The cost of living in New Hampshire

Is New Hampshire cheaper to live in?

It depends on your situation. New Hampshire has no general sales tax and no broad-based tax on wages, but local services are funded largely through property taxes. That is not a dollar-for-dollar swap for another state’s taxes, so compare the actual property tax bill with your income, spending and other obligations.

The useful comparison is your total yearly cost in a specific town. Two homes at the same price, fifteen minutes apart, can carry quite different tax bills, heating costs and driving distances.

Which costs should I price before I commit?

• Mortgage or rent: the largest cost, and the one that varies most by region and by distance from the Massachusetts line.
• Property tax: set locally each year. Ask the assessing office for the current rate and the assessed value of the specific property. See how property taxes work.
• Heating: oil, propane, natural gas, electricity and wood all appear here, and the same size house can cost very differently to heat. See heating a New Hampshire home.
• Electricity: supply and delivery are billed separately, and you can choose a supplier in much of the state.
• Vehicles and fuel: much of New Hampshire is car-dependent. Registration includes a local permit fee based on the vehicle.
• Water, septic and trash: town water and sewer in larger communities; a private well, septic and a transfer-station permit in much of the rest.
• Insurance: premiums reflect the building, its systems and its location. See home insurance questions to ask.

How does location change the numbers?

Prices and travel costs vary within each region. A Seacoast address does not guarantee a short commute, and a lower price does not guarantee a lower budget.

Try this: for the two or three towns on your short list, list every trip you make in a normal week and add up the mileage. Many people find that much of the housing savings in a farther-out town is spent on the road. Compare two towns to see them side by side.

Cost figures you find online for a New Hampshire town reflect a past period. Use them for orientation and check current rates with the town and your providers.

Where can I find current numbers?

• Town assessing office: the current tax rate and the assessed value. Our property tax calculator is a starting point.
• NH Department of Energy: statewide average prices for heating oil, propane and other fuels.
• NH Public Utilities Commission: which utility serves an address and how supplier choice works.
• Local fuel dealers: delivery pricing and budget plans.
• Your insurance agent: a quote on the actual property.