Published September 29, 2026
Most Scenic Towns in NH to Live In (2026)
Quick answer: The most scenic towns in New Hampshire to live in, within reach of Manchester and Nashua, are Hollis, Amherst, Goffstown, Milford and Bow. Hollis and Amherst have National Register village centers, Goffstown has the Uncanoonuc mountain views, Milford has the Oval and the Souhegan River, and Bow has the Merrimack River bend.
Most lists of the most scenic towns in New Hampshire to live point you to the White Mountains or the Lakes Region, and those places are beautiful. But most people asking us this question also need a commute, a school district and a mortgage that works. So we picked five towns in our own service area where the scenery is part of the daily routine, then lined them up against the numbers. It is a good time to look: the state's foliage report on September 25 showed the Merrimack Valley at only 15–35% color change and the Monadnock region at 30–40%, so the best of the season is still ahead.
Which NH Towns Are the Most Scenic to Live In?
Five towns in southern New Hampshire combine real scenery with a workable commute: Hollis, Amherst, Goffstown, Milford and Bow. Each one has a different kind of beauty, so the right pick depends on whether you want a village green, a mountain view, a river or open land.
| Town | The scenery | Median sale (YTD thru Aug 2026) | YoY | Months' supply | 2025 tax rate /$1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollis | Historic village, conserved land | $885,000 | −3.3% | 2.6 | $18.90 |
| Amherst | Village green, Souhegan River, Baboosic Lake | $723,000 | +5.0% | 3.2 | $23.98 |
| Bow | Merrimack River bend, Bow Bog | $650,000 | 0.0% | 2.1 | $20.05 |
| Goffstown | Uncanoonuc mountain views | $565,000 | +12.4% | 1.4 | $20.88 |
| Milford | The Oval, Souhegan River | $575,000 | +1.8% | 1.1 | $25.93 |
(Prices are NHAR Local Market Update single-family medians, year-to-date through August 2026. Each of these towns had fewer than 20 closed sales in August alone, so we quote the steadier year-to-date figure. Tax rates are the 2025 rates; the 2026 rates arrive this fall.)
Town-by-Town: What Makes Each One Scenic
Hollis: the village and the conserved land
Hollis is a bedroom community now, but it was farm country for most of its history, and the Hollis Village Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Beaver Brook Association, based here, protects 2,187 acres and maintains 35 miles of hiking trails, so a lot of the surrounding land is not going to be developed. Hollis also has the lowest tax rate of the five at $18.90 per $1,000, though it is the priciest at an $885,000 year-to-date median. See the Hollis NH real estate page for current listings.
Amherst: the common, the river and the lake
Amherst Village is also a National Register historic district, and the town has the Souhegan River running through its southern part, Baboosic Lake on its eastern border, Joe English Reservation and the Ponemah Bog Wildlife Sanctuary. It carries the highest inventory of the five, 3.2 months' supply, which gives buyers more room to compare. The trade-off is a $23.98 tax rate. Browse the Amherst NH real estate page.
Goffstown: the mountain view
The north peak of the Uncanoonuc Mountains rises 1,324 feet, the highest point in Goffstown, and the views from the top reach the Manchester skyline, Mount Monadnock and Mount Kearsarge. On a clear day you can even pick out Boston. Goffstown is also where the numbers are moving: the year-to-date median is up 12.4% to $565,000, and 1.4 months' supply means well-priced homes do not sit. Start with the Goffstown NH real estate page.
Milford: the Oval and the Souhegan
Milford's town center is The Oval, officially Union Square, with the Pillsbury Bandstand at its heart, and the Souhegan River runs through town. Every early October the Milford Pumpkin Festival brings in more than 35,000 visitors over a three-day weekend, which is a good weekend to see whether you like living in the middle of it. At $575,000 it is the most affordable town on this list, but at $25.93 it also has the highest tax rate, so run the full monthly cost before assuming it is the cheap option. See the Milford NH real estate page.
Bow: the river bend and open land
Bow is named for the bend in the Merrimack River that forms its northeastern border. The town has Bow Bog, Turkey Pond and Picked Hill, its high point at 915 feet, and it sits just south of Concord. At a $650,000 median and 2.1 months' supply it is a middle-of-the-pack choice that is easy to overlook. See the Bow NH real estate page.
What Does Living in a Scenic NH Town Cost?
The scenic towns are not all expensive, but they are not all cheap either. A buyer at the statewide August median of $569,900 (NHAR, +3.6% year over year) can afford Goffstown or Milford, but would be stretching for Hollis or Amherst. The 30-year fixed rate was 7.03% in Freddie Mac's September 24 survey, so the gap between an $885,000 median and a $565,000 median shows up fast in the monthly payment. If you are financing, talk to a lender before you fall for a view; our financing page explains how we connect buyers with local lenders.
Is Fall a Good Time to Buy in a Scenic NH Town?
Fall is the best time to judge a scenic town, because you see it at its best, and this year you may also find more choice. Statewide inventory was up 18.7% year over year in August (NHAR). That extra supply is uneven: Amherst had 3.2 months' supply and Hollis 2.6, while Milford had 1.1 and Goffstown 1.4, so buyers in the first two towns have more time and negotiating room than buyers in the second two. Go see a town on a weekday morning as well as a foliage weekend, and check the drive to work before you fall for the view.
How Do You Pick Among the Most Scenic Towns in New Hampshire to Live?
Start with what you want to see out the window. If it is a historic village and conserved land, look at Hollis and Amherst. If it is a mountain view close to Manchester, look at Goffstown. If you want a walkable town center with a river, look at Milford. If you want the Merrimack River and a short drive to Concord, look at Bow. Then compare the tax rate, because a few dollars per $1,000 adds up to thousands a year on a home in this price range.
If you are relocating and want help matching your budget and commute to the right town, see our relocation page and ask for a town-matching call. We will narrow five towns down to the one or two worth touring.
Related Reading
- Best NH Towns for an Outdoor Lifestyle ranks eight towns on trails, conserved land and water access.
- Best Lake Towns in New Hampshire to Live In covers the Lakes Region if water is your priority.
- Quietest Towns in New Hampshire looks at density and lot size.
- Best NH Towns for Horse Property and Acreage is the place to start if you want land.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most scenic town in New Hampshire to live in?
It depends on the kind of scenery you want. Among the most scenic towns in New Hampshire to live in, within commuting range of Manchester and Nashua, Hollis and Amherst are the strongest for historic village character, Goffstown for mountain views, Milford for a river and town common, and Bow for the Merrimack River. Farther north, the White Mountains and Lakes Region are more dramatic but much longer commutes.
Which scenic NH town is the most affordable?
Of the five here, Goffstown and Milford are the most affordable, at year-to-date medians of $565,000 and $575,000 through August 2026 (NHAR). Milford has the highest tax rate on the list at $25.93 per $1,000, so compare the full monthly cost, not only the price.
When is fall foliage at its best in southern New Hampshire?
Color arrives later in the south than the north. On September 25, the state's foliage report showed the Merrimack Valley at 15–35% color change and the Monadnock region at 30–40%, so peak was still several weeks away. Check the state's foliage tracker before planning a tour.
Are scenic towns harder to buy in right now?
It varies by town. Statewide inventory was up 18.7% in August 2026 (NHAR), but Amherst had 3.2 months' supply while Milford had 1.1, so a well-priced home in Milford can still go quickly while an Amherst buyer has more time.
Do scenic towns have higher property taxes?
Not always. Hollis has the lowest 2025 rate of the five at $18.90 per $1,000, while Milford has the highest at $25.93. Tax rates depend on the town's budget and tax base, not the scenery, and 2026 rates are set this fall.
Can The Phinney Team help me find a home in one of these towns?
Yes. The Phinney Team at Keller Williams works in all five towns, and we can arrange tours, walk you through the taxes and financing, and help you compare towns side by side.
