Study finds wide disparities in property tax bills across New Hampshire communities, with similar homes facing dramatically different tax burdens depending on location 

Concord, NH – A $500,000 home in New Hampshire can face annual property tax bills ranging from about $1,310 to more than $18,270 depending on the community, according to a new analysis from the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute. Property tax rates vary widely across cities and towns from about $2.62 to $36.54 per $1,000 of property value resulting in substantial differences in tax bills for similar homes across the state.

The study, Property Taxes in New Hampshire: How They Work and How They Compare, examines how property taxes are structured, how they vary across communities, and how New Hampshire’s reliance on local property taxes compares to other states. The analysis draws on municipal tax rate data, property valuation information, and national comparisons of state and local tax systems to assess geographic and household-level differences in tax burdens.

The study found that even neighboring communities can face significantly different tax bills for similar homes. For example in 2025, a $500,000 home in Lee would cost about $13,805 in property taxes, while the same-value home in neighboring Nottingham would face a property tax bill of approximately $6,600. Similarly, in Sullivan County, a $500,000 home in Acworth would cost about $8,030 in property taxes, compared to $18,270 for a similarly-valued home in nearby Charlestown. Regional differences are also substantial, with a $500,000 home in Moultonborough costing about $2,665 in property taxes, compared to approximately $10,120 in Manchester.

“Property tax bills in New Hampshire can vary widely depending on where a home is located, even when the homes themselves have similar values and may be just across a municipal border from each other,” said Phil Sletten, Research Director at the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute and the study’s author. “Because New Hampshire provides relatively little state aid while communities still face significant funding needs, property taxes play an outsized role in funding local services, leading to wide variation in tax rates and tax bills across communities.”

Key findings from Property Taxes in New Hampshire: How They Work and How They Compare include: 

• Wide variation in tax bills: Property taxes on a $500,000 home can vary by nearly $17,000 across New Hampshire communities, from about $1,300 to more than $18,000 depending on location.
• High national ranking: Granite Staters paid approximately $3,388 per person in property taxes in 2022, the second-highest level in the country.
• Heavy reliance on property taxes: Property taxes account for about 63 percent of all state and local tax revenue in New Hampshire, and property taxes account for a greater share of state and local government revenue than in any other state.
• Local governments depend on property taxes more than anywhere else: With limited options for revenue generation in state law, about 61 percent of local government revenue comes from property taxes, the highest share nationwide.
• Limited state support for local governments: New Hampshire ranks 48th in the nation in state aid to local governments on a per capita basis, placing greater reliance on local property taxes to fund public services.
• Equity impacts: Low-income Granite Staters pay nearly three times the share of their income in property taxes (5.9%) as the state’s highest earners (2%).

“New Hampshire relies more heavily on property taxes than any other state, and those taxes represent a significant and growing share of how public services are funded, with lower-income households bearing a larger share of that cost,” said Sletten.

The analysis also includes three interactive maps, including one that allows users to explore how property tax bills for similarly valued homes vary across New Hampshire communities. A table of the town-by-town data is also available for download. To read the full study and explore the interactive map, visit https://nhfpi.org/resource/property-taxes-in-new-hampshire-how-they-work-and-how-they-compare/.

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About New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute 

The New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute is a nonpartisan, independent research nonprofit organization that examines issues related to the state budget, the economy, policy decisions, and the financial security of Granite Staters, centering on issues relevant to people and families with low- and moderate-income. Learn more at www.nhfpi.org.