Is it better to live in Massachusetts or New Hampshire?

The honest answer comes down to job market versus cost. Massachusetts wins on career options (Boston’s tech, biotech, finance, and academic ecosystems are deep), public transit, and breadth of services. New Hampshire wins on cost ($3,900 a month vs Massachusetts $5,225), taxes (NH has no income or sales tax; Massachusetts charges 5 percent on income plus 6.25 percent sales), and a quieter lifestyle. The classic compromise is to live in southern NH (Salem, Nashua, Hudson) and work in Massachusetts, capturing most of the salary upside with NH’s tax structure. Property taxes run higher in NH; Massachusetts’ progressive income tax now adds a 4 percent surcharge above $1 million in earnings. For the NH cost picture, see our New Hampshire cost of living page.