State Guide

Best Places to Live in New Hampshire

The most affordable, safest, and highest-income cities across 100 New Hampshire cities — ranked from official data.

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Choosing where to live in New Hampshire comes down to a few trade-offs — cost of living, safety, income, and schools. The rankings below pull those out from U.S. Census, FBI, and NCES data so you can see the standouts at a glance, then drill into any city or put two side by side.

Most Affordable Cities in New Hampshire

Lowest cost of living index (100 = U.S. average · lower is cheaper).

#City Cost of Living Population
1 Dover 112 32,849
2 Rochester 112 32,573
3 Derry 112 23,027
4 Portsmouth 112 22,138
5 Londonderry 112 12,143
6 Somersworth 112 11,994
7 Durham 112 10,789
8 Hampton 112 10,050

Safest Cities in New Hampshire

Lowest crime index (100 = U.S. average · lower is safer). Limited to cities with complete FBI reporting.

#City Crime Index Population
1 Dover 22 32,849
2 Rochester 34 32,573
3 Nashua 49 90,943
4 Concord 52 44,049
5 Manchester 84 115,037

Highest-Income Cities in New Hampshire

Highest median household income (US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates).

#City Median Income Population
1 Dover $90,844 32,849
2 Nashua $88,766 90,943
3 Concord $77,874 44,049
4 Rochester $74,882 32,573
5 Manchester $74,040 115,037

Best School Districts in New Hampshire

Highest school-quality grade (student-teacher ratio, adult attainment, and graduation data where available).

#City School Grade Population
1 Dover A- 32,849
2 Concord A- 44,049
3 Nashua A- 90,943
4 Manchester B 115,037
5 Rochester B 32,573

Popular New Hampshire City Comparisons

Head-to-head breakdowns of the state's largest cities.

Manchester vs Nashua Manchester vs Concord Manchester vs Dover Manchester vs Rochester Manchester vs Derry Manchester vs Keene Manchester vs Portsmouth Nashua vs Concord Nashua vs Dover Nashua vs Rochester Nashua vs Derry Nashua vs Keene

All Cities in New Hampshire

Click any city for the full profile. Data from U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-Year Estimates).

City Population Median Income Median Home Median Rent Unemployment Crime Index
Manchester 115,037 $74,040 $304,700 $1,362 4.2% 84
Nashua 90,943 $88,766 $344,900 $1,597 5.1% 49
Concord 44,049 $77,874 $287,600 $1,277 5.3% 52
Dover 32,849 $90,844 $368,600 $1,436 3.7% 22
Rochester 32,573 $74,882 $238,400 $1,162 3.8% 34
Derry 23,027 $83,750 $328,200 $1,382 5.4% 31
Keene 22,907 $69,381 $221,400 $1,153 2.6% 70
Portsmouth 22,138 $100,169 $594,000 $1,660 2.5% 54
Laconia 16,898 $67,856 $251,700 $1,163 3.1% 71
Lebanon 14,515 $90,911 $316,800 $1,603 0.7% 46
Claremont 13,018 $53,697 $157,900 $1,071 2.2% 66
Londonderry 12,143 $113,557 $392,000 $1,801 4.7% 15
Somersworth 11,994 $75,841 $265,900 $1,330 2.8% 76
Durham 10,789 $93,542 $431,500 $1,216 3.9% 11
Hampton 10,050 $92,907 $454,600 $1,594 2.2% 30
Exeter 9,918 $79,813 $317,600 $1,441 2.7% 16
Berlin 9,485 $41,638 $93,200 $769 5.2% 53
Franklin 8,746 $66,942 $233,800 $1,037 3.4% 38
Milford 8,530 $71,065 $311,400 $1,292 4.9% 14
Hanover 8,234 $111,958 $652,200 $2,021 4.5% 21
Hudson 7,003 $80,901 $298,100 $1,329 2.0% 34
Newmarket 5,829 $88,295 $341,000 $1,632 1.0% 16
South Hooksett 5,808 $113,024 $345,400 $1,038 3.9% 23
Hooksett 5,268 $83,456 $249,200 $1,668 4.3% 22
Suncook 5,235 $72,375 $279,200 $1,047 1.0% 23
Newport 5,228 $67,500 $162,200 $1,164 3.9% 71
Pinardville 4,851 $71,690 $242,300 $1,182 0.8% 40
East Merrimack 4,643 $80,234 $258,300 $1,694 0.0% 40
Littleton 4,587 $40,873 $193,100 $814 5.1% 41
Plymouth 4,428 $62,172 $240,500 $1,226 6.6% 53
Raymond 4,006 $69,912 $290,400 $1,246 6.5% 14
Conway 3,847 $46,771 $219,400 $1,015 15.3% 73
Farmington 3,722 $44,664 $203,700 $1,016 4.3% 43
Jaffrey 3,036 $86,384 $218,600 $914 7.4% 56
Tilton Northfield 3,035 $63,553 $186,800 $1,100 1.8% 30
Goffstown 3,028 $131,146 $337,700 $1,250 0.0% 15
Wolfeboro 2,813 $47,990 $364,200 $1,034 0.2% 18
Meredith 2,758 $46,850 $370,800 $1,117 6.5% 26
Epping 2,754 $74,798 $298,200 $1,593 1.7% 52
Henniker 2,741 $70,839 $254,800 $984 0.0% 30
Hampton Beach 2,650 $73,269 $435,700 $1,360 6.7% 14
Lancaster 2,260 $67,331 $177,600 $859 2.6% 18
Peterborough 2,247 $83,906 $296,100 $1,366 2.9% 15
Bristol 2,095 $69,306 $185,700 $1,078 2.0% 60
Enfield 2,079 $54,493 $220,200 $1,438 0.0% 23
North Conway 2,079 $59,041 $342,700 $1,059 5.2% 23
Gorham 2,043 $55,845 $132,800 $768 1.0% 45
Pittsfield 1,784 $46,154 $192,200 $951 4.9% 37
Hillsborough 1,567 $63,854 $187,100 — 0.0% 37
Ashland 1,520 $40,559 $163,600 $1,060 2.6% 51
Hinsdale 1,432 $96,161 $204,700 $1,015 1.8% 142
Winchester 1,369 $45,298 $163,500 $991 6.0% 92
New London 1,340 $83,796 $408,200 $1,317 0.8% 25
Wilton 1,333 $59,556 $271,500 $1,285 5.2% 13
Whitefield 1,332 $53,750 $142,300 $962 5.1% 8
Woodsville 1,329 $53,578 $179,000 $1,075 2.8% 21
Antrim 1,320 $83,542 $229,200 $890 2.2% 34
Contoocook 1,295 $103,317 $291,500 $1,019 2.2% 23
Belmont 1,252 — $148,100 — 0.0% 25
West Swanzey 1,200 $57,762 $183,800 $1,354 5.4% 41
Colebrook 1,100 $42,500 $119,600 $698 0.2% 22
Greenville 1,061 $67,321 $249,200 $1,044 12.1% 12
Lincoln 1,017 $58,125 $249,800 $1,165 2.4% 21
Marlborough 991 $62,950 $234,100 $923 0.7% 20
Bethlehem 957 $62,647 $198,600 $929 1.8% 21
Klondike Corner 939 — $426,200 — 0.0% 40
Charlestown 934 — $93,500 $1,189 0.0% 14
Troy 920 $57,212 $155,900 $1,161 1.9% 38
Sanbornville 919 $133,167 $236,300 $959 0.0% 23
Lisbon 872 $64,208 $147,200 $883 8.1% 21
Seabrook Beach 864 $107,019 $830,700 $1,419 8.4% 14
Groveton 839 $51,711 $88,200 $750 3.7% 24
North Haverhill 819 $52,808 $187,500 — 0.0% 21
Amherst 682 $144,940 $477,900 $1,433 0.0% 19
Center Ossipee 679 $50,096 $207,900 $864 13.4% 23
Loudon 654 $98,894 $369,500 — 0.0% 23
Mountain Lakes 597 $59,107 $150,800 — 1.3% 21
North Walpole 558 $79,318 $173,500 $1,153 2.6% 41
North Woodstock 532 $64,419 $291,400 $907 2.8% 21
Walpole 465 — $354,700 — 0.0% 11
West Stewartstown 465 $63,333 — $642 8.8% 24
Warner 425 $40,887 $312,500 $633 0.0% 23
Suissevale 406 $95,486 $276,700 — 0.0% 23
Bradford 387 $55,962 $258,900 $1,333 1.7% 23
Union 384 — — — 0.0% 23
Milton 349 $43,750 — $940 0.0% 27
New Hampton 324 $80,625 $233,300 — 0.0% 20
Newfields 291 $173,295 $469,700 $1,708 1.7% 14
Bartlett 259 $39,174 $164,100 — 0.0% 29
Bennington 253 $73,839 $209,200 $950 6.2% 31
New Boston 215 $250,001 — — 34.9% 6
Hancock 199 $59,028 $366,700 — 0.0% 40
Plainfield 179 $98,417 $305,800 $1,600 0.0% 12
Canaan 173 — $212,500 $823 0.0% 10
Center Sandwich 172 $97,708 $359,300 $1,841 0.0% 23
Alton 170 — — — 0.0% 26
Francestown 129 $113,750 $337,100 — 0.0% —
Milton Mills 121 — — — 0.0% 27
Melvin Village 108 — $290,000 — 0.0% 23
Blodgett Landing 103 — $290,600 — 9.1% 23

Frequently Asked Questions

Dover, NH is among the most affordable cities in New Hampshire, with a cost of living index of 112 (US average = 100) and a median home value of $368,600. See the full ranking above.
Dover, NH ranks among the safest cities in New Hampshire, with a crime index of 22 (100 = U.S. average, lower is safer). Crime data from the FBI UCR Program.
Dover, NH has one of the highest median household incomes in New Hampshire at $90,844 per year. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

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