People across the Granite State are deeply invested in understanding how public dollars are raised, allocated, and impact their communities. Here are the three themes we’re hearing most on our statewide budget tour and what they tell us about how people are thinking about New Hampshire’s state budget.
This Mother’s Day, NHFPI is highlighting key data points about the experiences of New Hampshire mothers from child care costs and paid leave to health care access and poverty. The numbers underscore both the critical role mothers play in supporting families and the economy and the challenges many continue to face across the Granite State.
In the latest episode of New Hampshire Uncharted, Gene Martin and Phil Sletten break down how property taxes work and why they matter so much in New Hampshire. With tax bills on a $500,000 home ranging from about $1,300 to $18,000 depending on location, the conversation explores disparities, affordability, and how communities fund essential services across the state.
On the last Friday of each month, the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute’s research team shares a curated list of books, research papers, podcasts, and more that are helping to shape our understanding of the economic wellbeing of the Granite State and beyond. Here are our picks for April 2026.
A new NHFPI analysis of federal income tax returns data shows that Granite Staters earned money from a wide variety of sources. Of the $76.8 billion in income reported, salaries and wages were the dominant source, but pensions and retirement income mattered more for lower and middle income Granite Staters. At the top end of the scale, business income and selling assets were a larger share of income, with about 76% of all capital gain income, and 36% of all dividend income, accruing to the top 1% of filers.
NHFPI's analysis finds New Hampshire’s job market slowed in 2025, with fewer jobs added, a slight rise in unemployment, and pay increases that didn’t keep up with inflation. While the state’s economy remains relatively strong, the tight labor market of recent years has eased, and many workers are seeing their pay stretch less. With ongoing economic uncertainty, both businesses and households may face continued challenges in the months ahead.
