8 Towns Near Manchester NH: Prices, Taxes & Commutes (2026)

Quick answer: The closest towns to Manchester NH are Bedford, Goffstown, Hooksett, Auburn and Londonderry, with Litchfield, Merrimack and Candia a little farther out. Median prices run from $565,000 in Goffstown to $860,000 in Bedford (NHAR, year to date through August 2026) versus $475,000 in Manchester itself, and 2025 tax rates range from $12.97 to $22.11 per $1,000.

Buyers searching for towns near Manchester NH are usually doing one of two things: trading the city for a bigger yard and a quieter street without giving up the commute, or moving up from out of state and trying to understand what surrounds the largest city in New Hampshire.

This is the full ring, organized by direction, with the numbers side by side. Manchester has the airport, the hospitals, the Millyard offices and the I-93 and I-293 junctions, so every town below is defined by how easily it reaches them.

Which towns are closest to Manchester NH?

Five towns share a boundary with the city. Bedford is to the southwest, Goffstown to the west, Hooksett to the north along the Merrimack River, Auburn to the east and Londonderry to the south. Each is a 10 to 20 minute drive to downtown in normal traffic.

One ring out, Litchfield and Merrimack sit south and southwest along the Everett Turnpike, and Candia sits east on Route 27. These add a few minutes but often add real value, which is why they show up in the same searches.

The 8 towns near Manchester NH at a glance

Every sale figure below is the New Hampshire REALTORS® Local Market Update for single-family homes, year to date through August 2026. Year-to-date medians are used because several of these towns closed fewer than 20 sales in a single month, and one luxury closing can move a small-town monthly median by six figures. Auburn and Candia are not in our NHAR data set, so they show tax rates only.

Drive times are typical off-peak trips to downtown; the I-93 and I-293 approaches add real minutes at 7:30 a.m. Statewide, the single-family median was $569,900 in September 2026, up 6.5% year over year, with inventory up 19.3% (NHAR Monthly Indicators).

North of the city: Hooksett

Hooksett is the commuter's town. At a $630,000 year-to-date median it sits about $155,000 above Manchester, and its $17.19 tax rate is lower than the city's $20.24. It has the tightest market of the ring: nine homes for sale in August and a 0.9-month supply. Its position on I-93 also makes it the natural choice for anyone heading to Concord as often as to Manchester, a trade-off we cover in our Concord vs. Manchester comparison.

West and southwest: Goffstown and Bedford

Goffstown is the value play. At $565,000 year to date it is the most affordable single-family market of the eight with published data, and prices rose 12.4% year over year as buyers priced out of Bedford looked west. The $20.88 tax rate is the cost of that value, close to Manchester's own.

Bedford is the premium address, at an $860,000 year-to-date median with 40 homes for sale and a 2.3-month supply. That is the most negotiating room in the ring, and its $16.49 rate is below the city's. If you are deciding between living in the city and its wealthiest neighbor, our Bedford vs. Manchester comparison goes line by line.

South and east: Londonderry, Auburn and Candia

Londonderry reaches Manchester on I-93 and is one of the better payment-for-payment values in southern New Hampshire: a $725,000 median, 25 homes for sale and a $14.47 rate. Auburn and Candia are the quiet, rural side of the ring, with $13.88 and $12.97 rates, the lowest of any town here. Both are small, with limited inventory at any one time, so buyers should expect to wait for the right house and move quickly when it appears.

Farther south: Merrimack and Litchfield

Merrimack has the best highway position of the outer ring, with the Everett Turnpike running straight to Manchester or Nashua, at a $622,450 median and a $22.11 rate, the highest of the eight. Litchfield needs a caveat. Its year-to-date median jumped to roughly $747,565, up 25.1%, but there were just three single-family homes for sale in August, a 0.4-month supply. A figure like that reflects a thin market, not a trend. Its $14.20 rate is one of the lowest in the ring.

How much do property taxes differ between towns near Manchester?

More than most buyers expect. The 2025 rates in this ring run from $12.97 in Candia to $22.11 in Merrimack, a spread of $9.14 per $1,000 of assessed value. On a home assessed at $600,000 that is about $5,500 a year, or roughly $455 a month, between two towns a short drive apart.

A rate does not tell you the bill on its own. Towns assess at different percentages of market value, so always compare the actual annual tax on the actual house. Our Manchester NH property taxes guide covers the city, and New Hampshire property taxes by town has the statewide table. The 2026 rates are set in the fall, so expect these numbers to move.

Which town near Manchester is best for you?

Match the town to the constraint that matters most. If it is the lowest price, start with Goffstown. If it is the lowest tax rate, look at Candia, Auburn, Litchfield or Londonderry. If it is the most room to negotiate, Bedford has the loosest supply. If it is the shortest commute, Hooksett and Bedford both sit about 12 minutes out.

If your commute actually runs to Massachusetts, see our best NH towns for Boston commuters and the Manchester NH real estate page for homes currently on the market.

We help buyers sort exactly this decision every week. If you tell us your commute, budget and must-haves, we will narrow the ring to two or three towns and show you what is actually for sale. Start with our relocation page and request a town-matching call with The Phinney Team.

Related reading

• 9 towns near Nashua NH, the same ring-by-direction breakdown for the state's second-largest city.
• Moving to New Hampshire, for buyers still choosing a region.
• Best neighborhoods in Manchester NH, if you would rather stay in the city.

Frequently asked questions

What towns are closest to Manchester NH?

Bedford, Goffstown, Hooksett, Auburn and Londonderry all share a boundary with Manchester and sit roughly 10 to 20 minutes from downtown. Litchfield, Merrimack and Candia are a few minutes farther and often come with lower prices or tax rates.

What is the cheapest town near Manchester NH?

Among towns with published NHAR data, Goffstown has the lowest single-family median at $565,000 year to date through August 2026, followed by Merrimack at $622,450 and Hooksett at $630,000. Manchester itself is lower at $475,000.

Which town near Manchester has the lowest property tax rate?

Candia has the lowest 2025 rate of the group at $12.97 per $1,000, followed by Auburn at $13.88 and Litchfield at $14.20. Rate alone is not the bill, since assessments differ by town, so compare the real tax on the real house.

Is Bedford or Goffstown a better place to live?

It depends on budget. Bedford's median is $860,000 versus $565,000 in Goffstown, but Bedford's tax rate is lower at $16.49 versus $20.88, and it has more inventory. Many buyers choose Goffstown for price and Bedford for schools and amenities.

Which towns near Manchester are best for commuting?

Hooksett and Bedford sit about 12 minutes from downtown on I-93 and I-293, and Londonderry and Merrimack add quick Everett Turnpike or I-93 access. Rush hour adds time on every approach.

Market figures: NH REALTORS® Local Market Updates (August 2026) and Monthly Indicators (September 2026) at nhar.org; 2025 tax rates from NH Department of Revenue Administration data. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.