The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New Hampshire

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 118 towns of 500–10,000 people in New Hampshire. #1 is Peterborough, NH.

1. 25Lee, New Hampshire

   Better for retirees than 75% of New Hampshire towns

   Lee is a town of 4,520 people in Strafford County, New Hampshire. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of New Hampshire towns and more upscale than 96% of New Hampshire towns.

   4,520 people · Strafford County · median home $480,600 · income $131,579 · Jan low 14°F · 39 in snow

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2. 24Henniker, New Hampshire

   Better for retirees than 76% of New Hampshire towns

   Henniker is a community of 3,166 people in Merrimack County, New Hampshire. It also ranks more of a college town than 98% of New Hampshire towns and better for young professionals than 97% of New Hampshire towns.

   3,166 people · Merrimack County · median home $296,400 · income $76,326 · Jan low 13°F · 73 in snow

   Full Henniker, New Hampshire profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 23Henniker, New Hampshire

   Better for retirees than 76% of New Hampshire towns

   Henniker is a town of 6,185 people in Merrimack County, New Hampshire. It also ranks more of a college town than 98% of New Hampshire towns and better for young professionals than 97% of New Hampshire towns.

   6,185 people · Merrimack County · median home $356,700 · income $95,206 · Jan low 13°F · 73 in snow

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4. 22Stratham, New Hampshire

   Better for retirees than 77% of New Hampshire towns

   Stratham is a town of 7,669 people in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. It also ranks more seaside character than 98% of New Hampshire towns and better for families than 95% of New Hampshire towns.

   7,669 people · Rockingham County · median home $655,400 · income $151,998 · Jan low 16°F · 65 in snow

   Full Stratham, New Hampshire profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 21Walpole, New Hampshire

   Better for retirees than 78% of New Hampshire towns

   Walpole is a town of 3,633 people in Cheshire County, New Hampshire. It also ranks better for young professionals than 84% of New Hampshire towns and more walkable than 70% of New Hampshire towns.

   3,633 people · Cheshire County · median home $319,800 · income $82,617 · Jan low 13°F · 60 in snow

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6. 20Hampton Beach, New Hampshire

   Better for retirees than 81% of New Hampshire towns

   Hampton Beach is a community of 2,598 people in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. It also ranks more seaside character than 100% of New Hampshire towns and hipper than 96% of New Hampshire towns.

   2,598 people · Rockingham County · median home $508,900 · income $82,557 · Jan low 16°F · 63 in snow

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7. 19North Hampton, New Hampshire

   Better for retirees than 82% of New Hampshire towns

   North Hampton is a town of 4,538 people in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. It also ranks more seaside character than 99% of New Hampshire towns and better transit than 89% of New Hampshire towns.

   4,538 people · Rockingham County · median home $670,400 · income $146,458 · Jan low 16°F · 63 in snow

   Full North Hampton, New Hampshire profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 18Newmarket, New Hampshire

   Better for retirees than 82% of New Hampshire towns

   Newmarket is a community of 5,797 people in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. It also ranks better for young professionals than 99% of New Hampshire towns and better for first-time buyers than 98% of New Hampshire towns.

   5,797 people · Rockingham County · median home $423,500 · income $87,196 · Jan low 14°F · 39 in snow

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9. 17Newmarket, New Hampshire

   Better for retirees than 82% of New Hampshire towns

   Newmarket is a town of 9,430 people in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. It also ranks better for young professionals than 96% of New Hampshire towns and more seaside character than 95% of New Hampshire towns.

   9,430 people · Rockingham County · median home $455,000 · income $100,845 · Jan low 14°F · 39 in snow

   Full Newmarket, New Hampshire profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 16Grantham, New Hampshire

    Better for retirees than 83% of New Hampshire towns

    Grantham is a town of 3,404 people in Sullivan County, New Hampshire. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of New Hampshire towns and better for families than 91% of New Hampshire towns.

    3,404 people · Sullivan County · median home $343,100 · income $106,403 · Jan low 9°F · 70 in snow

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11. 15Chesterfield, New Hampshire

    Better for retirees than 84% of New Hampshire towns

    Chesterfield is a town of 3,552 people in Cheshire County, New Hampshire. It also ranks quieter than 91% of New Hampshire towns and easier by car than 84% of New Hampshire towns.

    3,552 people · Cheshire County · median home $373,500 · income $102,370 · Jan low 10°F · 60 in snow

    Full Chesterfield, New Hampshire profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 14Meredith, New Hampshire

    Better for retirees than 87% of New Hampshire towns

    Meredith is a community of 2,527 people in Belknap County, New Hampshire. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 86% of New Hampshire towns and better for young professionals than 80% of New Hampshire towns.

    2,527 people · Belknap County · median home $450,000 · income $59,375 · Jan low 13°F · 80 in snow

    Full Meredith, New Hampshire profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 13Meredith, New Hampshire

    Better for retirees than 87% of New Hampshire towns

    Meredith is a town of 6,662 people in Belknap County, New Hampshire. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 86% of New Hampshire towns and better for young professionals than 78% of New Hampshire towns.

    6,662 people · Belknap County · median home $480,100 · income $87,019 · Jan low 13°F · 80 in snow

    Full Meredith, New Hampshire profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 12Sanbornton, New Hampshire

    Better for retirees than 89% of New Hampshire towns

    Sanbornton is a town of 3,026 people in Belknap County, New Hampshire. It also ranks easier by car than 99% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 78% of New Hampshire towns.

    3,026 people · Belknap County · median home $452,300 · income $113,750 · Jan low 9°F · 62 in snow

    Full Sanbornton, New Hampshire profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 11Hampton, New Hampshire

    Better for retirees than 89% of New Hampshire towns

    Hampton is a community of 9,597 people in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. It also ranks more walkable than 95% of New Hampshire towns and more seaside character than 94% of New Hampshire towns.

    9,597 people · Rockingham County · median home $545,300 · income $97,163 · Jan low 16°F · 63 in snow

    Full Hampton, New Hampshire profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 10Wolfeboro, New Hampshire

    Better for retirees than 90% of New Hampshire towns

    Wolfeboro is a town of 6,416 people in Carroll County, New Hampshire. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 82% of New Hampshire towns and hipper than 79% of New Hampshire towns.

    6,416 people · Carroll County · median home $546,500 · income $94,375 · Jan low 12°F · 75 in snow

    Full Wolfeboro, New Hampshire profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

17. 9Bartlett, New Hampshire

    Better for retirees than 91% of New Hampshire towns

    Bartlett is a town of 3,200 people in Carroll County, New Hampshire. It also ranks quieter than 97% of New Hampshire towns and hipper than 92% of New Hampshire towns.

    3,200 people · Carroll County · median home $371,400 · income $59,754 · Jan low 10°F · 84 in snow

    Full Bartlett, New Hampshire profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

18. 8Moultonborough, New Hampshire

    Better for retirees than 91% of New Hampshire towns

    Moultonborough is a town of 4,918 people in Carroll County, New Hampshire. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 73% of New Hampshire towns.

    4,918 people · Carroll County · median home $644,200 · income $106,693 · Jan low 13°F · 80 in snow

    Full Moultonborough, New Hampshire profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

19. 7Wolfeboro, New Hampshire

    Better for retirees than 92% of New Hampshire towns

    Wolfeboro is a community of 3,300 people in Carroll County, New Hampshire. It also ranks hipper than 88% of New Hampshire towns and better for a vacation home than 82% of New Hampshire towns.

    3,300 people · Carroll County · median home $475,200 · income $51,839 · Jan low 12°F · 73 in snow

    Full Wolfeboro, New Hampshire profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

20. 6Tamworth, New Hampshire

    Better for retirees than 94% of New Hampshire towns

    Tamworth is a town of 2,812 people in Carroll County, New Hampshire. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 82% of New Hampshire towns and hipper than 73% of New Hampshire towns.

    2,812 people · Carroll County · median home $366,800 · income $68,036 · Jan low 8°F · 83 in snow

    Full Tamworth, New Hampshire profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

21. 5New London, New Hampshire

    Better for retirees than 96% of New Hampshire towns

    New London is a town of 4,400 people in Merrimack County, New Hampshire. It also ranks more of a college town than 97% of New Hampshire towns and better for young professionals than 95% of New Hampshire towns.

    4,400 people · Merrimack County · median home $554,100 · income $107,773 · Jan low 13°F · 85 in snow

    Full New London, New Hampshire profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

22. 4Rye, New Hampshire

    Better for retirees than 96% of New Hampshire towns

    Rye is a town of 5,543 people in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 100% of New Hampshire towns and more seaside character than 99% of New Hampshire towns.

    5,543 people · Rockingham County · median home $1,028,100 · income $140,655 · Jan low 16°F · 65 in snow

    Full Rye, New Hampshire profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

23. 3Enfield, New Hampshire

    Better for retirees than 98% of New Hampshire towns

    

    Enfield is a town of 4,465 people in Grafton County, New Hampshire. It also ranks better for cycling than 88% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 87% of New Hampshire towns.

    4,465 people · Grafton County · median home $390,800 · income $95,474 · Jan low 7°F · 68 in snow

    Full Enfield, New Hampshire profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

24. 2Peterborough, New Hampshire

    Better for retirees than 99% of New Hampshire towns

    Peterborough is a community of 3,090 people in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. It also ranks hipper than 96% of New Hampshire towns and more walkable than 87% of New Hampshire towns.

    3,090 people · Hillsborough County · median home $379,300 · income $85,833 · Jan low 13°F · 69 in snow

    Full Peterborough, New Hampshire profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

25. 1Peterborough, New Hampshire

    Better for retirees than 99% of New Hampshire towns

    

    Peterborough is a town of 6,418 people in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. It also ranks better for cycling than 98% of New Hampshire towns and hipper than 94% of New Hampshire towns.

    6,418 people · Hillsborough County · median home $404,500 · income $98,401 · Jan low 13°F · 69 in snow

    Full Peterborough, New Hampshire profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

More New Hampshire rankings

• The 25 Quietest Small Towns in New Hampshire
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in New Hampshire
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in New Hampshire
• 25 Small Towns in New Hampshire With the Cheapest Homes
• 25 Small Towns in New Hampshire With the Mildest Winters
• The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in New Hampshire
• 25 Small Towns in New Hampshire With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New Hampshire
• The 19 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in New Hampshire

Same ranking, other places

• The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America
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• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New York
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Michigan
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Texas
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Florida
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Wisconsin
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Ohio