Moving from Massachusetts to New Hampshire
Moving to New Hampshire on the same salary raises your real buying power by 8.8%. Change the salary below to see your own numbers.
Equal salary in NH: $95,500
To keep the same lifestyle, you need about $95,500 in New Hampshire to match $105,000 in Massachusetts ($9,500 less), after 2026 taxes and local prices.
Single filer, W-2 salary, standard deduction.
These changes cover taxes, housing and electricity. Food, transport, healthcare, other spending and one-time moving costs are excluded. They are not total savings. State medians may differ from your neighborhood and current quotes.
| Tax on $105,000 | Massachusetts | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $14,270 | $14,270 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $8,033 | $8,033 |
| State income tax | $5,030 | $0 |
| State payroll programs (UI, disability, paid leave, transit) | $483 | $0 |
| Take-home pay | $77,185 | $82,698 |
Key facts: Massachusetts to New Hampshire
- Median rent
- $1,848 → $1,558/mo
- Median home value
- $607,400 → $458,800
- Price level (U.S. = 100)
- 105.8 → 104.2
- Road distance
- ≈ 70 miles
- Natural hazard risk (FEMA)
- Among the highest → Above average
What changes when you move to New Hampshire
- New Hampshire has no state income tax on wages. At $105,000 you'd stop paying about $5,030 a year in Massachusetts income tax.
- BEA's housing price index is 10% lower in New Hampshire. Median rent goes from $1,848 to $1,558 a month and the median home value from $607,400 to $458,800.
- Homeowners pay more property tax: the median bill is $6,707 in New Hampshire vs $6,080 in Massachusetts.
- The average home electric bill is $145 a month in New Hampshire vs $167 in Massachusetts (EIA 2024), about $268 a year less.
Who moves from Massachusetts to New Hampshire
In the latest IRS migration data (2022–2023), 10,603 households (16,174 people) filed their taxes in New Hampshire after filing in Massachusetts the year before. That makes New Hampshire the #3 destination for people leaving Massachusetts. These households reported an average adjusted gross income of $134,698. Going the other way, 6,594 households moved from New Hampshire to Massachusetts, a net gain of 4,009 households for New Hampshire.
Five-year trend
Moves from Massachusetts to New Hampshire peaked in 2020–21 at 12,465 households, then fell 15% by 2022–23. That is still up 6% from 2018–19.
Source: IRS SOI state-to-state migration files, tax years 2018–19 to 2022–23.
Cost to move from Massachusetts to New Hampshire
Moving cost: $310–$4,860
Moving about 70 miles from Massachusetts to New Hampshire is a local-distance move. Local movers usually charge by the hour for the crew and truck, so get three local quotes.
The ranges below are fitted to moves of 200 miles or more, so a move this short often costs less. Distance is between the states' population centers by road (estimate).
| Moving method | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Rental truck (DIY) Truck rental, taxes and fees. Add fuel, damage coverage, lodging and your time. | $310 – $600 |
| Moving container You pack and load; the company drives the container. | $1,090 – $2,030 |
| Full-service movers Packing, loading, transport and unloading. | $1,830 – $4,860 |
These ranges are based on summer (peak-season) quotes. A move between October and April usually costs less: peak prices run 20–30% higher.
A rental truck also burns about 7 gallons of fuel over this distance. One-way truck rental prices depend on direction: a truck headed where many people are moving often costs more than the same trip in reverse.
Ranges combine 198 published quote ranges on 22 interstate routes (moveBuddha, retrieved 2026-09-24) with 47 independent published prices from U-Pack, HireAHelper and Move.org, which raised the top of several ranges. They are not quotes; get at least three written estimates.
Alaska and Hawaii ranges come from published carrier rates and moving quotes, dated in each row (Matson's household-goods rates, U-Pack, Royal Hawaiian Movers). See how we estimate.
Shipping a car from Massachusetts to New Hampshire
Car shipping: $580–$890
Shipping a sedan from Massachusetts to New Hampshire on an open carrier costs about $580–$890, typically 1–4 days in transit over about 70 miles.
Modeled from 32 published 2026 route prices (SGT Auto Transport 'Ship a Car to Another State' sample routes, SGT Auto Transport cost calculator sample routes) plus published Hawaii and Alaska rates. SUVs cost about 25% more and enclosed carriers about 35% more. Not a quote.
Massachusetts vs New Hampshire take-home pay at every salary
| Salary | Equal salary in NH | Take-home change | Take-home in MA | Take-home in NH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $46,100 | +$2,510 | $39,845 | $42,355 |
| $75,000 | $68,300 | +$3,875 | $57,718 | $61,593 |
| $100,000 | $91,000 | +$5,240 | $73,940 | $79,180 |
| $150,000 | $136,000 | +$7,970 | $105,821 | $113,791 |
| $250,000 | $226,100 | +$13,129 | $170,053 | $183,182 |
Single filer, 2026 tax rules, standard deduction. "Equal salary" keeps the same after-tax buying power.
At higher incomes, especially for homeowners, itemizing state and local taxes (deductible up to $40,400 in 2026) can lower your federal tax while you live in Massachusetts, which narrows the gap shown.
Cost of living: Massachusetts vs New Hampshire
| Measure | Massachusetts | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Overall price level (U.S. = 100) | 105.8 | 104.2 |
| Housing price index | 128.1 | 114.9 |
| Utilities price index | 152.1 | 133.7 |
| Goods price index | 98.8 | 98.6 |
| Median rent (monthly) | $1,848 | $1,558 |
| Median home value | $607,400 | $458,800 |
| Median property tax (yearly) | $6,080 | $6,707 |
| Electricity (residential) | 29.61¢/kWh | 27.01¢/kWh |
| State sales tax rate | 6.25% | 0% |
| Median household income | $104,828 | $99,782 |
Renting and buying: Massachusetts vs New Hampshire
| Measure | Massachusetts | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Income to rent the median home (30% rule) | $73,920 | $62,320 |
| Monthly cost to own the median home (20% down) | $3,861 | $3,088 |
| Income needed to buy the median home | $165,477 | $132,355 |
| Homeowners insurance (yearly median, homes with a mortgage) | $1,655 | $1,197 |
| Infant child care (center, yearly) | $26,343 | $16,040 |
Mortgage at the Freddie Mac 30-year average with 20% down, plus the median property tax and the median homeowners insurance that owners with a mortgage paid in 2024 (Census ACS). Premiums have risen in most states since then, so get quotes. See buying a home in New Hampshire for other down payments.
Your yearly budget: Massachusetts vs New Hampshire
On a $105,000 salary, taxes, housing, electricity, one car and health insurance for one adult come to $61,364 a year in Massachusetts and $50,637 in New Hampshire if you rent: $10,727 less after the move. If you buy the median home, they come to $85,521 and $69,000 ($16,521 less).
Your yearly budget, before vs after
| Yearly cost | MA | NH | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income and payroll taxes on $105,000, single filer | $27,816 | $22,303 | -$5,513 |
| Electricity state average bill | $2,006 | $1,738 | -$268 |
| Car insurance one car, state average | $1,326 | $987 | -$339 |
| Gas 12,000 miles at 25 mpg | $2,112 | $2,101 | -$11 |
| Health insurance one adult, age 40, own plan before subsidies | $5,928 | $4,812 | -$1,116 |
| If you rent | |||
| Rent median, 12 months | $22,176 | $18,696 | -$3,480 |
| Total if you rent | $61,364 | $50,637 | -$10,727 |
| If you buy the median home (20% down) | |||
| Mortgage payment median home, 20% down, 6.95% | $38,598 | $29,155 | -$9,443 |
| Property tax median home | $6,080 | $6,707 | +$627 |
| Homeowners insurance state median, with a mortgage | $1,655 | $1,197 | -$458 |
| Total if you buy | $85,521 | $69,000 | -$16,521 |
Taxes: 2026 federal and state rules, standard deduction. Rent, home value and property tax: Census ACS 2024 state medians. Mortgage: Freddie Mac 30-year average (6.95%, week of September 17, 2026).
State figures: EIA 2024 average residential power bill, NAIC 2023 auto insurance (average per car), Census ACS 2024 homeowners insurance (median for owners with a mortgage; premiums have risen since), AAA regular gas on September 23, 2026, and the KFF 2026 benchmark silver Marketplace premium. Job-based health coverage usually costs you less, and in 2026 incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level can get a premium tax credit.
Not included: sales tax (combined state and local rates are not in our data yet), food, car payments and other spending.
Child care is not in the totals. Full-time center care for one infant averages $26,343 a year in Massachusetts and $16,040 in New Hampshire (Child Care Aware of America, 2024 state averages).
Compare cities: Massachusetts to New Hampshire
Cost of living in New Hampshire cities: Manchester.
After you arrive in New Hampshire
- New Hampshire new resident checklist: driver license and vehicle registration deadlines.
- Taxes the year you move: part-year returns in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
- How New Hampshire taxes retirement income.
- Live in New Hampshire but keep working in Massachusetts? See who taxes your wages.
Frequently asked questions
How much salary do I need in New Hampshire to live like I do in Massachusetts?
A $105,000 salary in Massachusetts works out to about $95,500 in New Hampshire once 2026 federal and state taxes and BEA regional price levels are counted. At $100,000 it is about $91,000.
Will I pay less tax in New Hampshire than in Massachusetts?
Yes, about $5,513 less a year in income and payroll taxes on a $105,000 salary (26.5% of pay in Massachusetts vs 21.2% in New Hampshire). Property and sales taxes are shown separately.
How much does it cost to move from Massachusetts to New Hampshire?
For a 2–3 bedroom home over about 70 miles, expect roughly $310–$600 with a rental truck, $1,090–$2,030 with a moving container, or $1,830–$4,860 with full-service movers. That is a local-distance move, though, and these are the ranges for a 200-mile move. Local movers usually charge by the hour for the crew and truck, so get three local quotes.
Are more people moving from Massachusetts to New Hampshire?
Moves from Massachusetts to New Hampshire peaked in 2020–21 at 12,465 households, then fell 15% by 2022–23. That is still up 6% from 2018–19.
How many people move from Massachusetts to New Hampshire?
IRS migration data for 2022–2023 show 10,603 households (16,174 people) moved from Massachusetts to New Hampshire, making New Hampshire the #3 destination for people leaving Massachusetts. 6,594 households moved the other way.
Is New Hampshire cheaper than Massachusetts?
Overall prices in New Hampshire are 1.5% lower than Massachusetts (BEA Regional Price Parities 2024). Median rent is $1,558 vs $1,848 a month.
Compare other moves
Where people from Massachusetts actually move
- MA to Florida 12,159 households
- MA to New York 11,027 households
- MA to California 7,767 households
- MA to Rhode Island 6,510 households
- MA to Connecticut 6,006 households
- MA to Texas 4,218 households
- MA to North Carolina 3,483 households
- MA to Maine 3,330 households