New Hampshire is home to many new trends. The alarm clock that wakes you up every morning was first invented in New Hampshire. The world’s first free, tax-supported library also started in this northeastern US State. Not to forget that on the slopes of Crotched Mountain in New Hampshire rests the nation’s first wind farm.
This coastal State also was way ahead of its time, as it was the first US state to have its own state constitution. And its statehouse currently has the biggest legislative body in the country. Presidential primaries too were first held in this state back in the 1920s. Although, that’s not all there is to the state. So read on to get a complete lowdown on what you should know about before moving to New Hampshire.
What Should I Know Before Moving To New Hampshire?
Nestled in the New England region of the United States, New Hampshire is spread around an area of 9,349 sq mi. It falls in the northeastern part of the US and is neighboured by Vermont on its west and the beautiful Atlantic Ocean on its east. In its north sits the Canadian province of Quebec and to its south is the populated state of Massachusetts.
Because of its endless granite quarries, it is largely known as the ‘Granite State’. You will be pleased to know that its lesser-known but equally interesting nickname is ‘Switzerland of America’. This is because of the unparalleled beauty of the place, with soaring mountain ranges, lakes, flowing rivers, and cascades. And though it has the shortest coastline as compared to the other US States, you will fall in love with it. Don’t forget to visit Hampton Beach on a sunny day.
The people here are well informed about politics, and sometimes very passionate about it. This is because New Hampshire keeps swinging between republican and democrat governments. And there are endless debates between parties and people who support them. So if you are attending a house party, or scrolling through social media, politics is going to pop up all the time.
When you hear terms like ‘wicked’ or ‘flatlander’, don’t be offended. Nobody is cursing you. ‘Wicked’ here is just a slag that means something is too good or awesome. And ‘flatlander’ is just a term that people of New Hampshire call the tourists coming from the surrounding states of New England. That is because this state is particularly rich with mountainous terrain which people often visit to hike.
A small detail that you must know before moving to New Hampshire is that all small businesses are closed on Monday. So if you step out into the city on a Monday, don’t be surprised to be met with closed shops. Apart from just the loving people in the neighborhoods of New Hampshire, your stay here will be particularly sweet. Quite literally, because the maple industry here produces more than a whopping 90,000 gallons of maple syrup each year.
Crime rate in New Hampshire
There are fewer chances of property crime and violent crime in New Hampshire, as it has the second-lowest rate for such crimes among all 50 US States. This state falls at a position below the US average for violent crimes. According to NeighborhoodScout, the crime rate for violent and property crimes in New Hampshire is at a total of 13.62 per 1000 residents. If you were to fall victim to a violent crime, your chances would be 1 in 656 people. And the chances of falling victim to property crime is 1 in 83. This makes New Hampshire one of the safest of America’s states, with the safest of all municipalities of New Hampshire being Durham.
Also See: Safest States in the US
New Hampshire Weather
The state has warm and humid summers since it is right next to the Atlantic Ocean. It also rains all through Autumn here. Octobers in the state are quite wet, the month invites as much as 4.5 inches of rain in the period. It gets an average annual rainfall of 46.4 inches, which makes it the wettest state in most states of the US.
It snows a lot here, and there are high chances of getting your car stuck in sudden snow. Temperatures in winter can sometimes drop to -4°F around January. Visiting New Hampshire between November and February is a bad idea, because the winter here is often a host to severe cold and snowstorms. But this won’t dampen your winter plans, so you can go snowmobiling through the north country woods. You could even bask in the scenic mountain views of Maine and Vermont or just go ice fishing in Lake Winnipesaukee!
The hottest month is July, with temperatures rising as high as 80.1° F. Between summer and early fall is the ripe time to visit New Hampshire. Apart from the frolic around the tourist spots, visit for the lobster season. You will be left awed by the Northern Lights in this season. It is also a good time to visit Mount Washington.
You should be aware of the thunderstorms, wildfires, and hurricanes that hit the state in late spring and summer. Since it is a coastal state, the cyclones from the Atlantic Ocean often hit the state. Expect a minimum of two tornadoes every year when you move to New Hampshire. The cities and towns often come to a halt due to frequent snowstorms during the winter months.
Is it Expensive to live in New Hampshire?
You can be a millennial moving to New Hampshire for study or work or you can be moving in with your family and kids. You need to know what budget apart from moving expenses you need to set aside. Because apart from the moving expenses, there is a lot of spending waiting for you. So let’s get to it.
You can shop without a worry here as the state doesn’t impose taxes on sales. The income tax is 5% and it only taxes your interest and dividends income, this means that most of your paycheck is saved from tax cuts. The only tax that is higher than other states in the US is the property tax. The rate is 2.05%, making it the fourth-highest property tax rate state in all of the US.
Cost Of Living In New Hampshire
The overall cost of living in this state is 105.4 which is above the US average of 100. The average salary of a skilled employer here is around $67,000 per year. Though the cost of living is on the higher side in the state, good pay makes up. Not to forget the zero tax of income.
Visiting the supermarket to shop for basic breakfast food will cost you around $3 to $5. A litre of milk will cost you around $0.77 and a loaf of white bread stands at $2.62. And if you like eggs, they are priced at $1.67. In case you want to add some more calories to your breakfast with some local cheese, you need to shell out $10.65 for a kg.
According to Numbeo, the check for a three-course meal at a normal restaurant around the corner will be around $65. Having a McMeal at a local McDonalds costs you $8. And if you live in Concord, the capital of New Hampshire, a regular cappuccino will cost you 3.73 $. Whereas you need to shell out 4.00 $ if you want to settle in with a bottle of domestic beer.
Buying A House
The value of a middle price tier house in New Hampshire is approximately $351,659. According to the data shared by Zillow, the value of homes has gone up by 15.0% between March 2020 and April 2021. But as compared to the demand, the supply has fallen. The wmur association says that since last year, the inventory for family homes for sales has gone down by 66%.
The reason why housing is expensive in New Hampshire is because of the property taxes. Higher property taxes are utilized because of the zero tax on income and sales. This is why the home-ownership rate is really low in New Hampshire.
Renting a House
The rental vacancy rates are under 1 percent, and adding to this burden is the lack of new housing in the state. Because of this, the rent prices keep on escalating. According to Zillow, the average rent as of December 2020 was $1,700. The national average rent is $1,650. As compared to that, the rent in New Hampshire is more than 3.0%.
Renting a studio is the cheapest option. The rent increases as the number of rooms increases. If you are a student or a single person moving to New Hampshire for work, it is better to move to a 4 bedroom unit with roommates. This will cost you $500 per room on a monthly basis.
Utility Bills
With most organizations working from home, you will need unlimited internet when you move to a new home. The cost for an unlimited data connection in New Hampshire is around $70.44. An average utility bill in New Hampshire every month is $477.02. Electric supply at your home will cost you around $169.35 on average. And natural gas will cost you approximately $107.67.
New Hampshire Economy And Employment Opportunities
The main driver of New Hampshire’s economy is its Smart Manufacturing/High Technology sector. This industry uses high-tech equipment and advanced manufacturing to produce electronic components. Most of the manufacturing operations are concentrated in the Upper Valley and along the sea coast. The Upper Valley is also a center for medical research and biotech.
Tourism is also the main industry in New Hampshire, which generates around an economic activity of $5 billion per year. This is driven by tourists flocking in to visit the White Mountains, Seacoast, and the Lake Region. Many tourists buy vacation homes in this state, adding to the state’s revenue. Coming to agriculture and livestock rearing, dairy farming contributes 31% of the state’s agricultural revenue. The maple syrup industry also contributes to New Hampshire’s economy.
Employment opportunities are high in the medical sphere. This is because of the presence of ten major hospitals and increasing medical research, which is why healthcare workers are well paid in the state. The largest employer in New Hampshire is the privately-owned Dartmouth–Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon which employs as many as 7000 employees.
Positions of Nurse Practitioners are most sought after and pay the highest in the state. They can earn upto $123,139 annually. This is followed by physicians and psychiatrists. Other jobs like that of a Software Engineer pay $78,000, a project manager earns $72,000 and similarly, an operations manager ideally earns $70,000.
Education
If you ask us, it’s certainly a good decision to move to New Hampshire with your family. The education system here is top-notch. To put things in perspective, New Hampshire ranks 4th in the US when it comes to public education. The public school system here functions within districts that are governed by the superintendents and the locally elected school boards.
Here’s a fun fact – there are 188,974 students studying in the 167 school districts. The largest school district in the state is Manchester School District, which approximately accommodates the education of 13,702 students. There are a total of 187 high schools in New Hampshire, of which 111 are public schools, the rest 76 are privately owned. The top-ranking private school in the state is Phillips Exeter Academy. Then New Hampshire also has Maude H. Trefethen School to boast of in the form of one of the best public schools.
If you are looking for places with value-worthy public schools, it’s a good idea to move to Sunapee, Bedford, or Hanover. These towns have a large number of top-ranking public schools. Annual tuition fees for a private school are $19,350 as of 2021. For higher education, there are 27 universities in the state that enroll around 161,465 students every year.
Getting around New Hampshire
Air Travel
The busiest and the largest airport in New Hampshire is the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. It is located 3 miles outside the city limits of Manchester. This airport is a popular hub for people arriving and departing the state and is affordable as compared to Boston’s Logan Airport. That is why most travelers visiting New England chose to land at the Manchester Airport.
Rail Travel
16 cities in New Hampshire are connected by trains. There are passenger trains provided by Amtrak Downeaster, which connect cities like Dover and Durham to the Vermont communities in the Connecticut Valley. The average cost of tickets along the top routes is $96.00. The cheapest ticket will cost you $8.00 whereas the most expensive rail ticket won’t go above $183.00.
You must plan your travel in advance if you are traveling to Boston. Since there is only one rail line that connects New Hampshire with Boston. And the availability is more limited because there is only one train per day.
Road Travel
It is always better to know the public transport routes in the city you move to. It serves two purposes – you won’t forget roads in the new city and you will emit fewer pollutants. Many bus lines are available across New Hampshire, like Concord Coach Lines, Greyhound, Dartmouth Coach, etc. Buses are available across 27 cities in New Hampshire. If you travel along the top routes, the average cost of a ticket will be $41.00.
For traveling within New Hampshire, get on a Concord coach line bus. If you want to travel out of the state, hop on a Greyhound or a C&J bus. They connect to cities in other states. If you prefer to take a cab to your workplace or college, then traveling a kilometer under normal tariff will cost you 1.11$. You will easily find a Manchester Taxi or a Queen City taxi on city streets.
Best Places To Live In New Hampshire
Hanover
This neighborhood on the western side of New Hampshire has a very suburban feel to it. Located in the Upper Connecticut River Valley, this town is home to many families. It is a welcoming town for young professionals. And is a good place for families too since Hanover has many highly rated public schools. If you are thinking about a peaceful place to settle in New Hampshire, Hanover it is. The people here live in sync with nature. There are many hiking spots and nature trails around the town. The town hosts a small warm community with a population of 8,508. The estimated cost of a person living in Hanover is $914 without considering the rent. It has an A+ grade when it comes to security. And its rate of crime is well below that of an average US city. This scenic town near the beautiful Upper Valley is one of the best places to settle in and call home.
- Median Home value: $700,039
- Median Home rent: $1,493
- Unemployment rate: 2.1%
Portsmouth
This little coastal city lies in the suburban region of Rockingham County. Many people choose to settle here rather than the crowded city of Boston, which is near Portsmouth. The commute here is easy because of the frequent C&J buses and driving around this port city through beautiful brick-clad houses will give you a sense of its history. Museums and hangout spots can be found aplenty in Portsmouth, especially around the market square. Same goes for amazing dining and drinking options. The city also hosts a few local breweries too, like the Redhook Brewery or the Portsmouth Brewery. Don’t forget to visit Lexie’s Joint to indulge in some of the most delicious and creative burgers. If you are moving in with your children, there are many public and private schools. Your kids will love the kid-friendly activities offered around Portsmouth.
- Median Home value: $547,090
- Median Home rent: $1,666
- Unemployment rate: 3.4%
Bedford
This quiet town is a suburb of New Hampshire’s largest city, Manchester. From Bedford, it is easy to commute to many universities and colleges like Saint Anselm College, University of New Hampshire, etc. If you take a stroll around the town, you will find many parks and coffee shops. Life here is very smooth, with large retailers like Walmart and Target located here. The education system is highly regarded here and falls under one of those places where your children will have a good education. The population is not more than 22,000. Bedford encourages new businesses as it is a member of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce. Because of business opportunities, good schools, and transport connectivity, Bedford is often sought after by many people moving to New Hampshire. Though the property taxes here are on the higher side, the facilities and the sense of a close-knit community make it a good place to settle in.
- Median Home value: $543,776
- Median Home rent: $1,787
- Unemployment rate: 2.0%
Also See: 5 Best States To Live in
Is It A Good Idea To Move to New Hampshire?
Living amid scenic views in a quiet community and still being just an hour from Boston is a dream. You can ski down the mountains, hike along the nature trails, and sunbathe on the beach. There is so much to do in this small state. It brings along so many benefits apart from just the recreation, like the frequent buses that connect to other states. What can be more wholesome than a state that has no income tax and sales tax?
Yes, there are high property taxes, but the good income makes up for it. Getting a job is easy with the growth in the manufacturing, agriculture, and industry sectors. And the crime rate is very low as compared to most states in the US. You will find this state opening its arms for both families and working men and women. So if you are contemplating moving to New Hampshire, keep all fears aside and plan the move!
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