State rankings

Best Counties to Live in New Hampshire

Compare counties in New Hampshire by affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and quality-of-life tradeoffs.

Use the county-size filter to compare large metro counties, mid-size counties, small counties, and rural areas separately. These modules are a starting point, then you can open the full rankings table or compare individual counties.

County size

County size helps compare places with similar scale. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.

Showing all 10 New Hampshire counties

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All sizesLarge counties: 500k+ residentsMid-size counties: 100k-500k residentsSmall counties: 25k-100k residentsRural / very small: under 25k residents

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Compare counties in New Hampshire

Put New Hampshire counties side by side.

Estimate moving costs

Compare housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, insurance, and tax-pressure estimates.

Open New Hampshire rankings

Open the full New Hampshire ranking table with filters.

Explore on the map

Scan county scores geographically across the country.

New Hampshire county rankings at a glance

Compact winners for common county-search priorities.

View full New Hampshire rankings

Top counties by category

Use these short lists to jump into the state rankings that match your priorities.

National rankings

Popular New Hampshire county comparisons

Put two counties side by side before you narrow the search.

Compare Carroll County vs Grafton CountyCompare Rockingham County vs Coos CountyCompare Grafton County vs Rockingham CountyCompare Rockingham County vs Cheshire County

How to choose a county in New Hampshire

The best county in New Hampshire depends on what you need most. Families may care more about schools and safety, budget-focused movers may care more about affordability and taxes, and quiet-living households may care more about density and peace & quiet. Large counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so use the county-size filter to compare places with similar scale.

Best family rankingsAffordable county rankingsLow-tax county rankingsCompare countiesEstimate moving costs

Best for different needs

What to watch before moving to New Hampshire

Compare county scale carefully in New Hampshire; large metro counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.

Check town-level housing costs, commute patterns, school districts, and local services before making a final move decision.

Frequently asked questions about the best counties in New Hampshire

What is the best county to live in New Hampshire?

The best county depends on your priorities. In this ranking model, Carroll County currently scores highest overall, but families, budget-focused movers, and quiet-living households may prefer different counties.

What is the best county in New Hampshire for families?

Based on the family ranking blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet, Grafton County stands out in this model.

What is the most affordable county in New Hampshire?

Coos County scores highly on affordability in this model, but buyers should still compare home prices, taxes, insurance, commute costs, and local job access.

How should I compare large and small counties?

Use the county-size filter. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so comparing similar county sizes usually gives a more realistic shortlist.

Are these rankings based on reviews?

No. These rankings use public-data signals such as affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and peace & quiet. Local reviews and personal visits should still be part of a final decision.

Which New Hampshire counties score well for schools or taxes?

Rockingham County currently leads the school-score view, while Carroll County stands out on the tax-score view. Use the rankings presets to compare those priorities separately.

All New Hampshire counties

Showing all 10 New Hampshire counties ranked by the default generated overall score.

RankCountyOverallEconomyAfford.SchoolsSafetyTaxesPeace & QuietTypical homeIncome
1Carroll County
FIPS 33003
69.884.821.394.89958.273.3$496,497$86,463
2Rockingham County
FIPS 33015
69.483.532.598.110029.555.9$619,521$118,331
3Grafton County
FIPS 33009
68.980.533.69699.323.280$423,252$88,261
4Cheshire County
FIPS 33005
6877.843.285.81001581.4$380,746$83,329
5Merrimack County
FIPS 33013
66.584.835.693.875.923.177.9$483,959$97,004
6Belknap County
FIPS 33001
60.88523.585.158.943.968.4$505,416$92,783
7Strafford County
FIPS 33017
60.478.624.488.873.525.964.7$500,025$88,570
8Hillsborough County
FIPS 33011
59.882.333.186.355.825.456.2$517,338$103,545
9Coos County
FIPS 33007
58.564.948.366.571.322.180.3$251,611$57,677
10Sullivan County
FIPS 33019
58.57640.175.957.617.677.1$378,842$80,858