtown on Main Street, a large riverside park at Mine Falls, and every kind of housing from mill-building apartments to suburban neighborhoods. In Nashua, Purple Finch Properties is a southern New Hampshire real estate firm, and in Salem, Lamacchia Realty has an office serving the border area.

Manchester and its suburbs. Manchester has the airport, a busy downtown on Elm Street, the Currier Museum of Art and the old Amoskeag Millyard. Suburbs such as Bedford, Hooksett and Londonderry offer more space within a short drive of the city.

Concord. The capital is smaller and calmer, with a compact Main Street, the gold-domed State House, and quick access to I-89 toward the Upper Valley and I-93 toward the Lakes. In Concord, Keeler Family Realtors and Ruedig Realty both work the capital area.

The Seacoast: small coast, big demand

New Hampshire has the shortest ocean coastline of any U.S. coastal state, about 18 miles, and the towns near it are among the most sought after in the state. Portsmouth is the hub, with a historic downtown, restaurants and a working harbor. Dover, Exeter, Durham, Hampton and Rye each have a different feel: Dover is a city on the Cochecho River, Exeter is a classic New England town with a private academy at its center, and Durham is home to the University of New Hampshire.

Expect strong competition for housing near the coast. The trade-off is easy access to beaches, Boston and Maine.

The Lakes Region: water and four seasons

Around Lake Winnipesaukee, Squam Lake and the smaller lakes, many homes started as summer camps. Towns such as Meredith, Wolfeboro, Laconia and Gilford have year-round communities, but they change character in summer when seasonal residents and visitors arrive. If you are considering a lake house as a full-time home, ask about winter road access, heating, water and septic, and whether the property was built for year-round use. Lakes Region Real Estate in Meredith focuses on Lake Winnipesaukee and waterfront property.

The Monadnock Region and the Upper Valley

Southwest New Hampshire is a region of hill towns, farms and village greens around Mount Monadnock. Keene is its small city, with a wide Main Street and a college. Towns such as Peterborough, Jaffrey and Fitzwilliam offer a quieter life within reach of Keene.

Along the Connecticut River, the Upper Valley centers on Hanover, home of Dartmouth College, and Lebanon. Many residents cross the river to work in Vermont and back again.

The White Mountains and the North Country

Living in the mountains means trails out the back door and real winters. North Conway, Lincoln, Littleton and Plymouth are the main service towns. Some homes here are second homes or short-term rentals, which can affect year-round housing supply. Further north, in Coos County, towns are smaller and farther apart, and land is more affordable.

A practical checklist before you choose

1. Compare property tax rates for each town on your shortlist. The state publishes rates by town each year.

2. Drive the commute at rush hour, not on a Sunday.

3. Visit in late winter or mud season, not only in summer or foliage season. If you like a town in March and April, you will like it the rest of the year.

4. Ask about utilities and services: town water and sewer or well and septic, trash pickup or a transfer station, internet providers.

5. Check schools directly with the school district, since many towns share regional districts.

6. Talk to a local agent who works the specific towns you are considering, not just the state.

Getting your things here

Spring is a busy time to move, and it is also mud season in much of the state, which can make unpaved driveways and back roads soft. Book movers early and ask whether they handle narrow or steep driveways. In Londonderry, Trend Moving and Storage is a professional moving and storage company serving New Hampshire.

FAQ

Does New Hampshire have a sales tax?

New Hampshire has no general sales tax. It does tax some specific items, such as meals and rooms, and local property taxes are a major cost of living. Check current rules with the state Department of Revenue Administration.

What is the largest city in New Hampshire?

Manchester, with 115,644 residents at the 2020 census, followed by Nashua.

What is the best part of New Hampshire to live in?

It depends on what you want. The Merrimack Valley suits commuters and city lovers, the Seacoast suits people who want the ocean and a lively downtown, and the Lakes, Monadnock and White Mountains suit people who want space and the outdoors.

When is the best time to look at houses?

Visit at least once outside of summer and foliage season. Late winter and spring show you how a town handles snow, mud and quiet months.

Is New Hampshire close to Boston?

Southern towns such as Nashua and Salem sit on the Massachusetts border, and many residents commute toward the Boston area. Test the drive yourself at rush hour before you commit.

Sources

• New Hampshire, Wikipedia (2020 census population; taxation; town meeting): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hampshire
• Manchester, Nashua and Concord, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (2020 census populations): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester,_New_Hampshire ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashua,_New_Hampshire ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concord,_New_Hampshire
• New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration, property tax rates by municipality: https://www.revenue.nh.gov/
• Business websites: keelerfamily.com, ruedigrealty.com, purplefinchprop.com, lamacchiarealty.com, trendmoving.com, lakesregionrealestate.com
• New Hampshire, Wikipedia (shortest ocean coastline of any coastal state, 18 miles): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hampshire