Top 10 Best Towns to Live in New Hampshire

Direct Answer

The Best Overall town to live in New Hampshire is Bedford, an affluent Manchester suburb with top-ranked schools, a short commute to the state's largest job market, and no state income or sales tax — though its median home price near $640,000 reflects that demand. The Best Value town is Bow, a quiet community just south of Concord where a median home price around $480,000, excellent schools, very low crime, and easy highway access deliver the best quality of life per dollar in the state.

This list is built for families, commuters, and professionals who want strong schools, low crime, four-season recreation, and easy reach to Boston — whether the budget tops out near $500,000 or stretches toward a Hanover or Portsmouth address. Every pick below uses real, publicly reported data on population, home prices, income, and schools.

How We Ranked the Top 10

We weighted each town against what families relocating to New Hampshire tell agents and survey firms they care about. We leaned on published data from Niche, the U.S. Census Bureau, Zillow, Realtor.com, BestPlaces, GreatSchools, and Livability. The weighting:

• Affordability and home value — 25%
• Schools — 20%
• Safety — 20%
• Jobs and commute — 15%
• Amenities and lifestyle — 10%
• Community feel — 10%

A town with a great commute but weak schools, or low taxes but high crime, drops fast. The winners balance all six. New Hampshire's lack of a state income tax and sales tax boosts every pick on real take-home affordability.

1. Bedford 🏆 BEST OVERALL

County: Hillsborough | Median home: $640,000 | Best for: Families and professionals who want top schools and a short Manchester commute

Bedford is New Hampshire's standout suburb, with about 23,000 residents and a median household income near $135,000, among the highest in the state. The Bedford School District consistently ranks at or near the top statewide, and Bedford High School sends graduates to elite colleges.

It borders Manchester, the state's largest city and job hub, so commutes to employers in healthcare, finance, and tech run short, and Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is minutes away. Crime is very low, the town offers upscale shopping and dining along Route 101, and Boston is about 50 miles south.

No state income or sales tax stretches every paycheck.

Pros:

• Top-ranked public schools statewide
• Very high median income and low crime
• Minutes from Manchester jobs and the airport
• No state income or sales tax

Cons:

• Median home prices near $640,000 are among the highest
• Suburban feel with limited walkable downtown

Verdict: Bedford wins on balance — elite schools, safety, income, and commute with no real weak spot besides price.

2. Bow 💎 BEST VALUE

County: Merrimack | Median home: $480,000 | Best for: Families who want top schools and low crime near Concord for less

Bow is a quiet residential town of about 8,200 just south of the state capital, Concord, and it delivers Bedford-caliber schools and safety for meaningfully less money. Median household income runs near $120,000, and the Bow School District rates among the best in New Hampshire, with strong test scores and small class sizes.

Crime is very low, and Interstate 89 and Interstate 93 both run nearby for fast commutes to Concord, Manchester, or Boston. The town is leafy and family-oriented, with parks and recreation fields rather than a downtown core. For buyers chasing strong schools without a Bedford budget, Bow is the smart play.

Pros:

• Excellent schools at a lower price than Bedford
• Very low crime and strong community feel
• Easy I-89 and I-93 highway access
• No state income or sales tax

Cons:

• Limited shopping and dining within town
• Quiet, car-dependent residential layout

Verdict: Bow is the value champion — top schools, safety, and commute for well below the priciest suburbs.

3. Hanover

County: Grafton | Median home: $730,000 | Best for: Academics and professionals who want an Ivy-League college town

Hanover is home to Dartmouth College and ranks among the most desirable addresses in New England, with about 11,800 residents and a median household income near $120,000. The schools are outstanding, anchored by the highly rated Hanover High School, and crime is almost nonexistent.

The walkable downtown overflows with bookstores, restaurants, and cultural events tied to Dartmouth, while the Connecticut River, skiing, and hiking surround the area. The catch is price and location: home values are steep and Hanover sits in the state's northwest, well over an hour from Boston.

Pros:

• Ivy-League cultural and intellectual life
• Outstanding schools and near-zero crime
• Walkable, vibrant college downtown
• Connecticut River and ski-country recreation

Cons:

• Median home prices near $730,000
• Far from Boston and major airports

Verdict: A premier college town — best for academics and remote professionals who value culture over a Boston commute.

4. Portsmouth

County: Rockingham | Median home: $700,000 | Best for: Professionals who want a walkable coastal city with nightlife

Portsmouth is New Hampshire's seacoast gem, a historic port city of about 22,000 with a median household income near $95,000. The economy spans healthcare, tech, tourism, and the nearby Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and the schools are solid. Crime is low for a city, and the cobblestone downtown is one of the most walkable in New England, packed with restaurants, breweries, and waterfront views on the Piscataqua River.

The Atlantic beaches and Boston about 60 miles south add to the appeal. Portsmouth trades big yards for genuine urban charm.

Pros:

• Highly walkable historic waterfront downtown
• Strong dining, arts, and nightlife scene
• Coastal access and a diversified economy
• No state income or sales tax

Cons:

• Home prices near $700,000 and tight inventory
• Smaller lots and busy summer tourism

Verdict: The coastal city pick — ideal for professionals who want walkability, nightlife, and the ocean over a big suburban yard.

5. Amherst

County: Hillsborough | Median home: $620,000 | Best for: Families who want a classic New England village and great schools

Amherst is a picturesque town of about 11,800 with a postcard village green and a median household income near $140,000, among the wealthiest in the state. It shares the highly rated Souhegan Cooperative School District with neighboring Mont Vernon, and Souhegan High School is well regarded.

Crime is very low, and the town blends colonial charm with easy access to Nashua and Manchester jobs, plus Boston about 50 miles south. Amherst offers a quieter, more rural-feeling alternative to Bedford with comparable schools and safety.

Pros:

• Classic New England village character
• Strong Souhegan school district
• Very high income and low crime
• Easy reach to Nashua and Manchester jobs

Cons:

• Median home prices near $620,000
• Rural feel means longer drives for shopping

Verdict: A charming village pick — best for families who want colonial character with top-tier schools and safety.

6. Hollis

County: Hillsborough | Median home: $660,000 | Best for: Families who want rural quiet within reach of Nashua

Hollis is a rural town of about 8,500 known for apple orchards, farm stands, and conservation land, with a median household income near $150,000 — one of the highest in New Hampshire. The Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District rates among the strongest in the state, and crime is exceptionally low.

The town deliberately limits commercial development, preserving its agricultural feel, while Nashua sits minutes away for shopping and jobs and Boston is about 45 miles south. Hollis is for buyers who want space, farmland views, and elite schools.

Pros:

• Top-tier Hollis-Brookline schools
• Highest-income, very-low-crime community
• Rural orchards and conservation land
• Nashua jobs and Boston commute within reach

Cons:

• Median home prices near $660,000
• Almost no in-town shopping by design

Verdict: A rural-luxury pick — ideal for families who want farmland quiet and elite schools near Nashua.

7. Exeter

County: Rockingham | Median home: $620,000 | Best for: Families who want a historic walkable town near the seacoast

Exeter is a historic town of about 16,500 built around the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy and a charming, walkable downtown. Median household income runs near $95,000, the public schools are solid, and crime is low. The town sits on the Squamscott River with a lively Water Street of shops and restaurants, and it offers commuter rail and highway access toward Boston about 50 miles south, plus the seacoast minutes east.

Exeter blends genuine history, walkability, and seacoast proximity better than almost any town its size.

Pros:

• Historic, highly walkable downtown
• Home to Phillips Exeter Academy
• Commuter access toward Boston and the coast
• No state income or sales tax

Cons:

• Median home prices near $620,000
• Summer and tourist traffic downtown

Verdict: A historic walkable pick — best for families who want downtown charm with seacoast and Boston access.

8. Windham

County: Rockingham | Median home: $620,000 | Best for: Commuters who want top schools closest to the Massachusetts line

Windham is a fast-growing town of about 15,000 near the Massachusetts border, prized for the shortest Boston commute of any pick here and a median household income near $150,000. The Windham School District is one of the highest-rated in the state, with a modern high school, and crime is very low.

Interstate 93 runs through town for a roughly 40-mile drive to Boston, making it a magnet for cross-border professionals. Windham offers new construction, lakes for recreation, and a family-first community within easy reach of two states' job markets.

Pros:

• Shortest Boston commute among these picks
• Top-rated Windham schools
• Very high income and low crime
• No state income or sales tax with Massachusetts access

Cons:

• Median home prices near $620,000
• Rapid growth has strained roads and traffic

Verdict: The commuter's pick — best for professionals who want elite schools closest to the Boston job market.

9. New London

County: Merrimack | Median home: $510,000 | Best for: Retirees and lake lovers who want a relaxed college town

New London is a relaxed town of about 4,500 built around Colby-Sawyer College and the shores of Lake Sunapee, with a median household income near $85,000. The local school is solid, crime is very low, and the walkable Main Street offers shops, dining, and cultural events tied to the college.

Mount Sunapee skiing and the lake make it a four-season recreation base, and New London Hospital anchors local healthcare. Sitting near Interstate 89, it balances small-town quiet with reasonable reach to Concord and the Upper Valley. New London is a favorite for retirees and second-home owners.

Pros:

• Lake Sunapee and Mount Sunapee recreation
• Walkable college-town Main Street
• Very low crime and local hospital
• More affordable than the southern suburbs

Cons:

• Limited year-round job market
• Long drive to a major airport

Verdict: A four-season lake-town pick — ideal for retirees and remote workers who want Sunapee recreation and quiet.

10. Wolfeboro

County: Carroll | Median home: $560,000 | Best for: Lake lovers and retirees who want a classic Lake Winnipesaukee town

Wolfeboro calls itself "the oldest summer resort in America" and sits on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, with about 6,400 year-round residents and a median household income near $80,000. The local schools are solid, crime is very low, and the walkable downtown is full of shops and restaurants overlooking the water.

The economy leans on tourism, healthcare, and retirees, and Boston is roughly 2 hours south. Wolfeboro offers genuine lakeside charm and four-season recreation — boating in summer, skiing and snowmobiling in winter — for buyers who prize lifestyle over commute.

Pros:

• Iconic Lake Winnipesaukee waterfront living
• Charming, walkable downtown
• Very low crime and four-season recreation
• No state income or sales tax

Cons:

• Tourism-driven economy limits year-round jobs
• About two hours from Boston

Verdict: A classic lake-town pick — best for retirees and lake lovers who want Winnipesaukee charm over a daily commute.

Which Town Is Right for You?

What to Look For When Choosing a Town in New Hampshire

• Property tax reality — New Hampshire has no income or sales tax, so towns lean heavily on property taxes; compare each town's mill rate, because the bill varies widely and affects true affordability.
• School ratings — Use GreatSchools and Niche to compare districts; Bedford, Bow, Hollis-Brookline, and Windham rank among the strongest in the state.
• Commute to Boston or Manchester — Southern towns like Windham, Bedford, and Bow offer the shortest drives; northern picks like Hanover and Wolfeboro trade commute time for scenery.
• Winter and recreation access — Confirm proximity to skiing, lakes, and trails if four-season recreation matters; Sunapee, Winnipesaukee, and the Upper Valley deliver year-round.
• Walkable downtown vs suburban layout — Portsmouth, Exeter, and Hanover offer real walkability, while Bedford, Bow, and Hollis are car-dependent and spread out.
• Job market vs remote work — Manchester, Nashua, and Portsmouth anchor the job base; lake and college towns suit remote workers and retirees more than daily commuters.

What matters less than marketing implies: glossy "best small town" headlines and resort branding. A town's property-tax rate, school ratings, and real commute times affect your daily life and budget far more than its tourism reputation.

FAQ

What is the best town to live in New Hampshire overall? Bedford earns our top spot for combining top-ranked schools, a short Manchester commute, very low crime, and high incomes, with the only real drawback being a median home price near $640,000.

What is the most affordable good town in New Hampshire? Bow is our Best Value pick, with a median home price around $480,000, excellent schools, very low crime, and easy highway access to Concord and Boston.

Which New Hampshire town is best for families? Bedford, Bow, Hollis, and Windham lead for families thanks to top-rated schools, very low crime, and strong communities, while Amherst and Exeter add classic village charm.

Which New Hampshire town is best for commuting to Boston? Windham offers the shortest Boston commute of these picks via Interstate 93, followed by Bedford and Bow, all within roughly 40 to 50 miles.

Does New Hampshire have low taxes? New Hampshire has no state income tax and no sales tax, which boosts take-home affordability, though towns rely on property taxes, so mill rates vary and should be compared.

Which New Hampshire towns are best for lake living? Wolfeboro on Lake Winnipesaukee and New London on Lake Sunapee are the top lake-town picks, both offering four-season recreation and charming walkable downtowns.

Bottom Line

For New Hampshire, Bedford is our Best Overall town — it wins on schools, safety, income, and commute, with the only real drawback being a median home price near $640,000. Bow, with a median home price around $480,000, is our Best Value, delivering excellent schools and low crime for meaningfully less.

If your priorities lean toward a walkable coastal city, an Ivy-League college town, or four-season lake living, use the decision tree above to route yourself to Portsmouth, Hanover, Wolfeboro, or New London instead. Buy on school ratings, property-tax rates, and total cost of living — not tourism branding — and you will be happy through every New Hampshire season.

Sources

• Niche — Best places to live in New Hampshire
• U.S. Census Bureau — New Hampshire QuickFacts
• Zillow — New Hampshire home values
• Realtor.com — New Hampshire housing market
• BestPlaces — New Hampshire cost of living and crime
• GreatSchools — New Hampshire school ratings
• Livability — Best places to live
• Town of Bedford, New Hampshire
• Visit New Hampshire — official state tourism
• Rockingham County, New Hampshire

*Best towns to live in New Hampshire review — where to live, rankings, home prices, schools, and a review of the best places to live in New Hampshire.*