New Hampshire
For Americans thinking of retiring to New Hampshire from another state, or comparing it with a move abroad. Prices in New Hampshire run at 104.2 against a US average of 100, with housing at 114.9. We cover New Hampshire's 10 counties on the map below, each with a page of its own, and no town in depth yet.
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (SARPP, line codes 1-5), 2024-12-31
New Hampshire is not compared with a town — compare two towns instead. Why?
New Hampshire, a state of the United States, is not the same kind of thing as a town: it spans many counties and very different places. Putting a state-wide average beside one town's own figures produces a number that looks like an answer and describes nothing a person would experience — so the engine refuses that pairing rather than rendering it thinly. A town against another town, here or abroad, is like-for-like. Build a comparison →
Research in progress. Our quality assessment of the official sources for the United States is not finished yet. Every figure published here is sourced and dated.
New Hampshire's 10 counties
Every county in New Hampshire on its own figures, against every US county that has the same figure. Pick a county on the map or in the list.
- Lowest fifth of US counties
- Middle fifth
- Highest fifth (darker = a larger share 65+)
- No figure
- At least one hospital rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- None in the county
- No figure
- Bottom fifth of US counties
- Middle fifth
- Top fifth (darker = cheaper)
- No figure
- Bottom fifth of US counties
- Middle fifth
- Top fifth (darker = lower)
- No figure
- Bottom fifth of US counties
- Middle fifth
- Top fifth (darker = lower)
- No figure
- Bottom fifth of US counties
- Middle fifth
- Top fifth (darker = more)
- No figure
- Bottom fifth of US counties
- Middle fifth
- Top fifth (darker = lower)
- No figure
Outlines: US Census Bureau, cartographic boundary files (2024). A fifth is among every US county holding the figure, so a color means the same thing in every state.
All 10 counties, with their figures
-
Belknap County
65,147 residents, 18,345 aged 65 or older (28.2 %)
- Cost of living
- 100.5 Cheaper than 8 % of the other 3,142 US counties Its area's figure: every county in the area shares it. New Hampshire nonmetropolitan portion, US = 100
- Taxes on a retired couple
- USD $4,597 Lower than 22 % of the other 3,110 US counties
- Healthcare access
- No hospital in the county rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- Safety
- Belknap County had fewer than 20 homicides in 2020–2024: CDC WONDER publishes no reliable rate below that.
- Climate
- 4.0 months a year More than 7 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Natural-hazard risk
- USD $1.24 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 56 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Medicare premiums
- Advantage USD $5,206 · Original + drug plan USD $5,774 a year for two Typical plans; premiums only, not the cost of care
Largest place: Laconia (Census, 1 July 2024).
Belknap County page → -
Carroll County
52,784 residents, 18,563 aged 65 or older (35.2 %)
- Cost of living
- 100.5 Cheaper than 8 % of the other 3,142 US counties Its area's figure: every county in the area shares it. New Hampshire nonmetropolitan portion, US = 100
- Taxes on a retired couple
- USD $3,463 Lower than 44 % of the other 3,110 US counties
- Healthcare access
- 2 hospitals in the county rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- Safety
- Carroll County had fewer than 20 homicides in 2020–2024: CDC WONDER publishes no reliable rate below that.
- Climate
- 4.0 months a year More than 7 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Natural-hazard risk
- USD $1.67 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 29 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Medicare premiums
- Original + drug plan USD $5,774 a year for two No Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage is offered here (CMS, plan year 2027).
No incorporated place in this county (Census, 1 July 2024).
Carroll County page → -
Cheshire County
78,269 residents, 19,324 aged 65 or older (24.7 %)
- Cost of living
- 100.5 Cheaper than 8 % of the other 3,142 US counties Its area's figure: every county in the area shares it. New Hampshire nonmetropolitan portion, US = 100
- Taxes on a retired couple
- USD $7,557 Lower than 2 % of the other 3,110 US counties
- Healthcare access
- 1 hospital in the county rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- Safety
- Cheshire County had fewer than 20 homicides in 2020–2024: CDC WONDER publishes no reliable rate below that.
- Climate
- 5.0 months a year More than 39 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Natural-hazard risk
- USD $1.53 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 36 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Medicare premiums
- Advantage USD $4,870 · Original + drug plan USD $5,774 a year for two Typical plans; premiums only, not the cost of care
Largest place: Keene (Census, 1 July 2024).
Cheshire County page → -
Coos County
31,343 residents, 8,919 aged 65 or older (28.5 %)
- Cost of living
- 100.5 Cheaper than 8 % of the other 3,142 US counties Its area's figure: every county in the area shares it. New Hampshire nonmetropolitan portion, US = 100
- Taxes on a retired couple
- USD $6,631 Lower than 5 % of the other 3,110 US counties
- Healthcare access
- No hospital in the county rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- Safety
- Coos County had fewer than 20 homicides in 2020–2024: CDC WONDER publishes no reliable rate below that.
- Climate
- 3.0 months a year More than 2 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Natural-hazard risk
- USD $2.19 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 15 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Medicare premiums
- Original + drug plan USD $5,774 a year for two No Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage is offered here (CMS, plan year 2027).
Largest place: Berlin (Census, 1 July 2024).
Coos County page → -
Grafton County
93,225 residents, 23,841 aged 65 or older (25.6 %)
- Cost of living
- 100.5 Cheaper than 8 % of the other 3,142 US counties Its area's figure: every county in the area shares it. New Hampshire nonmetropolitan portion, US = 100
- Taxes on a retired couple
- USD $6,020 Lower than 7 % of the other 3,110 US counties
- Healthcare access
- 2 hospitals in the county rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- Safety
- Grafton County had fewer than 20 homicides in 2020–2024: CDC WONDER publishes no reliable rate below that.
- Climate
- 4.0 months a year More than 7 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Natural-hazard risk
- USD $1.94 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 20 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Medicare premiums
- Advantage USD $4,870 · Original + drug plan USD $5,774 a year for two Typical plans; premiums only, not the cost of care
Largest place: Lebanon (Census, 1 July 2024).
Grafton County page → -
Hillsborough County
433,415 residents, 85,628 aged 65 or older (19.8 %)
- Cost of living
- 105.7 Cheaper than 3 % of the other 3,142 US counties Manchester-Nashua, NH metropolitan area, US = 100
- Taxes on a retired couple
- USD $5,817 Lower than 8 % of the other 3,110 US counties
- Healthcare access
- 2 hospitals in the county rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- Safety
- 1.7 per 100,000 a year Lower than 98 % of the other 767 US counties
- Climate
- 5.0 months a year More than 39 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Natural-hazard risk
- USD $1.20 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 60 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Medicare premiums
- Advantage USD $4,960 · Original + drug plan USD $5,774 a year for two Typical plans; premiums only, not the cost of care
Largest places: Manchester, Nashua (Census, 1 July 2024).
Hillsborough County page → -
Merrimack County
158,078 residents, 36,328 aged 65 or older (23.0 %)
- Cost of living
- 100.5 Cheaper than 8 % of the other 3,142 US counties Its area's figure: every county in the area shares it. New Hampshire nonmetropolitan portion, US = 100
- Taxes on a retired couple
- USD $6,458 Lower than 5 % of the other 3,110 US counties
- Healthcare access
- No hospital in the county rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- Safety
- Merrimack County had fewer than 20 homicides in 2020–2024: CDC WONDER publishes no reliable rate below that.
- Climate
- 5.0 months a year More than 39 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Natural-hazard risk
- USD $1.35 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 48 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Medicare premiums
- Advantage USD $5,326 · Original + drug plan USD $5,774 a year for two Typical plans; premiums only, not the cost of care
Largest places: Concord, Franklin (Census, 1 July 2024).
Merrimack County page → -
Rockingham County
324,077 residents, 76,574 aged 65 or older (23.6 %)
- Cost of living
- 108.3 Cheaper than 2 % of the other 3,142 US counties Its area's figure: every county in the area shares it. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area, US = 100
- Taxes on a retired couple
- USD $5,515 Lower than 10 % of the other 3,110 US counties
- Healthcare access
- 2 hospitals in the county rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- Safety
- Rockingham County had fewer than 20 homicides in 2020–2024: CDC WONDER publishes no reliable rate below that.
- Climate
- 5.0 months a year More than 39 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Natural-hazard risk
- USD $1.20 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 60 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Medicare premiums
- Advantage USD $5,206 · Original + drug plan USD $5,774 a year for two Typical plans; premiums only, not the cost of care
Largest place: Portsmouth (Census, 1 July 2024).
Rockingham County page → -
Strafford County
135,043 residents, 26,655 aged 65 or older (19.7 %)
- Cost of living
- 108.3 Cheaper than 2 % of the other 3,142 US counties Its area's figure: every county in the area shares it. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area, US = 100
- Taxes on a retired couple
- USD $6,471 Lower than 5 % of the other 3,110 US counties
- Healthcare access
- 1 hospital in the county rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- Safety
- Strafford County had fewer than 20 homicides in 2020–2024: CDC WONDER publishes no reliable rate below that.
- Climate
- 5.0 months a year More than 39 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Natural-hazard risk
- USD $1.11 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 68 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Medicare premiums
- Advantage USD $5,206 · Original + drug plan USD $5,774 a year for two Typical plans; premiums only, not the cost of care
Largest places: Dover, Rochester, Somersworth (Census, 1 July 2024).
Strafford County page → -
Sullivan County
43,961 residents, 11,206 aged 65 or older (25.5 %)
- Cost of living
- 100.5 Cheaper than 8 % of the other 3,142 US counties Its area's figure: every county in the area shares it. New Hampshire nonmetropolitan portion, US = 100
- Taxes on a retired couple
- USD $7,498 Lower than 2 % of the other 3,110 US counties
- Healthcare access
- No hospital in the county rated 4 or 5 stars by CMS
- Safety
- Sullivan County had fewer than 20 homicides in 2020–2024: CDC WONDER publishes no reliable rate below that.
- Climate
- 4.0 months a year More than 7 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Natural-hazard risk
- USD $1.55 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 35 % of the other 3,143 US counties
- Medicare premiums
- Advantage USD $4,870 · Original + drug plan USD $5,774 a year for two Typical plans; premiums only, not the cost of care
Largest place: Claremont (Census, 1 July 2024).
Sullivan County page →
Sources: US Census Bureau, county population estimates by age, 1 July 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, all items, of each county's metropolitan area or its state's nonmetropolitan portion; The state's published 2025 income-tax rules, the county's own local income tax where one is levied, and the county's Census ACS property-tax ratio, applied to the example household; CMS, Hospital General Information (Care Compare), hospital overall star rating, release of 13 Aug 2026; CHELSA V2.1 monthly maximum temperature, 1981-2010 (~1 km), averaged over the county, Karger et al.; FEMA, National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), county expected annual loss to buildings (EAL_VALB); CMS, Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape, plan year 2027; CMS, 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles (fact sheet, 14 Nov 2025); CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death 2018-2024 (Single Race, final), by county of residence.
Where New Hampshire stands, on the six criteria
New Hampshire's six figures are the ones that set its place on the state ranking, where it sits in Tier 8 of 16. Each is measured for the whole of New Hampshire, not for any single place within it.
| Criterion | New Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Cost of living BEA price level, all items (US = 100); lower is better |
104.2 Cheaper than 16% of the other 50 · housing 114.9 · goods 98.6 · utilities 133.7 · other services 103.9
BEA Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (SARPP, line codes 1-5) · figure for 2024 · checked 2026-08-28
|
| Taxes on a retired couple state and local tax on the example retired couple, USD a year; lower is better |
USD $5,797 (90% margin USD $5,746–$5,848) Lower than 8% of the other 50
Each state's published 2025 income-tax rules and the Census ACS property-tax ratio, applied to the example household · figure for 2025
|
| Healthcare access share of residents 65+ living in a county with a 4- or 5-star CMS hospital; higher is better |
77 % of residents 65+ Higher than 78% of the other 50
CMS, Hospital General Information (Care Compare), hospital overall star rating, release of 13 Aug 2026, weighted by each county's population 65+ (US Census Bureau, 1 July 2025) · figure for 2026 · checked 2026-10-27
|
| Safety homicides per 100,000 a year, 2020–2024, by state of residence; lower is better |
1.5 per 100,000 a year (95% interval 1.2–1.8) Lower than 100% of the other 50
CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death 2018-2024 (Single Race, final), by state of residence · figure for 2024 · checked 2026-10-27
|
| Climate months a year whose mean daily high is 18–29 °C (64–84 °F), 1981–2010; more is better |
4.7 months a year More than 42% of the other 50
CHELSA V2.1 monthly maximum temperature, 1981-2010 (~1 km), averaged over the county, Karger et al., weighted by each county's population 65+ (US Census Bureau, 1 July 2025) · figure for 2010 · checked 2026-10-27
|
| Natural-hazard risk expected yearly loss to buildings from natural hazards, per USD $1,000 of buildings; lower is better |
USD $1.35 per USD $1,000 of buildings Lower than 52% of the other 50
FEMA, National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), state expected annual loss to buildings (EAL_VALB) · figure for 2025 · checked 2026-10-27
|
Medicare in New Hampshire
For the published example couple, both 67 and married: what Medicare premiums cost a year for two in New Hampshire, and the most a bad year can cost. What care itself costs depends on a person's health, so it is not estimated here.
Medicare Advantage, with drug coverage
USD $5,206 a year for two in premiums (from USD $4,870)
At most USD $19,260 in a bad year (from USD $18,270), with each person's in-network out-of-pocket maximum
The middle of the 9 plans offered here; "from" is the lowest premium among them.
Original Medicare, with a drug plan
USD $5,774 a year for two in premiums (from USD $4,997)
Medigap: no federal price list — not in this total.
No yearly maximum on Original Medicare alone.
Part B for two, plus the middle of the 8 standalone drug plans offered in the state.
The middle of New Hampshire's 10 counties, weighted by residents 65 or older (US Census Bureau, 1 July 2025); 2 have no Advantage plan and are left out of that column.
The 2027 Part B premium is not yet published (CMS usually publishes it in November); 2026's is used.
Source: CMS, Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape, plan year 2027; CMS, 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles (fact sheet, 14 Nov 2025).
New Hampshire's Medigap enrollment rule is not yet confirmed from New Hampshire's own insurance department.
Free, official Medicare counseling in New Hampshire: New Hampshire State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) – ServiceLink Resource Center, 1-866-634-9412 (the State Health Insurance Assistance Program).
Retiring to New Hampshire: pros and cons, by the figures
Retiring to New Hampshire, judged on the six figures above: a pro is a figure in the top fifth of the states, a con one in the bottom fifth. Figures in between get no verdict.
Pros
- Safety: lower than 100% of the other 50 (1.5 per 100,000 a year). CDC WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death 2018-2024 (Single Race, final), by state of residence
Cons
- Cost of living: dearer than 84% of the other 50 (104.2). BEA Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (SARPP, line codes 1-5)
- Taxes on a retired couple: higher than 92% of the other 50 (USD $5,797). Each state's published 2025 income-tax rules and the Census ACS property-tax ratio, applied to the example household
Also shown, not scored
New Hampshire's other state-wide figures: shown for context, not part of its tier. Measured for the whole of New Hampshire — not for any single place within it.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
|
Population
Total resident population, US Census Bureau estimate for 1 July 2025.
How this is measuredTotal resident population, Census Bureau estimate as of 1 July 2025, as reported in SSA's Table 1. Bigger is not better — this axis exists for context, never for ranking. |
1,415,342 people |
|
Population 65 plus
Residents aged 65 or older, US Census Bureau estimate for 1 July 2025.
How this is measuredResident population aged 65 or older, Census Bureau estimate as of 1 July 2025, as reported in SSA's Table 1. |
325,383 people |
|
Social security beneficiary share
Everyone receiving Social Security — retired, disabled, survivors and dependants — as a share of the population, 2025.
How this is measuredAll OASDI beneficiaries — retired workers, disabled workers, survivors and dependants — as a percentage of the total resident population. SSA Table 1 (2025), population as of 1 July 2025. Not the same measure as the county-level retired-worker share. |
25 percent |
Source for every figure: SSA Table 1 (2025) · Census population as of 1 July 2025 · figure for 2025 · checked 2026-08-28 Official source
Taxes on a retired couple in New Hampshire
We apply New Hampshire's published rules for tax year 2025 to one example household and show the sum, line by line. These are rules already in force for 2025, not a projection.
The example household
| Filing status | married filing jointly, both aged 67 |
|---|---|
| Social Security | USD $45,000 a year, combined |
| Private pension | USD $25,000 a year |
| IRA or 401(k) withdrawal | USD $20,000 a year |
| Home, for property tax | USD $350,000 |
An illustrative household, the same for every state so states can be compared. Each spouse holds half of each income. Your own figures will differ.
New Hampshire's rules applied
| No state income tax on this household's income in 2025 New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration: Repeal of NH Interest and Dividends Tax Now in Effect (23 January 2025) | USD $0 |
|---|---|
| Property tax on a USD $350,000 home, at the state's median taxes paid ÷ median home value US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25103 | USD $5,797 |
| State and local tax, a year | USD $5,797 |
Federal income tax is left out: it is the same in every state, so it cannot separate them. Sales tax is left out too: it depends on what a household buys, and no state publishes an average of its local rates. The rate is listed below.
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