New Hampshireno income tax, 2nd highest property tax, median home $440K
D+2 · Low tax burden · COL index 114
0%
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New Hampshire has no income tax on wages and no sales tax, and its interest-and-dividends tax was repealed at the start of 2025.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
State Profile
Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
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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
Property Tax
~$8,184/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Estate Tax
Inheritance Tax
Capital Gains
Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
▾
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)
Mortgages 90+ Days Late
FHFA, latest quarter
Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Below national avg (~$1,900/yr)
Flood Insurance
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
Homes in HOAs
Moderate HOA presence (Census ACS 2024)
Zoning Restrictiveness
Middle of the pack (Wharton WRLURI 2018)
Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb)
No statewide STR law; local control.
Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
▾
Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
Violent Crime Rate
Well below national avg (~380)
Property Crime Rate
Below national avg (~2,100)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Registered Sex Offenders
Below the state median (SafeHome 2025)
Homeless Population
Moderate homelessness rate; 26% unsheltered (HUD 2024 PIT)
More on New Hampshire
Healthcare#6 of 50▾
Sources: Commonwealth Fund 2023 · KFF · CDC
State Healthcare Rank
Top tier
Life Expectancy
Above national avg (76.4)
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
EducationK-12 #5 of 50▾
Sources: Education Week 2023 · NCES · state statutes (school choice)
College Completion Rate
College Scorecard, in-state institutions (mean)
Avg College Cost of Attendance
College Scorecard 2024
K-12 Quality Rank
Top 10 nationally
School Choice / Vouchers
HS Graduation Rate
Above national avg (~87%)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Near national avg (~16)
Childcare$1,450/mo infant care▾
Sources: Child Care Aware · Census ACS 2022
Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Utilities & Daily Costs$190/mo energy▾
Sources: EIA (electricity, weekly gas) · USDA · eGRID 2022
Grid Carbon Intensity
Cleaner than US average (~820)
Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Electricity Rate
Near national avg (13¢)
Energy Mix
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Airports & Travel40+ nonstop routes▾
Sources: FAA · BTS
Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Regional airport. Connections via hub
Culture & Lifestyle60% urban▾
Sources: Census CBP · Brewers Association 2024 · Pollstar · AANR/TNS · AGA 2024
Urban Population
Mix of urban and rural
Restaurant Density
Religious Congregations
Pro Sports Teams
NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS
Major Venues
Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)
Craft Breweries
6.4/100K residents: Top tier
Craft Distilleries
Live Music
Craft beer trail strong; Tupelo Music Hall; Market Square Day; high brewery per capita
Transportation$1,070/yr car insurance▾
Sources: NHTSA FARS · FCC · insurance rate surveys 2024 · IIHS helmet laws 2026
Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Below national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Work From Home
State residents who primarily work from home (ACS)
Social & Legal$7.25/hr minimum wage▾
Sources: Guttmacher · KFF · NCSL · state statutes 2026
Formal Volunteering Rate
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023 (US ~28%)
Votes in Local Elections
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023
Abortion Access
24-week limit with exceptions
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Gambling
State Lottery
No casinos but very active lottery (one of the first modern state lotteries). Sports betting launched 2019.
Age of Consent
Sex Education
No state sex ed mandate
Medically Accurate Required
Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs
Saco River naturist tradition · NH Naturists social group
Environment & ClimateAQI 27▾
Sources: EPA AQI · NOAA · FEMA National Risk Index
Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Excellent (national avg ~38)
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun LawsD+2 · gun law grade F▾
Sources: OpenElections 2024 · Giffords 2025 · state statutes
2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Carry in Bars
Carry in Restaurants
Carry in Places of Worship
No state prohibition; posting governs.
Gambling
Jobs & Economy2.6% unemployment▾
Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS union membership 2025 · Census ACS
Job Openings Rate (JOLTS)
Near US average (~4.5%)
Quits Rate (JOLTS)
Workers quit when they can find better; BLS 2024 average
Job Market
+1.2% job growth · 2.6% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Strong tech presence
Healthcare Jobs
Remote Work
High remote work culture
Median Household Income
Union Membership
Below-average union presence (BLS 2025)
Business Climate#6 of 50▾
Sources: Tax Foundation · state filings
Corporate Income Tax
LLC Formation Fee
LLC Annual Fee
Business Climate Rank
Top-10 nationally (Tax Foundation SBTCI 2024)
Daily Life$3.24/gal gas▾
Sources: American Pyrotechnics Association · state statutes 2026 · IIHS
Gas Price (Regular)
Below avg (-0.06 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Consumer fireworks legal; 21+ for sky-launched
Motorcycle Helmet Law
No helmet requirement (IIHS 2026)
Weather & Natural Risks82°F avg July▾
Sources: NOAA · NWS Storm Prediction Center · FEMA NRI
Winter Severity
Avg January high: 31°F
Summer Heat
Moderate summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Natural Hazards21/100 danger▾
Sources: USGS · CDC · USDA APHIS · NOAA · FEMA NRI 2023
Venomous Snakes
Spider Hazard
Hurricane Risk
Tornado Risk
Wildfire Risk
Earthquake Risk
Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗
Veteran Benefits77/100 veteran-friendly▾
Sources: VA.gov · Military.com state guide · Tax Foundation
Veteran-Friendly Score
8.2% of state population are veterans
Property Tax Exemption
Veteran property tax credit
Military Retirement Pay
Active Duty Pay
VA Facilities Access
Notable Benefits
Explore New Hampshire counties
Income, housing, poverty, healthcare, ranked by county
See your full cost of living in New Hampshire
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance: all estimated.
Compare Similar States
NH vs CT
New Hampshire vs Connecticut
COL 114 vs 114 · No vs 6.99% income tax
Full comparison →
NH vs RI
New Hampshire vs Rhode Island
COL 114 vs 114 · No vs 5.99% income tax
Full comparison →
NH vs MD
New Hampshire vs Maryland
COL 114 vs 116 · No vs 6.5% income tax
Full comparison →
NH vs VT
New Hampshire vs Vermont
COL 114 vs 111 · No vs 8.75% income tax
Full comparison →
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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.