Published October 8, 2026
Moving to NH From Colorado: 2026 Tax & Price Guide
Quick answer: Moving to NH from Colorado means giving up a 4.4% state income tax for none on wages, and paying about three times the property tax rate. Colorado's statewide median single-family price was $592,845 in July 2026, roughly $23,000 above New Hampshire's $569,900 in August, so the house costs about the same but the tax bill shifts from income to property.
Is Moving to NH From Colorado Worth It?
For many Colorado households the money roughly evens out, and the decision comes down to lifestyle. Colorado charges a flat 4.4% income tax for 2026 (ustax.tools). New Hampshire charges nothing on wages (it also finished phasing out its old tax on interest and dividends at the end of 2024). On $100,000 of taxable income that is about $4,400 a year back in your pocket.
The offset is the property tax bill. Colorado has one of the lowest effective property tax rates in the country at 0.49% (SmartAsset), while New Hampshire leans on property taxes because it has no income or sales tax. So moving to NH from Colorado trades a modest income tax for a much larger property tax, and the winner depends on your income and the house you buy. The break-even section below puts a number on it.
How Do Home Prices Compare: Colorado vs. New Hampshire?
Colorado's statewide median single-family price was $592,845 in July 2026, up 1.3% from a year earlier, with about 4.8 months of supply (Colorado Association of REALTORS). The Denver metro median was $635,000, up 1.4% (ColoradoBiz). New Hampshire's single-family median was $569,900 in August 2026, up 3.6% (NHAR). The reports cover different months, so treat the gap as a ballpark.
| Line item | Colorado | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Median single-family price | $592,845 (July 2026) | $569,900 (August 2026) |
| Year-over-year price change | +1.3% | +3.6% |
| State income tax on wages | 4.4% flat | None |
| Effective property tax rate | about 0.49% | roughly 1.4% to 1.9% in southern NH |
A Denver-area buyer will find southern New Hampshire's price range familiar. Nashua ran $590,000 year to date through August 2026, Londonderry $725,000 and Bedford $860,000 (NHAR). The market is tighter than Colorado's: Nashua ran about 1.0 month of supply and Londonderry 1.5 in August (NHAR), against 4.8 statewide in Colorado, so well-priced homes move quickly and you should line up financing before you tour.
Are NH Property Taxes Higher Than Colorado's?
Yes, by a wide margin. At Colorado's 0.49% rate, a home at the $592,845 state median carries roughly $2,900 a year in property tax. Colorado's county medians range from $1,543 in Pueblo County to $4,548 in Douglas County (SmartAsset).
Here is what the 2025 tax rate works out to at each New Hampshire 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.
| Town | Median sale (YTD Aug 2026) | 2025 rate per $1,000 | Estimated annual bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashua | $590,000 | $16.83 | about $9,930 |
| Londonderry | $725,000 | $14.47 | about $10,490 |
| Derry | $590,000 | $18.99 | about $11,200 |
| Salem | $630,000 | $18.16 | about $11,440 |
| Bedford | $860,000 | $16.49 | about $14,180 |
For a town-by-town look, see our New Hampshire property taxes by town guide.
Where Is the Income Tax Break-Even?
Compare a Nashua-priced home's roughly $9,930 bill with about $2,900 on a Colorado median home: New Hampshire costs about $7,000 more a year in property tax. At Colorado's 4.4% rate, you need roughly $160,000 of taxable income before the income tax savings cover that gap. A household earning $200,000 comes out ahead by around $1,800; one earning $100,000 pays about $2,600 more. These are my estimates, not tax advice, so check them with a CPA. Retirees living on Social Security or savings should run the numbers separately, since their income tax exposure in Colorado may be small.
What Surprises Colorado Buyers Most?
Heat, snow and the sky. Many New Hampshire homes heat with oil or propane rather than natural gas, so ask every seller for 12 months of utility bills, the fuel type, the tank location and the furnace age. The mountains here are smaller than the Rockies (Mount Washington tops out at 6,288 feet), but the humidity and wet winter storms feel different from Colorado's dry cold. In return, New Hampshire has no state sales tax.
Which NH Towns Work for Colorado Transplants?
Most people arriving from Colorado pick a town by commute, schools and outdoor access. Londonderry and Bedford sit minutes from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, which matters if you will fly back to see family. Nashua offers the most walkable, city-style living, and Merrimack and Salem offer a lower entry price with quick access to I-93 and the Everett Turnpike. Buyers who want trails and skiing nearby often look north toward Goffstown, Bow and the Lakes Region. 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 6.34% a year earlier (Freddie Mac), so get a firm pre-approval before you tour. Since you will be buying from a distance, plan at least one in-person trip, ideally with a cold-weather visit, and use video walk-throughs and a thorough inspection for everything else.
What About Selling Your Colorado Home?
The federal exclusion covers up to $250,000 of gain for a single filer and $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly. Confirm the specifics with a CPA, and time your Colorado listing against your New Hampshire purchase so you are not carrying two payments at 7%.
Related Reading
If you're comparing origin states, see our guides to moving to NH from California and moving to NH from Texas. 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 Colorado to New Hampshire?
It can be for the right household. New Hampshire taxes no wages, but its property tax rate is about three times Colorado's, so the tax savings only win above roughly $160,000 of income. Most people move for lifestyle, not tax.
Is New Hampshire more expensive than Colorado?
Home prices are similar: New Hampshire's single-family median was $569,900 in August 2026 against $592,845 in Colorado in July. The difference is taxes, with higher property tax in New Hampshire and no income tax.
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. Colorado charges a flat 4.4% for 2026.
How do NH property taxes compare with Colorado?
Colorado's effective rate averages about 0.49%. New Hampshire bills work out to roughly 1.4% to 1.9% of sale price in the southern towns we track, so expect about three times the rate. Compare your actual bill before you decide.
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 Colorado?
Londonderry, Bedford, Nashua, Merrimack, Salem and Derry are the most common landing spots for relocating buyers, thanks to highway access and the airport.
Thinking about moving to NH from Colorado? The Phinney Team helps out-of-state buyers match a New Hampshire town to their budget, commute and winter tolerance before they ever tour a home — start with a free town-matching call.
