You may want to avoid some of the most dangerous places to live in New Hampshire when you’re planning your next move.
New Hampshire has some pretty dangerous places, and we’re here to tell you where those places are.
How’d we do it? We used Saturday Night Science to analyze the FBI’s latest crime report for violent crime and property crime statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents. We discovered that although New Hampshire’s overall violent and property crime numbers are safer than the national average, the crime rates in the most dangerous places in New Hampshire could be better.
201 violent crimes /100k · 2,145 property crimes /100k · #4 most violent in New Hampshire
Despite New Hampshire’s reputation for being a safe place to live with your family, Conway might be an exception. Its large tourism industry and seasonal resident population contribute to its growing crime rate, as many of the crimes are committed against out of town visitors. In 2024, Conway ranked number 8 for rapes, 5 for property crimes, and as fifth highest for overall crimes.
It is the most populous community in Carroll County, with around 20% of the county’s population living there. It is located near the White Mountain National Forest and the popular Echo Lake State Park. Visiting climbers like to visit Cathedral Ledge.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
179 violent crimes /100k · 2,526 property crimes /100k · #10 most violent in New Hampshire
Located in
Strafford County, New HampshireIn Somersworth, New Hampshire, you are more likely to be the victim of property crime or larceny than to get struck by lightning or to face a tax audit. In data year 2024, the residents of Somersworth suffered from 310 property crimes and 293 cases of larceny. For a population of 12,270 residents, this makes Somersworth highest for total crime.
While it is not the safest place to live, it is one of the most affordable places to live. This might explain some of the crimes against property that are prevalent in this area.
It is conveniently located about an hour north of Boston and within close proximity to historic Portsmouth. It shares a border with Maine along the Salmon Falls River.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
336 violent crimes /100k · 1,648 property crimes /100k · #2 most violent in New Hampshire
Located in
Hillsborough County, New HampshireCompared to the other safe cities in New Hampshire, Manchester is the third most dangerous. It is one of the most populous cities in the state, with 115,464 current residents. In 2024, there were 1,622 cases and 1,903, making it a place where your residence or stuff are in danger.
In the state of New Hampshire, Manchester is second highest in violent crimes. Its central location along the Merrimack River puts it within an hour or so of Boston, Massachusetts. While it might also have a reputation for small business and successes with new retailers in downtown, its nickname of Queen City underplays the danger of living there.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
190 violent crimes /100k · 1,869 property crimes /100k · #6 most violent in New Hampshire
Located in
Sullivan County, New HampshireClaremont, the fourth most dangerous place to live in New Hampshire, has a concerning crime rate. With a population of 13,153, the city experienced25 incidents, including 5 robberies and 16 aggravated assaults. This puts Claremont at the sixth highest rank for violent crime in the state.
Located in Sullivan County, Claremont is the only city in the county. Historically, it was home to Native American tribes before European settlement. The city was named after Claremont, the country mansion of Thomas Pelham-Holles, Earl of Clare. While Claremont has a rich history, its current crime statistics make it dangerous to live in New Hampshire.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
166 violent crimes /100k · 2,450 property crimes /100k · #12 most violent in New Hampshire
179 violent crimes /100k · 2,173 property crimes /100k · #11 most violent in New Hampshire
Located in
Cheshire County, New HampshireKeene, New Hampshire is known for repeating its world record for setting the most jack o lanterns on display at once during New Hampshire’s annual pumpkin festival. However, the city is also known as one of the most dangerous. At the time of this writing, Keene ranks fourth highest for total crime in all of New Hampshire.
Overall, Keene is more dangerous than most of the other cities in New Hampshire, although not that dangerous for the country overall. This college town will still feel safe for the students of the two colleges located there: Keene State College and Antioch University New England. Despite the relative safety risk, there are a lot of things to do in Keene that keep tourists visiting the area, such as Mount Monadnock and the unique Hannah Grimes Marketplace.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
145 violent crimes /100k · 2,532 property crimes /100k · #16 most violent in New Hampshire
Located in
Belknap County, New HampshireLocated near lakes and mountains, the picturesque beauty of Laconia, New Hampshire hides the fact that it is the seventh most dangerous city in the state. With a whopping 436 per year, there is a very large number of property crimes for its relatively small population of 17,217. This makes Laconia #1 in property crimes and #2 in overall crimes for 2026.
While most of the crime is centered in the downtown area and its surroundings, this doesn’t make the other parts of town particularly safe. The town continues to try to clean up its crime rate but it hasn’t been successful. Combined with an overall lack of employment opportunities, you probably won’t find Laconia on our best places to live in New Hampshire list.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
187 violent crimes /100k · 1,284 property crimes /100k · #8 most violent in New Hampshire
Located in
Rockingham County, New HampshirePortsmouth, the eighth most dangerous place to live in New Hampshire, has seen a concerning increase in crime rates. With a population of 22,969, this city in Rockingham County has experienced 43 violent crimes, including 0 murder cases, 9 rapes, 2 robberies, and 32 aggravated assaults. The property crime rate is also alarming, with 295 incidents reported. These statistics indicate that residents of Portsmouth face a higher risk of being victims of crime compared to other areas in New Hampshire.
Located on the Piscataqua River and bordering the state of Maine, Portsmouth has a rich history as a seaport and popular tourist destination. While the city’s past achievements and unique charm continue attracting visitors, addressing its residents’ current safety concerns is essential. By acknowledging the existing challenges and working together as a community, Portsmouth can strive towards a safer future for its residents and maintain its status as an appealing place to live in New Hampshire.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
234 violent crimes /100k · 989 property crimes /100k · #3 most violent in New Hampshire
Data | Movers
181 violent crimes /100k · 1,229 property crimes /100k · #9 most violent in New Hampshire
Located in
Merrimack County, New HampshireConcord ranks 3rd in population and 16th highest in total crime, which makes it one of the most dangerous cities in the state of New Hampshire. In the last ranking, it was fifth lowest. The local government and law enforcement professionals have worked to reduce the amount of crime in the city.
Residents love to shop on Loudon Road and downtown, where the crime levels might be slightly higher. Most of the crimes in the area are property crimes and larceny, with 551 property crimes and 477 instances of larceny in 2024.
Concord is the capital city of New Hampshire and the location of the University of New Hampshire School of Law.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is New Hampshire’s statewide median.
On the map
Where crime hits hardest in New Hampshire
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the most dangerous cities in New Hampshire for 2026?
Every year the FBI release two crime datasets on cities in New Hampshire. First a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in New Hampshire, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.
For our analysis, we focused on the 2024 data, specifically the 2024 Crime In The United States Report for New Hampshire.
So what criteria did we use? Have a look:
- Violent Crimes Per Capita
- Property Crimes Per Capita
In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered New Hampshire cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 75 cities in New Hampshire.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 75 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.
Next, we averaged the two rankings into one “Dangerous Index”.
Finally, we ranked every city on the “Dangerous Index” with the lowest index being the most dangerous in New Hampshire — Conway. Any ties went to the smaller city.
This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our eleventh time ranking the most dangerous places to live in New Hampshire and is updated for 2026.
The full plate
Crime By City In New Hampshire
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Dangerous Index | Population | Total Crimes Per 100K | Violent Crimes Per 100K | Property Crimes Per 100K | Murders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conway | 4.50 | 10,441 | 2,347 | 201 | 2,145 | 1 |
| 2 | Somersworth | 6.00 | 12,270 | 2,706 | 179 | 2,526 | 0 |
| 3 | Manchester | 6.50 | 115,464 | 1,984 | 336 | 1,648 | 2 |
| 4 | Claremont | 7.00 | 13,165 | 2,058 | 190 | 1,869 | 0 |
| 5 | Seabrook | 7.50 | 8,409 | 2,616 | 166 | 2,450 | 0 |
| 6 | Keene | 7.50 | 22,874 | 2,352 | 179 | 2,173 | 0 |
| 7 | Laconia | 8.50 | 17,217 | 2,678 | 145 | 2,532 | 1 |
| 8 | Portsmouth | 11.00 | 22,969 | 1,472 | 187 | 1,284 | 0 |
| 9 | Jaffrey | 12.00 | 5,562 | 1,223 | 234 | 989 | 0 |
| 10 | Concord | 13.00 | 44,827 | 1,410 | 181 | 1,229 | 3 |
| 11 | Salem | 13.50 | 31,962 | 2,074 | 106 | 1,968 | 1 |
| 12 | Plymouth | 14.00 | 6,598 | 1,788 | 136 | 1,652 | 0 |
| 13 | Berlin | 14.00 | 9,477 | 1,878 | 127 | 1,752 | 0 |
| 14 | Nashua | 14.00 | 90,938 | 1,422 | 161 | 1,261 | 0 |
| 15 | Epping | 14.50 | 7,692 | 1,976 | 104 | 1,872 | 0 |
| 16 | Newport | 17.50 | 6,446 | 1,008 | 372 | 636 | 0 |
| 17 | Northfield | 19.00 | 5,068 | 947 | 158 | 789 | 0 |
| 18 | Littleton | 19.00 | 6,047 | 1,439 | 99 | 1,340 | 0 |
| 19 | Farmington | 19.50 | 6,880 | 887 | 189 | 698 | 0 |
| 20 | Lebanon | 20.00 | 15,709 | 1,700 | 95 | 1,604 | 0 |
| 21 | Hillsborough | 23.00 | 5,998 | 850 | 150 | 700 | 1 |
| 22 | Franklin | 23.00 | 8,805 | 1,352 | 91 | 1,261 | 0 |
| 23 | Derry | 25.00 | 34,207 | 827 | 108 | 719 | 0 |
| 24 | Hampton | 25.50 | 16,477 | 844 | 103 | 740 | 0 |
| 25 | Hudson | 25.50 | 25,672 | 1,258 | 74 | 1,184 | 0 |
| 26 | Rochester | 25.50 | 33,831 | 1,221 | 77 | 1,144 | 0 |
| 27 | Swanzey | 26.00 | 7,478 | 642 | 201 | 441 | 0 |
| 28 | Belmont | 31.00 | 7,458 | 845 | 67 | 778 | 0 |
| 29 | Alton | 32.00 | 6,087 | 657 | 99 | 559 | 0 |
| 30 | Meredith | 32.00 | 6,810 | 617 | 103 | 514 | 0 |
| 31 | Dover | 33.00 | 33,696 | 834 | 47 | 786 | 0 |
| 32 | New Ipswich | 35.00 | 5,417 | 738 | 55 | 683 | 0 |
| 33 | Henniker | 35.00 | 6,244 | 529 | 144 | 384 | 0 |
| 34 | Hooksett | 35.00 | 15,454 | 641 | 71 | 569 | 0 |
| 35 | Rindge | 36.00 | 6,630 | 784 | 45 | 739 | 0 |
| 36 | Plaistow | 37.00 | 7,826 | 818 | 38 | 779 | 0 |
| 37 | Moultonborough | 37.50 | 5,314 | 527 | 75 | 452 | 0 |
| 38 | Wolfeboro | 40.50 | 6,681 | 614 | 45 | 569 | 0 |
| 39 | Gilford | 42.50 | 7,926 | 1,173 | 13 | 1,161 | 0 |
| 40 | Exeter | 44.50 | 16,203 | 580 | 37 | 543 | 0 |
| 41 | Peterborough | 45.00 | 6,529 | 475 | 46 | 429 | 0 |
| 42 | Amherst | 45.50 | 11,922 | 939 | 8 | 931 | 0 |
| 43 | Goffstown | 45.50 | 18,517 | 497 | 38 | 459 | 0 |
| 44 | Londonderry | 45.50 | 26,974 | 486 | 41 | 445 | 0 |
| 45 | Barnstead | 46.00 | 5,053 | 613 | 20 | 594 | 0 |
| 46 | Pembroke | 46.00 | 7,635 | 393 | 92 | 301 | 0 |
| 47 | Hampstead | 46.50 | 9,164 | 415 | 55 | 360 | 0 |
| 48 | Bedford | 46.50 | 23,893 | 871 | 8 | 862 | 0 |
| 49 | Newmarket | 47.00 | 9,490 | 432 | 53 | 379 | 0 |
| 50 | Pelham | 48.00 | 14,606 | 541 | 34 | 507 | 0 |
| 51 | Milford | 48.50 | 16,517 | 484 | 36 | 448 | 0 |
| 52 | Epsom | 49.00 | 5,019 | 438 | 40 | 398 | 0 |
| 53 | Weare | 49.00 | 9,235 | 260 | 97 | 162 | 0 |
| 54 | Raymond | 50.00 | 11,056 | 362 | 54 | 308 | 0 |
| 55 | Bow | 52.50 | 8,437 | 427 | 36 | 391 | 0 |
| 56 | Sandown | 53.00 | 6,689 | 239 | 60 | 179 | 0 |
| 57 | Wakefield | 56.00 | 6,414 | 421 | 16 | 405 | 0 |
| 58 | Durham | 56.00 | 14,718 | 265 | 41 | 224 | 1 |
| 59 | Brookline | 57.00 | 5,816 | 361 | 34 | 327 | 0 |
| 60 | Hanover | 58.50 | 12,421 | 451 | 0 | 451 | 0 |
| 61 | Barrington | 59.00 | 9,625 | 322 | 21 | 301 | 0 |
| 62 | Loudon | 61.50 | 5,769 | 399 | 0 | 399 | 0 |
| 63 | Stratham | 61.50 | 7,776 | 347 | 13 | 334 | 0 |
| 64 | Nottingham | 62.50 | 5,449 | 165 | 37 | 128 | 0 |
| 65 | Auburn | 62.50 | 6,239 | 272 | 16 | 256 | 0 |
| 66 | Windham | 63.00 | 16,158 | 241 | 19 | 223 | 0 |
| 67 | Chester | 63.50 | 5,327 | 225 | 19 | 206 | 0 |
| 68 | Hollis | 63.50 | 8,846 | 339 | 11 | 328 | 0 |
| 69 | Rye | 64.50 | 5,622 | 356 | 0 | 356 | 0 |
| 70 | Kingston | 65.00 | 6,328 | 237 | 16 | 221 | 0 |
| 71 | Merrimack | 65.00 | 29,650 | 344 | 0 | 344 | 0 |
| 72 | New Boston | 66.00 | 6,205 | 177 | 16 | 161 | 0 |
| 73 | Hopkinton | 69.00 | 6,143 | 228 | 0 | 228 | 0 |
| 74 | Atkinson | 69.50 | 7,434 | 108 | 13 | 94 | 0 |
| 75 | Litchfield | 70.00 | 8,514 | 164 | 12 | 153 | 0 |
Source: FBI UCR 2024. 75 cities with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
Summary: Locking It All Up In New Hampshire
So what is the most dangerous city in New Hampshire? After analyzing 75 cities in New Hampshire, Conway takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in New Hampshire based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2024.
The latest FBI crime data shows that Conway ranks as the most dangerous city in New Hampshire for 2026.
The most dangerous cities in New Hampshire are Conway, Somersworth, Manchester, Claremont, Seabrook, Keene, Laconia, Portsmouth, Jaffrey, and Concord.
We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Conway and that this isn’t a comment on the people that live there. So please don’t beat us up. Not sold on New Hampshire? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Most Dangerous Places To Live In New Hampshire FAQs
Is New Hampshire a dangerous state?
No, New Hampshire is not a dangerous state as it ranks as the #1 safest state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in New Hampshire ranks 49th most dangerous in the United States — 60.42% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Granite State ranks 49th most dangerous in the United States — 43.77% better than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.
Is Manchester, NH a dangerous city?
No, Manchester is not a dangerous city. Manchester ranks as the #155 safest out of 328 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Manchester might be considered safe you still need to be aware of where you are.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Manchester ranks 189th highest in America — 25.62% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 173rd highest in the United States — 8.78% better than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022 and that no city in America is ‘dangerous’. Despite the uptick in murders, it’s nothing like you’d see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
