Looking for a rock-solid place to retire in the Granite Place?
You’re in the right place because we’ve found the top spots in New Hampshire to spend your golden years.
Luckily, there’s a wide array of places to choose from, so whatever your retirement priorities are, there’s something for you. If you want to live in the middle of the action, Concord is the place to be, while if you always imagined retiring beside the sea, Portsmouth or Hampton are your best bets. Or if you’d like to be near the bigger cities like Manchester and Nashua, but still have apple orchards aplenty, then Londonderry is calling.
Florida may have New Hampshire beat in terms of heat, but if natural beauty is your thing, it’s hard to top New Hampshire’s rugged landscape, especially in autumn. And if you don’t feel up for the often wild and steep trails in White Mountain National Forest, there’s always the option to drive up Mountain Washington. Even if you’re reading a book by the side of the Merrimack River, you can’t help but appreciate the nature in New Hampshire.
Without further ado, let’s turn to the absolute best places to retire in New Hampshire.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So there you have it: these places are the cream of the crop in New Hampshire once you’ve called it quits on working. And not just then. More than half the cities on this list are also among the best places to live in New Hampshire overall, so they’re objectively desirable at any stage of life.
But which of these cities is the absolute best place to retire in New Hampshire? According to the data, Exeter is the #1 spot to spend your golden years.
Why did Exeter take the top spot? And where are Manchester and Nashua?
For more New Hampshire state reading:
- Best Places To Live In New Hampshire
- Cheapest Places To Live In New Hampshire
- Best Places To Raise A Family In New Hampshire
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In New Hampshire For 2025
/10
Population: 10,138
Median Income: $83,862
Median Home Price: $349,300
Median Rent: $1,569
Distance to Closest Airport: 42 miles
More on Exeter: Data
/10
Population: 9,960
Median Income: $96,322
Median Home Price: $488,400
Median Rent: $1,644
Distance to Closest Airport: 41 miles
More on Hampton: Data
/10
Population: 10,577
Median Income: $109,934
Median Home Price: $451,000
Median Rent: $1,338
Distance to Closest Airport: 46 miles
More on Durham: Data
/10
Population: 9,473
Median Income: $43,972
Median Home Price: $113,500
Median Rent: $804
Distance to Closest Airport: 75 miles
More on Berlin: Data
/10
Population: 32,866
Median Income: $79,388
Median Home Price: $262,600
Median Rent: $1,220
Distance to Closest Airport: 41 miles
More on Rochester:
/10
Population: 5,185
Median Income: $75,849
Median Home Price: $191,000
Median Rent: $1,261
Distance to Closest Airport: 90 miles
More on Newport:
/10
Population: 7,105
Median Income: $88,193
Median Home Price: $330,700
Median Rent: $1,561
Distance to Closest Airport: 35 miles
More on Hudson: Data
/10
Population: 21,668
Median Income: $88,901
Median Home Price: $356,700
Median Rent: $1,473
Distance to Closest Airport: 39 miles
More on Derry: Data
/10
Population: 16,982
Median Income: $68,427
Median Home Price: $308,800
Median Rent: $1,180
Distance to Closest Airport: 58 miles
More on Laconia: Data
/10
Population: 8,757
Median Income: $69,870
Median Home Price: $243,800
Median Rent: $1,088
Distance to Closest Airport: 69 miles
More on Franklin: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Granite State for 2025
To create our ranking of the best places in New Hampshire to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Granite State — 97 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 5,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 24 places from across the state.
For these 24, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 24, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Exeter, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2025. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in New Hampshire.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In New Hampshire Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in New Hampshire goes to Exeter.
The best places to retire in New Hampshire are Exeter, Hampton, Durham, Berlin, Rochester, Newport, Hudson, Derry, Laconia, and Franklin.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Lebanon
- Manchester
- Keene
For more New Hampshire reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In New Hampshire
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exeter | 10,138 | $83,862 | $349,300 | $1,569 |
| 2 | Hampton | 9,960 | $96,322 | $488,400 | $1,644 |
| 3 | Durham | 10,577 | $109,934 | $451,000 | $1,338 |
| 4 | Berlin | 9,473 | $43,972 | $113,500 | $804 |
| 5 | Rochester | 32,866 | $79,388 | $262,600 | $1,220 |
| 6 | Newport | 5,185 | $75,849 | $191,000 | $1,261 |
| 7 | Hudson | 7,105 | $88,193 | $330,700 | $1,561 |
| 8 | Derry | 21,668 | $88,901 | $356,700 | $1,473 |
| 9 | Laconia | 16,982 | $68,427 | $308,800 | $1,180 |
| 10 | Franklin | 8,757 | $69,870 | $243,800 | $1,088 |