Cost of Living in New Hampshire (NH)
Compare costs across 3 New Hampshire cities. From home services to salaries, see how NH stacks up against the national average.
3
Cities
115
Avg Cost Index
$66K
Avg Income
Direct Answer
New Hampshire's average cost index is 115, which is above the national baseline of 100. Concord is the most affordable tracked city in NH at index 106, while Portsmouth is the most expensive at index 128.
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive tracked cities is 22 index points, so state-level averages should be used as a map, not a final budget.
State cost overviewBLS, Census, HUD inputsLast verified May 2026
New Hampshire Highlights: Most affordable city: Concord (index 106). Most expensive: Portsmouth (index 128). The gap between cheapest and most expensive is 22 index points.
What Drives the Statewide Cost Picture?
Average index
115/100
New Hampshire is above the national cost baseline across tracked cities.
Cheapest city
Concord
Concord has a cost index of 106.
Most expensive
Portsmouth
Portsmouth has a cost index of 128.
Income average
$66K
Average median household income across 3 tracked NH cities.
Cheapest and Most Expensive Cities in New Hampshire
| City | Population | Cost Index | Median Income | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | 116K | 110 | $61K | small |
| Concord | 44K | 106 | $60K | small |
| Portsmouth | 22K | 128 | $76K | small |
New Hampshire State Taxes (2026)
Headline tax rates that affect your real take-home pay and total cost of living in New Hampshire.
State Income Tax
0%
No income tax
Combined Sales Tax
0%
0% state + 0% avg local
Property Tax (Effective)
2.18%
~$6,540/yr on a $300K home
Tax friendly: New Hampshire has no state income tax - workers keep more of their paycheck. No state estate tax. Estimate your take-home pay
State Planning Checklist
- Start with Concord if the priority is lowest recurring cost inside New Hampshire.
- Compare Portsmouth against salary and tax advantages before assuming the higher-cost city is worse.
- Use city pages for rent, salary, insurance, and local service costs before making a relocation decision.