New Hampshire doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 7 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 7 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Durham came out on top.
The 7 Best College Towns In New Hampshire For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where New Hampshire's towns land among the best college towns in America.
For more reading, check out:
| Colleges | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 11,261 (105 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 10,681 |
| Median rent | $1,302 |
| Graduation rate | 79% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $35,537 |
Durham is home to University of New Hampshire-Main Campus. There are 105 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,302 a month, and the average cost to attend is $35,537 a year. It ranks 1st for crime among the 7 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Saint Anselm College, University of New Hampshire at Manchester |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,530 (2 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 115,643 |
| Median rent | $1,564 |
| Graduation rate | 68% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $43,616 |
Manchester is home to Saint Anselm College, University of New Hampshire at Manchester. There are 2 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,564 a month, and the average cost to attend is $43,616 a year. It ranks 6th for crime among the 7 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Keene State College, Antioch University-New England |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,699 (12 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 22,939 |
| Median rent | $1,342 |
| Graduation rate | 65% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $29,993 |
Keene is home to Keene State College, Antioch University-New England. There are 12 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,342 a month, and the average cost to attend is $29,993 a year. It ranks 7th for crime among the 7 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of New Hampshire-Franklin Pierce School of Law |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 0 (0 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 44,375 |
| Median rent | $1,441 |
| Graduation rate | 73% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $50,088 |
Concord is home to University of New Hampshire-Franklin Pierce School of Law. There are 0 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,441 a month, and the average cost to attend is $50,088 a year. It ranks 3rd for crime among the 7 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Dartmouth College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 4,541 (54 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 8,479 |
| Median rent | $2,254 |
| Graduation rate | 86% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $87,793 |
Hanover is home to Dartmouth College. There are 54 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $2,254 a month, and the average cost to attend is $87,793 a year. It ranks 2nd for crime among the 7 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Upper Valley Educators Institute |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 0 (0 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 14,999 |
| Median rent | $1,744 |
| Graduation rate | 73% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $50,088 |
Lebanon is home to Upper Valley Educators Institute. There are 0 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,744 a month, and the average cost to attend is $50,088 a year. It ranks 5th for crime among the 7 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Rivier University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,231 (1 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 91,294 |
| Median rent | $1,737 |
| Graduation rate | 67% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $53,499 |
Nashua is home to Rivier University. There are 1 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,737 a month, and the average cost to attend is $53,499 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 7 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in New Hampshire
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 7 towns in New Hampshire that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in New Hampshire.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in New Hampshire.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In New Hampshire
If you're looking for the best college towns in New Hampshire, Durham is where to start.
The best college towns in New Hampshire are Durham, Manchester, Keene, Concord, Hanover, Lebanon, and Nashua.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in New Hampshire for 2026?
Durham is the best college town in New Hampshire for 2026, followed by Manchester and Keene.
How did you rank the best college towns in New Hampshire?
We looked at every town in New Hampshire with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in New Hampshire?
Nashua ranks last of the 7 college towns we ranked in New Hampshire for 2026.
Best College Towns In New Hampshire For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham, NH | 10,681 | 11,261 | $1,302 |
| 2 | Manchester, NH | 115,643 | 2,530 | $1,564 |
| 3 | Keene, NH | 22,939 | 2,699 | $1,342 |
| 4 | Concord, NH | 44,375 | 0 | $1,441 |
| 5 | Hanover, NH | 8,479 | 4,541 | $2,254 |
| 6 | Lebanon, NH | 14,999 | 0 | $1,744 |
| 7 | Nashua, NH | 91,294 | 1,231 | $1,737 |
Best College Towns By State
Best College Towns In Arkansas
Best College Towns In California
Best College Towns In Colorado
Best College Towns In Connecticut
Best College Towns In Illinois
Best College Towns In Maryland
Best College Towns In Massachusetts
Best College Towns In Michigan
Best College Towns In Minnesota
Best College Towns In Mississippi
Best College Towns In Missouri
Best College Towns In Nebraska
Best College Towns In New Hampshire
Best College Towns In New Jersey
Best College Towns In New Mexico
Best College Towns In New York
Best College Towns In Oklahoma
Best College Towns In Pennsylvania
Best College Towns In Rhode Island
Best College Towns In South Carolina
Best College Towns In South Dakota
Best College Towns In Tennessee
Best College Towns In Virginia
Best College Towns In Washington