Moving to NH From California: 2026 Tax & Price Guide

Quick answer: Moving to NH from California means giving up California's income tax (up to 13.3%) and sales tax for none of either, and buying a home about $318,000 cheaper: California's median was $887,680 in July 2026 versus $569,900 in New Hampshire in August. Property taxes are the trade-off, so budget for them.

Why Are Californians Looking at New Hampshire?

For most California households, the draw is a three-part math problem: income tax, home prices, and the monthly cost of owning. California's top state income tax rate is 13.3%, and combined sales tax runs roughly 8.5% to 10.5% (Kiplinger, 2026). New Hampshire taxes neither wages nor general purchases. California's median single-family price was $887,680 in July 2026, up just 0.3% from a year earlier (California Association of Realtors), so a homeowner selling there can often buy comfortably here and still bank the difference.

Honesty about distance matters too. New Hampshire is a cross-country move, and the people who make it successfully are usually remote workers, people whose employer has a Boston or Manchester-Nashua office, retirees, or families who already have roots in New England. Three time zones is a real adjustment: a 9 a.m. meeting in California is noon here.

How Do Home Prices Compare: California vs. New Hampshire?

Statewide, New Hampshire is substantially cheaper, though the two reports cover different months, so read the gap as a ballpark. The supply picture is also better for buyers than it has been in years: New Hampshire inventory was up 18.7% year over year in August.

The southern New Hampshire towns where most relocating buyers land sit above the state median. Bedford ran $860,000 year to date through August 2026, Londonderry $725,000 and Nashua $590,000 (NHAR). So the saving depends on where you land: a California seller buying in Nashua keeps a large cushion, while one buying in Bedford is roughly trading price-for-price and winning on taxes and schools.

Is Moving to NH From California Really Cheaper? The Property Tax Trade-Off

This is the question that surprises people. California's Proposition 13 sets the base property tax at 1% of assessed value and caps annual assessment increases at 2% until the home sells. If you have owned your California home for a long time, your assessed value, and your bill, may be far below what the house is worth. New Hampshire has no income or sales tax, so towns fund schools and services mostly through property tax, assessed at current value. A long-time California owner can see the property tax line go up even as the total tax burden falls.

Here is what the 2025 tax rate works out to at each town's year-to-date median sale price (NHAR, through August 2026). These are estimates that assume a home is assessed at its sale price; actual bills depend on each town's assessment ratio, and New Hampshire sets 2026 rates this fall.

For comparison, a new California buyer at the $887,680 median would owe roughly $8,900 at the 1% base rate before any local voter-approved add-ons. So a new buyer's property tax can be similar or somewhat higher in New Hampshire. What changes is everything around it: no state tax on your paycheck and no sales tax at the register.

What About Taxes on Selling a California Home?

Selling a California home is a separate tax event. The federal exclusion covers up to $250,000 of gain for a single filer and $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly, and California may still tax gain on California property after you leave. New Hampshire has no tax on wages and no general capital gains tax. Check the specifics with a CPA before you list, because the order of sale, purchase and residency change can matter.

Which NH Towns Work for California Transplants?

The towns that tend to fit are the ones with an airport and a highway close by. Londonderry and Bedford sit minutes from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. Nashua offers the most walkable, city-style living, with Boston reachable by car. Merrimack and Salem offer a lower entry price with quick access to I-93 and the Everett Turnpike, and Derry rounds out the more affordable end. Our best towns to live in New Hampshire guide ranks a dozen of them side by side.

Planning the Move and the Mortgage

New Hampshire gives new residents 60 days to register a vehicle and get a New Hampshire driver's license after establishing residency. On financing, the 30-year fixed rate averaged 7.28% as of October 1, 2026, up from 6.30% a year earlier (Freddie Mac), so a firm pre-approval before you tour matters. Many California sellers can buy with a large down payment, which softens the rate effect, and with more homes on the market than a year ago, a buyer touring remotely has more choice than at any point in the last two years. Plan at least one in-person trip to see neighborhoods and winter conditions before you commit.

Related Reading

If you're comparing origin states, see our guides to moving to NH from New York and moving to NH from New Jersey, the two closest tax-and-price comparisons. For the statewide picture, start with our complete guide to moving to New Hampshire, and for the tax side in depth, see New Hampshire's no-income-tax advantage by town.

FAQ

Is it worth moving from California to New Hampshire?

For many households, yes, mainly because New Hampshire has no income tax on wages and no sales tax, and homes cost roughly $318,000 less at the statewide median. The trade-off is higher property tax relative to a long-owned California home, plus winters and a cross-country move.

Is New Hampshire cheaper than California?

Generally, yes. The statewide median home price is about 36% lower, and there is no state tax on wages or purchases. Property taxes and heating costs are the main lines that rise, so compare total costs rather than one number.

Does New Hampshire have a state income tax?

New Hampshire does not tax wage income, and it finished phasing out its old tax on interest and dividends at the end of 2024. It has no general sales tax either.

How do NH property taxes compare with California's?

California's base rate is 1% of assessed value, with a 2% annual assessment cap. New Hampshire taxes current value at town rates, so a median-priced home in Nashua or Londonderry works out to roughly $9,900 to $10,500 a year at 2025 rates.

How long do I have to register my car after moving to NH?

New Hampshire requires new residents to register their vehicle and obtain a New Hampshire driver's license within 60 days of establishing residency.

Which NH towns are best for people moving from California?

Towns near Manchester-Boston Regional Airport and the major highways, including Londonderry, Bedford, Nashua, Merrimack, Salem and Derry, are the most common landing spots for relocating buyers.

Thinking about moving to NH from California? The Phinney Team helps out-of-state buyers match a New Hampshire town to their budget, commute and time zone before they ever tour a home — start with a free town-matching call.