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, Hampton is the #1 spot to spend your golden years.
Why did Hampton 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 2026
/10
Population: 10,101
Median Income: $97,163
Median Home Price: $618,202
Median Rent: $1,654
Distance to Closest Airport: 41 miles
More on Hampton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 9,964
Median Income: $87,346
Median Home Price: $607,124
Median Rent: $1,711
Distance to Closest Airport: 42 miles
More on Exeter: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,681
Median Income: $112,070
Median Home Price: $683,122
Median Rent: $1,302
Distance to Closest Airport: 46 miles
More on Durham: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 9,383
Median Income: $45,180
Median Home Price: $178,877
Median Rent: $815
Distance to Closest Airport: 75 miles
More on Berlin: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 21,339
Median Income: $91,673
Median Home Price: $493,914
Median Rent: $1,549
Distance to Closest Airport: 39 miles
More on Derry: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 33,144
Median Income: $80,836
Median Home Price: $398,491
Median Rent: $1,369
Distance to Closest Airport: 41 miles
More on Rochester: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 7,469
Median Income: $95,842
Median Home Price: $534,265
Median Rent: $1,722
Distance to Closest Airport: 35 miles
More on Hudson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 22,545
Median Income: $106,219
Median Home Price: $798,497
Median Rent: $1,869
Distance to Closest Airport: 46 miles
More on Portsmouth: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 8,799
Median Income: $71,648
Median Home Price: $376,959
Median Rent: $1,110
Distance to Closest Airport: 69 miles
More on Franklin: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 17,085
Median Income: $73,218
Median Home Price: $434,892
Median Rent: $1,224
Distance to Closest Airport: 58 miles
More on Laconia: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Granite State for 2026
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 23 places from across the state.
For these 23, 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 23, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Hampton, 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 2026. This list reflects our eleventh 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 Hampton.
The best places to retire in New Hampshire are Hampton, Exeter, Durham, Berlin, Derry, Rochester, Hudson, Portsmouth, Franklin, and Laconia.
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 | Hampton | 10,101 | $97,163 | $618,202 | $1,654 |
| 2 | Exeter | 9,964 | $87,346 | $607,124 | $1,711 |
| 3 | Durham | 10,681 | $112,070 | $683,122 | $1,302 |
| 4 | Berlin | 9,383 | $45,180 | $178,877 | $815 |
| 5 | Derry | 21,339 | $91,673 | $493,914 | $1,549 |
| 6 | Rochester | 33,144 | $80,836 | $398,491 | $1,369 |
| 7 | Hudson | 7,469 | $95,842 | $534,265 | $1,722 |
| 8 | Portsmouth | 22,545 | $106,219 | $798,497 | $1,869 |
| 9 | Franklin | 8,799 | $71,648 | $376,959 | $1,110 |
| 10 | Laconia | 17,085 | $73,218 | $434,892 | $1,224 |