Picking a town in New Hampshire is a bigger decision than picking a house. The town sets your commute, your school district, your property tax bill, and how you spend your weekends. Get it right and you settle in fast. Get it wrong and you are planning a second move.
College Bound Movers is based in Merrimack, and we have been moving families in and around southern New Hampshire since 1991. The towns below are the ones we know best, because our crews work in them every week. Each one suits a different kind of household. None of them is “best” for everyone.
If you are still deciding whether New Hampshire is right for you, start with our guide to the reasons people move to New Hampshire. This post is for the next step: choosing where to live.
How We Chose These Towns
We did not copy a national “best places” list. We picked towns that:
- Sit in the parts of the state we serve, mainly southern New Hampshire, the Merrimack Valley, Concord, and the Seacoast
- Draw a steady flow of new residents, including people moving up from Massachusetts
- Offer something specific, whether that is a short Boston commute, a walkable downtown, or a quiet residential feel
Population figures come from the 2020 U.S. Census. We left out school rankings and home price predictions on purpose. Rankings change every year and vary by source, so we point you to the right places to check instead.
New Hampshire Towns at a Glance
| Town | Region | Population (2020) | Good fit for |
| Salem | Southern NH / MA border | 30,089 | Boston commuters who want shopping close by |
| Windham | Southern NH | 15,817 | Families who want a quiet, residential town |
| Londonderry | Southern NH | 25,826 | Commuters who fly often or want orchard-country living |
| Nashua | Merrimack Valley | 91,322 | People who want city amenities near the MA line |
| Manchester | Merrimack Valley | 115,644 | Urban living, jobs, and the state’s biggest arts scene |
| Merrimack | Merrimack Valley | 26,632 | Families who want a central location between two cities |
| Bedford | Merrimack Valley | 23,322 | Suburban living next to Manchester |
| Amherst | Souhegan Valley | 11,753 | Space, a historic village, and a small-town pace |
| Derry | Southern NH | 34,317 | More house for the money, with I-93 access |
| Concord | Capital region | 43,976 | A walkable small city with state government jobs |
| Portsmouth | Seacoast | 21,956 | A historic, walkable downtown near the ocean |
| Dover | Seacoast | 32,741 | Seacoast living with a train to Boston |
Best Towns for Commuting to Boston
If you work in or near Boston, the first rule is simple. Live close to I-93 or the F.E. Everett Turnpike, and close to the state line. These four towns give you the shortest drives and the best transit options in the state.
Salem
Salem sits right on the Massachusetts border at Exit 2 on I-93. That location is the whole point for a lot of residents. You can reach the Massachusetts job market fast, then come home to a state with no income or sales tax.
Salem is also one of the busiest retail areas in southern New Hampshire. Tuscan Village, a large mixed-use development on the site of the old Rockingham Park racetrack, has added shops, restaurants, medical offices, and apartments. Canobie Lake Park, the classic New England amusement park, is here too.
Commute: The Boston Express bus stops at Exit 2 with service to South Station and Logan Airport.
Trade-off: Retail growth brings traffic. Expect busy roads around Route 28 and the Exit 2 area, especially on weekends.
We handle a lot of moves across this border in both directions. See our Salem movers page for details.
Windham
Windham is Salem’s quieter neighbor. It is mostly residential, with homes spread across wooded lots and around Cobbetts Pond. People choose Windham when they want the same I-93 access as Salem without the commercial bustle.
The town opened its own high school, Windham High School, in 2009. Before that, students attended high school in neighboring towns. Having a local high school has been a big draw for families moving in.
Commute: Exit 3 on I-93 puts you on the highway quickly. The Boston Express stop in Salem is a short drive.
Trade-off: Windham does not have much of a town center. You will drive to Salem or Derry for most shopping and dining.
Planning a move here? Our Windham moving team works in town regularly.
Londonderry
Londonderry has deep farming roots. Apple orchards still define much of the town, and Mack’s Apples has been farming here since 1732. Fall weekends at the orchards are a local tradition.
Londonderry is also one of the most practical towns in the state for frequent travelers. Part of Manchester-Boston Regional Airport sits inside town limits. The new I-93 Exit 4A interchange opened in July 2025, giving Londonderry and Derry another highway connection.
Commute: The Boston Express stops at Exit 5 in North Londonderry.
Trade-off: Road work tied to the Exit 4A project continues on Folsom Road and Route 28, with completion expected in 2028. Plan for detours if you live near that corridor.
Learn more about our Londonderry movers.
Nashua
Nashua is New Hampshire’s second-largest city and sits on the Massachusetts line. It is the only city Money magazine has named its top “Best Place to Live in America” twice, in 1987 and 1997.
Nashua gives you city services without big-city scale. Main Street has restaurants, breweries, and mill lofts along the Nashua River. Mine Falls Park offers 325 acres of trails in the middle of the city. Pheasant Lane Mall draws shoppers from both states. The city runs two public high schools, Nashua High School North and Nashua High School South.
Commute: The Boston Express stops at Exit 8. Downtown Boston is roughly 45 miles south.
Trade-off: There is still no commuter rail from Nashua to Boston, despite years of discussion. Most commuters drive or take the bus.
Our headquarters is just up the road, so we know Nashua well. Read our full guide, Nashua, New Hampshire: What to Know Before You Move, or check our Nashua movers page.
Best Towns in the Merrimack Valley
The Merrimack Valley is where most of New Hampshire’s jobs are. These towns work well if you work in-state, or if you split time between New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Manchester
Manchester is the largest city in New Hampshire, with 115,644 residents. If you want restaurants, nightlife, live sports, and culture without leaving the state, this is where you will find the most of it.
The historic Millyard, once home to the Amoskeag mills, now holds tech companies, offices, and restaurants. The Currier Museum of Art anchors the arts scene. The New Hampshire Fisher Cats play minor league baseball at Delta Dental Stadium, and SNHU Arena hosts concerts and hockey.
Commute: Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is minutes away. For Boston, most residents drive I-93 south. The Boston Express no longer stops in Manchester, so bus commuters head to Londonderry’s Exit 5.
Trade-off: Manchester is a real city. Neighborhoods vary a lot from block to block, so visit at different times of day before you commit.
Read how moving to Manchester could make your life better, or see our Manchester movers page.
Merrimack
Merrimack sits right between Nashua and Manchester on the F.E. Everett Turnpike. That central spot lets you reach either city in about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on traffic.
The town has a strong employer base for its size. Fidelity Investments is a major employer, and the Anheuser-Busch brewery has operated here since 1970, complete with its Clydesdale stable. Merrimack Premium Outlets brings tax-free shopping to town.
This is our home base, so we know the area well. Check out our guides to the best companies to work for in Merrimack and the best entertainment for kids in Merrimack.
Trade-off: The Everett Turnpike is a toll road. If you commute on it daily, factor tolls into your budget.
Moving to or within town? Our Merrimack movers are local.
Bedford
Bedford borders Manchester to the southwest. It offers a suburban, residential feel with easy access to the city’s jobs, airport, and amenities. Many homes sit on larger lots than you will find in Manchester itself.
Bedford opened its own high school in 2007. Before that, Bedford students attended high school in Manchester. The local high school is a major reason families shortlist the town.
Commute: Route 101 and the Everett Turnpike connect Bedford to Manchester, Nashua, and the Seacoast.
Trade-off: Bedford is almost entirely car-dependent. Compare its tax rate and home prices against nearby towns before you decide.
We move families into Bedford often. See our Bedford, NH movers page.
Amherst
Amherst is for people who want space and a slower pace. The historic village center, with its town green and older homes, is one of the most traditional New England settings in the region. Baboosic Lake gives residents a spot to swim and paddle in summer.
Amherst students attend Souhegan High School, which serves Amherst and Mont Vernon as part of SAU 39.
Commute: Route 101 links Amherst to Bedford, Manchester, and the Everett Turnpike. Expect a longer drive to I-93 than from towns farther east.
Trade-off: Shopping and dining options are limited in town. Most errands mean a trip to Milford, Bedford, or Nashua.
Learn more about our Amherst movers.
Derry
Derry is one of the larger towns in southern New Hampshire and often gives buyers more house for the money than towns closer to the border. It has a real downtown along Broadway, plus a long history. Poet Robert Frost lived and wrote at a farm in Derry, now a state historic site. Astronaut Alan Shepard was born here, which earned Derry the nickname “Spacetown.”
Derry’s public high school students attend Pinkerton Academy. Pinkerton is a privately incorporated academy that serves as the public high school for Derry and several neighboring towns.
Commute: I-93 runs along Derry’s western edge. The new Exit 4A connector gives Derry residents a more direct route to the highway.
Trade-off: Routes 102 and 28 get congested at rush hour. Test your commute before you buy.
See our Derry movers page.
Best Town for a Small-City Lifestyle: Concord
Concord is the state capital and a good fit if you want a walkable downtown without Manchester’s size. Main Street has independent shops, restaurants, and the Capitol Center for the Arts. The New Hampshire State House is the oldest state capitol where both legislative houses still meet in their original chambers.
Families like the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, a science center honoring New Hampshire’s astronauts. State government and healthcare are major employers.
Commute: Concord sits where I-93 and I-89 meet, so you can head south to Manchester, west toward the Upper Valley, or north to the Lakes Region. Concord Coach Lines runs bus service to Boston.
Trade-off: Concord is about 70 miles from Boston. It works for remote workers and in-state jobs, less so for daily Boston commuters.
Visit our Concord movers page to learn more.
Best Towns on the Seacoast
The Seacoast is the right choice if ocean access and a historic downtown matter more than proximity to Manchester or Nashua.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is one of the most walkable places in New Hampshire. Market Square, brick sidewalks, waterfront restaurants, and a strong music and theater scene give it more energy than its population of about 22,000 suggests. Strawbery Banke Museum preserves centuries of neighborhood history, and Prescott Park hosts a summer arts festival on the water.
Pease International Tradeport, on the former Pease Air Force Base, is a major employment hub.
Commute: I-95 connects Portsmouth to Boston and Maine.
Trade-off: Seacoast home prices run among the highest in the state, and downtown gets crowded with visitors in summer. Parking can be a daily frustration.
Our team handles moves throughout the Seacoast. See our Portsmouth movers page.
Dover
Dover is the Seacoast’s practical alternative to Portsmouth. It is a larger city with a revitalized downtown along the Cocheco River, where old mill buildings now hold apartments, restaurants, and offices. Dover dates back to 1623, making it the oldest permanent settlement in New Hampshire.
Families have the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire downtown. The University of New Hampshire is next door in Durham.
Commute: Dover has a stop on the Amtrak Downeaster, which runs to Boston’s North Station. That makes it one of the few New Hampshire towns where a train commute is realistic.
Trade-off: Dover is farther from the Manchester and Nashua job markets. If your work is in the Merrimack Valley, expect a long drive across Route 101 or the Spaulding Turnpike.
Learn more about our Dover movers.
How to Choose the Right New Hampshire Town
Once you have a shortlist, these checks will narrow it down fast.
- Check the property tax rate. New Hampshire has no income or sales tax, so towns rely on property tax. Rates vary widely from town to town. The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration publishes every municipality’s rate each year.
- Drive the commute at rush hour. A 30-minute drive on a Sunday can be 55 minutes on a Tuesday morning. Test it before you sign.
- Confirm the school setup. Many New Hampshire towns share school districts, called SAUs, or send high school students to another town or academy. Check which schools your address feeds into.
- Visit in winter if you can. Snow removal, plowed driveways, and heating costs all look different in February.
- Check internet service at the exact address. Coverage is strong in the cities but can vary on rural roads.
Not sure which area fits? Our relocation assistance team talks people through these decisions every week. And if your closing date and move-in date do not line up, our storage service can bridge the gap.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best town to live in New Hampshire?
It depends on your priorities. For Boston commuters, Salem, Windham, Londonderry, and Nashua are hard to beat. For city living, Manchester and Concord lead. For ocean access and a walkable downtown, look at Portsmouth or Dover.
Which New Hampshire towns are closest to Boston?
Towns along the Massachusetts border, including Salem, Nashua, Windham, Pelham, and Hudson, offer the shortest drives. Salem and Nashua also have Boston Express bus stops.
Can you commute from New Hampshire to Boston by train?
Yes, from the Seacoast. The Amtrak Downeaster stops in Dover, Durham, and Exeter and runs to Boston’s North Station. There is no commuter rail from Nashua or Manchester.
Which New Hampshire towns are good for families?
Windham, Bedford, Amherst, Merrimack, and Londonderry are popular with families for their residential feel and local schools. Review each town’s school district directly, since performance data changes year to year.
Is it cheaper to live in New Hampshire than Massachusetts?
For many households, yes, because New Hampshire has no income or sales tax. Property taxes are higher, though, so compare the full picture for the specific towns you are considering.
Ready to Move to Your New Hampshire Town?
Whether you are moving across the state line from Massachusetts, across the country, or just across town, College Bound Movers has you covered. We offer local moves, long-distance moves, professional packing services, and storage, all handled by our own trained crews.
Get a free estimate or call us at (603) 882-6683 to start planning your move.
