Published September 9, 2026
Best NH Towns Near the Massachusetts Border (2026)
Quick answer: The best NH towns near the Massachusetts border for most buyers are Salem, Nashua, Windham and Hollis, with Pelham and Hudson as the value picks in between. Salem has the shortest Boston commute, Nashua has the most inventory and city services, Windham has the lowest tax rate of the four, and Hollis is the rural, top-school option. July 2026 median single-family sale prices ran from $576,500 in Nashua to about $877,500 year-to-date in Hollis (NHAR).
Buyers crossing the state line want the same three things: keep the Massachusetts job, cut the commute as little as possible, and stop paying the Massachusetts income tax. New Hampshire has no tax on wages and no sales tax, and every town in this guide sits within a few minutes of the line. The differences are in price, property tax rate, school setup and how many homes are actually for sale. Below is how the border towns compare on July 2026 data from the New Hampshire Association of Realtors, plus 2025 tax rates from the state, and a section on the second-row towns that are often the better buy.
Which NH towns actually touch the Massachusetts border?
Along the southern tier that Boston-area buyers shop, the towns that share a line with Massachusetts are Salem, Pelham, Hudson, Nashua, Hollis, Brookline and Mason, with Windham sitting one town north of Salem on I-93 and functionally part of the same market. Seabrook and Plaistow cover the border on the Seacoast side, and Rindge and Winchester the west. This guide focuses on the I-93 and Route 3 corridors, because that is where the large majority of Massachusetts buyers we work with end up. Where we quote a number, it comes from the NHAR Local Market Update for that town; for the smaller towns with only a handful of monthly sales we describe the market rather than quote a figure.
The best NH towns near the Massachusetts border, ranked
| Rank | Town | Median single-family sale (NHAR) | Homes for sale, Jul 2026 | 2025 tax rate | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salem | $700,000 (Jul 2026) | 25 | $18.16 | Shortest Boston commute, shopping |
| 2 | Nashua | $576,500 (Jul 2026) | 49 | $16.83 | Most inventory, city amenities |
| 3 | Windham | roughly $856,700 (Jan–Jul 2026 YTD) | 30 | $14.15 | Lowest tax rate, newer homes |
| 4 | Hollis | roughly $877,500 (Jan–Jul 2026 YTD) | 14 | $18.90 | Land, farms, top schools |
| — | Pelham / Hudson | not quoted (small monthly samples) | — | — | Value between Salem and Nashua |
1. Salem: the shortest commute in the state
Salem is the first exit off I-93 in New Hampshire, which makes it the default answer for anyone commuting to Route 128 or Boston. The median single-family sale price was $700,000 in July 2026, up 6.9% from a year earlier, with 25 homes for sale and 1.3 months of supply (NHAR). The Tuscan Village redevelopment gave the town a walkable shopping and dining district it never had, and the Mall at Rockingham Park sits at the same exit. The trade-offs are traffic on Route 28 and a 2025 tax rate of $18.16, higher than Windham next door. Our Salem, NH guide covers the neighborhoods, and you can browse current Salem homes for sale here.
2. Nashua: the most homes to choose from
Nashua is the second-largest city in New Hampshire and the only border town with a real downtown, a hospital, and a full range of housing from downtown condos to north-end colonials. The July 2026 median single-family sale was $576,500, right at the statewide record of $580,000, and homes went under contract in a median of 10 days at 102.0% of original list price (NHAR). With 49 single-family homes for sale in July, Nashua had roughly twice the inventory of Salem and more than three times Hollis. The commute runs down Route 3 (the Everett Turnpike) to Route 128 or the Lowell commuter rail. The 2025 tax rate is $16.83. Browse Nashua homes for sale.
3. Windham: the lowest tax rate on the corridor
Windham is one exit north of Salem on I-93 and is where a lot of Salem shoppers end up once they compare tax bills. The 2025 rate is $14.15 per $1,000, the lowest of the four ranked towns, and the housing stock is newer and larger, with a heavy share of homes built since 2000 around Cobbetts Pond and Canobie Lake. That shows up in price: the year-to-date median through July 2026 was roughly $856,700, and single months swing higher when luxury homes close (NHAR reported a $1,085,000 median in July on 19 sales, which is why we quote the year-to-date figure). Windham had 30 homes for sale and 2.4 months of supply in July, the loosest market of the four. See our Windham, NH guide and current Windham homes for sale.
4. Hollis: farms, land and the Hollis-Brookline schools
Hollis is the rural border town: apple orchards, two-acre zoning, a small village center, and the Hollis-Brookline school district that families move specifically to attend. The year-to-date median single-family sale through July 2026 was roughly $877,500 with only 14 homes for sale and 2.1 months of supply (NHAR). The commute is Route 111 or 130 to Route 3 in Nashua, adding ten to fifteen minutes over Nashua itself. The 2025 tax rate is $18.90. If you want acreage within half an hour of the Massachusetts line, Hollis is usually the answer. Browse Hollis homes for sale.
Pelham and Hudson: the value gap between Salem and Nashua
Pelham and Hudson both touch the border between Salem and Nashua and both typically price below Salem and Windham for a comparable house. Pelham is residential and quiet with access via Route 38 and Route 111; Hudson has its own commercial strip on Route 102 and a quick hop to Nashua or to Lowell via Route 3A. Both towns have small enough monthly sale counts that a single month's median is unreliable, so we do not quote one here. If your budget is under the Salem median, ask us to pull the current numbers for both.
Is it cheaper to live just over the NH border than in Massachusetts?
On taxes, usually yes. New Hampshire has no tax on wages or salary and no general sales tax, while Massachusetts taxes wages at a flat 5% and charges 6.25% sales tax. Property taxes are the offset: New Hampshire towns fund schools locally, so rates per $1,000 of assessed value run higher than many Massachusetts suburbs, and the NH Department of Revenue Administration publishes each town's rate every fall. Because assessments and equalization ratios differ by town, compare estimated bills on a specific house, not rates in the abstract. Our post on the no-income-tax advantage by town walks through the math for a Massachusetts salary.
What about the second-row towns one exit north?
Londonderry, Derry and Merrimack are each one town back from the line and often deliver a better house for the money with a commute that is only a few minutes longer. Londonderry (July 2026 median $725,000, 2025 rate $14.47) has two I-93 exits and the lowest rate of the three. Derry ($590,000, $18.99) is the price play with 35 homes for sale in July, the most in the group. Merrimack ($650,000, $22.11) sits on the Everett Turnpike between Nashua and Manchester. All three figures are NHAR July 2026 single-family medians. If your office is north of Boston rather than in it, the second row is worth a look before you commit to the line itself; our ranking of the best towns to live in New Hampshire covers all twelve.
Where the inventory actually is right now
Statewide, single-family inventory was up 15.6% year over year in July 2026 to 2,992 homes, but that is still only 2.7 months of supply (NHAR Monthly Indicators), and the extra supply is unevenly spread along the border. Of the Massachusetts buyers we have worked with this summer, the ones who found a home fastest were the ones who shopped Nashua's 49 listings and Windham's 30 rather than holding out for one of Hollis's 14. A second-choice border town with three good listings beats a first-choice town with none, and with the 30-year fixed rate at 6.71% on September 3 (Freddie Mac), the cost of waiting a season is real. The NHAR Monthly Indicators report is updated mid-month if you want to track it yourself.
How do I pick between the border towns?
Start with the commute, because it is the one thing you cannot renovate. If the office is on Route 128 north or in Boston, Salem and Windham on I-93 win. If it is in the Route 3 corridor (Burlington, Bedford MA, Lowell) or you want the Lowell commuter rail, Nashua, Hudson and Hollis win. Then set the budget against the medians above, and finally decide whether you want a downtown (Nashua), a newer subdivision (Windham, Salem) or acreage (Hollis, Pelham). The Phinney Team shows Massachusetts buyers the best NH towns near the Massachusetts border every week; we know which subdivisions in Windham back up to the highway, which Salem streets flood the Route 28 light, and which Hollis roads are the last to be plowed.
Ready to compare towns with a local? Tell us your office location, budget and must-haves and we will match you to the two or three border towns that fit, then send live listings in each. Start with our New Hampshire relocation guide or reach out through teamphinney.com.
Related reading
If the commute is your top concern, our guide to the best NH towns for Boston commuters ranks by drive time. Coming from Massachusetts? Read moving to NH from Massachusetts for the tax and licensing checklist. For the full tax picture across 15 towns, see New Hampshire property taxes by town, and if Salem is on your list, the Salem, NH guide goes deeper.
Frequently asked questions
What is the closest NH town to Boston?
Salem is the closest of the I-93 towns to Boston and the first New Hampshire exit on the highway; Seabrook on I-95 is the closest by distance on the Seacoast side. For most buyers commuting into the city or to Route 128, Salem is the practical answer, with Windham one exit north.
Which NH border town has the lowest property taxes?
Among the ranked towns, Windham had the lowest 2025 tax rate at $14.15 per $1,000 of assessed value, followed by Nashua at $16.83, Salem at $18.16 and Hollis at $18.90. Rates alone do not tell you the bill; assessments and equalization ratios vary, so compare on a specific property.
Are NH towns near the Massachusetts border more expensive?
Generally yes. The statewide median single-family sale price was a record $580,000 in July 2026 (NHAR); Salem ($700,000), Windham and Hollis (both roughly $860,000 to $880,000 year-to-date) all sit above it. Nashua at $576,500 was the exception, right at the statewide number, with the most homes for sale.
Do I pay Massachusetts income tax if I live in NH and work in MA?
Yes, on wages earned in Massachusetts. Massachusetts taxes non-residents on Massachusetts-source income. The New Hampshire advantage applies fully to remote and hybrid days worked in New Hampshire, to a New Hampshire-based job, and to investment income and purchases. Confirm your situation with a tax professional before you count on the savings.
Is Nashua or Salem better for a Massachusetts commuter?
It depends on where the office is. Salem is better for I-93 destinations (Boston, Woburn, Route 128 north). Nashua is better for the Route 3 corridor (Burlington, Bedford MA, Lowell) and for buyers who want a downtown and more inventory. Nashua was also the cheaper of the two in July 2026 by more than $120,000 at the median.
How much inventory is there in the border towns right now?
In July 2026 NHAR counted 49 single-family homes for sale in Nashua, 30 in Windham, 25 in Salem and 14 in Hollis, with months of supply from 1.1 in Nashua to 2.4 in Windham. Anything under about five months is still a seller's market, so well-priced homes continue to draw multiple offers.
