Live Free and Live

New Hampshire is an engaging patchwork quilt of idyllic colonial towns, vast stretches of protected wilderness, Ivy League learning opportunities, and over 50 picturesque covered bridges to seek out. The Granite State is a leaf-peeper’s paradise and a hiker’s wonderland, offering 48 peaks rising over 4,000-feet for the adventurous.

0% Personal earned income tax rate

1.86%

Effective state property tax rate; median annual tax of $4,636

Homestead Exemption increased in 2016 to $120,000

No state tax on sales, capital gains, or inheritance

Cost of living is 5.4% higher than the national average

Your favorite color in New Hampshire will very likely be red. As in the deep claret of the red trillium flower that blooms in spring. Or the crimson hue of a steamed lobster at a coastal village in summer, the shimmering and scarlet maple leaves of fall, and the rosy red of your cheeks while hiking along a pristine lakefront or snow skiing on a crisp winter day. New Hampshire is one of the 13 original colonies and is known for its independent-thinking residents, stunning natural beauty, and a unique topography that soars from sea level up to 6,288 feet at Mount Washington in less than 100 miles. Concord is the capital, and Manchester is the largest city, which is tucked near the southern edge of the state and less than an hour from weekend getaways to Boston. Reassuringly, New Hampshire is ranked the third “Safest State to Live.”

Climate

New Hampshire’s climate is informed by the steep rate of elevation change from south to the mountainous north, making for 10 to 15 degree temperature differences within a twohour drive. The state has idyllic summer weather, with highs in the low 80s. Winter temperatures in Manchester average 32°F/15°F from high to low.

Health Care

Health care is placed at a premium in New Hampshire, in fact, its largest employer is the statewide Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and Clinics. New Hampshire ranks in the Top 5 for overall health care in the country, per a CBS News poll. And health care costs in the state rank 12.3% lower than the national average.