What are the negatives of living in New Hampshire?

The honest trade-offs of living in New Hampshire are property taxes, winter, and limited urban scale. NH compensates for having no state income tax or sales tax with property taxes that often run 1.5 to 2.5 percent of assessed value, meaningful for homeowners and retirees on fixed budgets. Winters are long and cold (lows below 0°F not unusual in the north), and heating bills typically add $100 to $300 a month from November through March. Major job markets in tech, finance, and biotech concentrate around Boston, so career-driven residents often commute over the border or relocate eventually. NH’s moderate benchmark of $3,900 per person per month sits above the US average ($3,525). For the full picture, see our New Hampshire cost of living page.