New Hampshireno income tax, 2nd highest property tax, median home $440K

D+2 · Low tax burden · COL index 114

Income Tax

167

Violent Crime / 100K

79.7

Life Expectancy

$440K

Median Home

$1,450

Childcare / Mo

New Hampshire in plain English

Worth knowing before you move to New Hampshire

New Hampshire has no income tax on wages and no sales tax, and its interest-and-dividends tax was repealed at the start of 2025. It pays for that with the highest property taxes in the country relative to income, set town by town. The southern tier commutes to Boston; the North Country is a different economy. The state does not tax Social Security or pensions.

What New Hampshire taxes, and what it doesn't

New Hampshire has no state income tax. Wages, retirement withdrawals and investment income are untouched at the state level, which puts it in a group of 9 states with Alaska, Florida, Nevada and 5 others.

Property tax runs 1.86% of home value a year, roughly $8,184 on the state's median home of $440K. The national effective rate is about 1.10%, and New Hampshire has the 2nd highest rate of the 50 states.

There is no sales tax in New Hampshire.

For retirees: Social Security benefits are not taxed, pension income is fully exempt, and there is no estate or inheritance tax.

Housing and the cost of living in New Hampshire

New Hampshire's cost of living index is 114, where 100 is the national average; that is the 11th most expensive of the 50 states.

The median home costs $440K, 45% above the national figure and the 11th highest among the states. A two-bedroom rents for about $1,750 a month.

Carrying costs matter as much as the price: home insurance averages $950 a year, flood coverage adds about $600 where it is needed, car insurance runs $1,070.

Budget $190 a month for electricity and gas, $600 a month in groceries for two, $1,450 a month for full-time infant care.

Safety, health and schools

Violent crime is 167 incidents per 100,000 residents in the FBI's 2023 Crime Data Explorer figures, below the median state (387); New Hampshire is the 2nd safest of the 50 by that measure. Property crime is 1,150 per 100,000.

Life expectancy is 79.7 years (County Health Rankings 2024). 6.3% of residents have no health insurance, and the state has expanded Medicaid. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks New Hampshire's health system 6th of 50.

Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks K-12 schools 5th in the country, and the state runs a school-choice voucher program.

Politics, guns and social policy

Politically, New Hampshire is a swing state decided by Harris by 2 points in 2024.

On guns, no permit is required to carry a concealed handgun, and Giffords grades the state's gun laws F.

Abortion is legal with limits. Marijuana is legal for adults. New Hampshire is not a right-to-work state, and the minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.

Climate, risk and getting around

Natural disaster risk is low. The main hazards are blizzard, flood. Annual average air quality index is 27 (under 50 is good).

New Hampshire has no top-25 hub airport, with about 40 nonstop destinations from its busiest airport.

Written from the figures on this page. Rankings compare the 50 states. Sources and years are listed with each figure below.

Largest counties in New Hampshire

Hillsborough County Rockingham County Merrimack County Strafford County Grafton County Cheshire County Belknap County Carroll County Sullivan County Coos County All New Hampshire counties →

Ranked lists

State Profile

83/100

New Hampshire will change its laws. We'll email you when it does.

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Taxes

Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026

▾

Income Tax

Interest & dividend tax fully eliminated Jan 2025

None

Property Tax

~$8,184/yr on median home

1.86% / yr

Sales Tax

None

Social Security

Exempt

Pension / IRA

Fully Exempt

Estate Tax

None

Inheritance Tax

None

Capital Gains

Not taxed

Housing & Cost of Living

Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)

▾

Price Level vs US (BEA)

Near US average (100)

104.2

Mortgages 90+ Days Late

FHFA, latest quarter

0.6%

Cost of Living Index

National avg = 100

114

Median Home Price

$440,000

Median Rent (2BR)

$1,750/mo

Home Insurance

Below national avg (~$1,900/yr)

$950/yr

Flood Insurance

$600/yr

Homestead Exemption

Home equity protected from creditors

$100,000

Asset Protection

Moderate

Homes in HOAs

Moderate HOA presence (Census ACS 2024)

14.8%

Zoning Restrictiveness

Middle of the pack (Wharton WRLURI 2018)

Average

Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb)

No statewide STR law; local control.

Local Control

Crime & Safety

Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024

▾

Violent Crime Rate

Well below national avg (~380)

167 / 100K

Property Crime Rate

Below national avg (~2,100)

1,150 / 100K

Traffic Fatality Rate

9 / 100K

Registered Sex Offenders

Below the state median (SafeHome 2025)

189 / 100K

Homeless Population

Moderate homelessness rate — 26% unsheltered (HUD 2024 PIT)

159 / 100K

Healthcare

Sources: Commonwealth Fund 2023 · KFF · CDC

▾

State Healthcare Rank

Top tier

#6 of 50

Life Expectancy

Above national avg (76.4)

79.7 yrs

Medicaid Expansion

Expanded

Uninsured Rate

6.3%

Education

Sources: Education Week 2023 · NCES · state statutes (school choice)

▾

College Completion Rate

College Scorecard, in-state institutions (mean)

58%

Avg College Cost of Attendance

College Scorecard 2024

$37,305/yr

K-12 Quality Rank

Top 10 nationally

#5 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Available

HS Graduation Rate

Above national avg (~87%)

91.0%

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Near national avg (~16)

12.2 students/teacher

Childcare

Sources: Child Care Aware · Census ACS 2022

▾

Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)

$1,450/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

Sources: EIA (electricity, weekly gas) · USDA · eGRID 2022

▾

Grid Carbon Intensity

Cleaner than US average (~820)

303 lb CO₂/MWh

Avg Monthly Energy Bill

$190/mo

Electricity Rate

Near national avg (13¢)

19.0¢/kWh

Energy Mix

⚡ 14% renewable · ☀ 0% solar · 💨 3% wind

Avg Monthly Groceries

2-person household, moderate spending

$600/mo

Road Quality Rank

#21 of 50

Airports & Travel

Sources: FAA · BTS

▾

Nonstop Destinations

From state's primary airport

40+ routes

Major Hub Airport

Regional airport — connections via hub

Culture & Lifestyle

Sources: Census CBP · Brewers Association 2024 · Pollstar · AANR/TNS · AGA 2024

▾

Urban Population

Mix of urban and rural

60% urban

Restaurant Density

470/100K

Religious Congregations

150/100K

Pro Sports Teams

NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS

None

Major Venues

Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)

2 venues

Craft Breweries

6.4/100K residents — Top tier

90 breweries

Craft Distilleries

28 distilleries

Live Music

Craft beer trail strong; Tupelo Music Hall; Market Square Day; high brewery per capita

Decent

Transportation

Sources: NHTSA FARS · FCC · insurance rate surveys 2024 · IIHS helmet laws 2026

▾

Car Insurance (Avg Annual)

Below national avg

$1,070

Traffic Fatality Rate

9 / 100K

Broadband Access

88% of households

Work From Home

State residents who primarily work from home (ACS)

95,320 workers

Social & Legal

Sources: Guttmacher · KFF · NCSL · state statutes 2026

▾

Formal Volunteering Rate

AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023 (US ~28%)

29.6%

Votes in Local Elections

AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023

52.2%

Abortion Access

24-week limit with exceptions

Limited

LGBTQ+ Protections

Moderate

Marijuana

Recreational

Minimum Wage

$7.25/hr

Right to Work

Sports Betting

Legal

Casino Gambling

No casinos

Online Gambling

Illegal

State Lottery

No casinos but very active lottery (one of the first modern state lotteries). Sports betting launched 2019.

Yes

Age of Consent

Sex Education

No state sex ed mandate

Comprehensive

Medically Accurate Required

Yes

Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs

Saco River naturist tradition · NH Naturists social group

One club

Environment & Climate

Sources: EPA AQI · NOAA · FEMA National Risk Index

▾

Air Quality (Annual AQI)

Excellent (national avg ~38)

Natural Disaster Risk

Low

Primary Hazards

blizzardflood

Politics & Gun Laws

Sources: OpenElections 2024 · Giffords 2025 · state statutes

▾

2024 Presidential Vote

D+2

Gun Laws

Gun ControlF

2A LibertyA+

Carry Permit

No permit required

Purchase Permit Required

Carry in Bars

Allowed

Carry in Restaurants

Allowed

Carry in Places of Worship

No state prohibition; posting governs.

Allowed

Gambling

Legal

Jobs & Economy

Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS union membership 2025 · Census ACS

▾

Job Openings Rate (JOLTS)

Near US average (~4.5%)

5.0%

Quits Rate (JOLTS)

Workers quit when they can find better; BLS 2024 average

1.9%

Job Market

+1.2% job growth · 2.6% unemployment

Strong

Top Industries

HealthcareFinanceTechnology

Tech Jobs

Strong tech presence

#14 of 50

Healthcare Jobs

#10 of 50

Remote Work

High remote work culture

25% of workers

Median Household Income

$101,292

Union Membership

Below-average union presence (BLS 2025)

8.9% of workers

Business Climate

Sources: Tax Foundation · state filings

▾

Corporate Income Tax

7.5%

LLC Formation Fee

$100 one-time

LLC Annual Fee

$100/yr

Business Climate Rank

Top-10 nationally (Tax Foundation SBTCI 2024)

#6 of 50

Daily Life

Sources: American Pyrotechnics Association · state statutes 2026 · IIHS

▾

Gas Price (Regular)

Below avg (-0.06 vs national avg)

$3.24/gal

Consumer Fireworks

Consumer fireworks legal; 21+ for sky-launched

Legal

Motorcycle Helmet Law

No helmet requirement (IIHS 2026)

No Requirement

Weather & Natural Risks

Sources: NOAA · NWS Storm Prediction Center · FEMA NRI

▾

Winter Severity

Avg January high: 31°F

Cold

Summer Heat

Moderate summers

82°F avg July

Annual Rainfall

44" / yr

Tornado Risk

Very Low

Hurricane Risk

Low

Wildfire Risk

Low

Flood Risk

Low

Natural Hazards

Sources: USGS · CDC · USDA APHIS · NOAA · FEMA NRI 2023

▾

21LOW danger

EEE mosquito zoneLyme diseaseNor'easters

Venomous Snakes

Minimal

Spider Hazard

Minimal

Hurricane Risk

Moderate

Tornado Risk

Minimal

Wildfire Risk

Low

Earthquake Risk

Low

Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗

Veteran Benefits

Sources: VA.gov · Military.com state guide · Tax Foundation

▾

Veteran-Friendly Score

8.2% of state population are veterans

77/100

Property Tax Exemption

Veteran property tax credit

Partial

Military Retirement Pay

Tax Exempt

Active Duty Pay

Tax Exempt

VA Facilities Access

Adequate

Notable Benefits

No income tax (wages/retirement); military pay effectively fully exempt

Explore New Hampshire counties

Income, housing, poverty, healthcare — ranked by county

Explore Counties

See your full cost of living in New Hampshire

Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance — all estimated.

Calculate

Compare Similar States

NH vs CT

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New Hampshire vs Rhode Island

COL 114 vs 114 · No vs 5.99% income tax

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NH vs MD

New Hampshire vs Maryland

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NH vs VT

New Hampshire vs Vermont

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Trending in New Hampshire

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AP Decision Notes: What to expect in New Hampshire’s state primary - AP News

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What Residents Say

Annual property tax bill from owning a median priced home ...

NH local here. Property valued at ~$600k, tax burden ~$15k. Half due in July and the rest in December. No state income or sales taxes are nice ......

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would you be willing to see an increase in population if ...

This is purely a hypothetical, I'm just trying to get a sense for what people are thinking and feeling. Feel free to explain why this hypothetical ......

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r/newhampshire - NH 48th in overall tax burden

The other New England states are in the highest 12. Blue states average position is 14.74, red states average position is 32.10....

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Moving from NYC suburbs to Lebanon area?

Look at the column labeled total tax rate. That's how many dollars you will pay in property taxes, per year, per $1,000 of valuation. Compare ......

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New Hampshire Has an Upside Down Government

Take a rural community, with lower cost of living and property tax value. They means they don't earn as much money because not as much is ......

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moving BACK to new england advice wanted...

NH has high property taxes and high utility costs. One of the top 3 in the country. I would maybe look into RI or CT....

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NH Business: Granite Staters with lowest incomes have ...

New Hampshire effective tax rates. Bottom 20% of earners: 12.65% Middle 60% earners: 7.1% Top 1%: 3% Source: prices are about to go up in NH....

reddit.com ↗

Lets talk about housing, NH : r/newhampshire

Lets talk about ending real estate tax breaks for folks with excess land. Lets talk about easing local zoning ordinances in sensible ways. Lets ......

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Good things about living in NH : r/newhampshire

(1) Beautiful scenery. (2) Seacoast and mountains on the same state. (3) Mild summers. (4) No state income tax. (5) No sales tax....

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New Hampshire home prices still at all-time high, ...

Does anyone know where I should look for affordable apartment listings? Thanks in advance! I can't wait to move here and take up some of your ......

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New Hampshire will change its laws. We'll email you when it does.

One email when New Hampshire changes a tax, gun, cannabis or abortion law. Unsubscribe in one click.

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Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund 2023; life expectancy from County Health Rankings 2024. Education: Education Week 2023. Housing: Zillow monthly index and Census ACS 2022. Insurance: rate surveys 2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.