Blog Post

What You Should Know About Moving to NH From MA

Feb 06, 2018

Don't let property taxes fool you. You could be saving more money in your move across the border.

Though our home owners come from all over the country, a substantial portion of them are moving here from Massachusetts. More specifically, we see a lot of people from towns that border the Granite State such as Haverhill, Methuen, and Lawrence.

Though Atkinson is a neighboring town, what inspires a homeowner to cross state borders, even when they're moving just one town over? We wanted to explore some of the reasons that homeowners might make the crossover to the Granite State and here's what we came up with.

According to a report on the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies, New Hampshire obtained 70,000 new residents from Massachusetts between 2000 and 2013, and a net count of about 11,000 people moving to New Hampshire from Mass in 2015. In the first eight months of 2016, the median home price in Rockingham County rose 3.2 percent, while the median price in its neighbor Essex county rose to 4 percent.

While New Hampshire does have a higher property tax, hovering around an average of 2.05% of the overall property value compared to the Massachusetts average of 1.15%, homeowners could be saving their money in other ways. Housing finder websites like Zillow will document their median list price per square foot. In Massachusetts, property was more than $100 higher than New Hampshire.

It should also bear repeating that while the state property taxes exist at a higher rate, New Hampshire has no sales tax. It is somewhat of a running joke (albeit true , in some cases) that residents of Massachusetts will cross the border to get things like groceries, alcohol, or gasoline to save money instead of paying the 5-8% sales tax that exists in the Bay State.

For those that are still working, let's also not forget income tax. If you're living and working in New Hampshire, the state's individual tax rates apply to interest and dividend income only and is not levied on wages. In Massachusetts, there is a flat tax of 5.13% on most types of incomes, with the average household income tax reaching just over $2,000 a month.

In effect, this means that the difference in price could afford you a larger home for less at the price of an additional 10 to 15-minute drive to Boston.

We could go on and gush about the perks of life in the Granite State, with its lovely beaches, beautiful mountains, and great culture of New Hampshire. However, when discussing terms of homeownership in New Hampshire, crossing that state border makes sense for some people and could also make sense for you. Contact us with any questions you may have about moving to the Granite State.

Averages calculated at www.smartasset.com

09 Feb, 2023
Staging a home in New Hampshire can be a great way to maximize the potential of your property and attract potential buyers.
Photo of Lewis Builders Award Recipients
26 Jan, 2023
This prestigious award recognizes outstanding achievements in design, craftsmanship, and overall excellence in the home building industry.
Ply Gem siding installed on Atkinson Heights Building 5 Luxury Condominiums
By Andrea Erickson 19 Dec, 2022
A modern alternative that offers the same breathtaking appearance of natural wood with none of the hassle.
By Lewis Builders 25 Feb, 2022
This New Hampshire town called the "Center of the Universe" is a great place to call home!
Hampstead NH
By Lewis Builders 21 Jul, 2021
Whether you are considering moving to New Hampshire or you have lived here your entire life, Hampstead, NH is one of the best southern New Hampshire small towns. You might think with a population of just over 8,500, there would not be much to this small town, but Hampstead and the surrounding area have a lot to offer.
Virtual Resident Center
17 May, 2021
As part of our commitment to providing you the best customer service experience, we are pleased to announce the launch of our Virtual Resident Center!
By Lewis Builders 12 May, 2021
At Lewis Builders, the health and safety of our customers and employees is our top priority. We have been closely monitoring COVID-19 (coronavirus). Lewis Builders has advised all employees that if they are experiencing any symptoms to remain home as a precaution so as not to infect co-workers or customers they may come in contact with, and to notify us if they have traveled to any areas of concern. We are currently maintaining normal operations and advise all to follow the most current guidance from the Center for Disease Control, as well as state and local agencies. As the spread of the coronavirus has evolved, our continued focus has been on the health and safety of our employees and our customers. Main Office: Our main office at 54 Sawyer Ave is currently open to the public at normal operating hours. Please check back often as this may change. Tenants and Rental Applicants: If we do need to schedule maintenance, our team may ask you questions such as whether or not you have tested positive for COVID-19, have been asked to voluntarily quarantine yourself or if you or anyone in your home is ill or has been within the last 14 days . We ask you to answer these questions honestly, so that employees can take the appropriate steps to protect themselves from infection if a home visit is required. We have also developed a new Virtual Resident Center where you can make payments, submit requests, or apply online. If you have any questions or concerns regarding rentals, feel free to contact us at 603-362-5333 or email rentals@lewisbuilders.com .
Atkinson NH town center
By Lewis Builders Development 15 Oct, 2020
Atkinson has so much to offer, but we came up with four essential reasons why this New Hampshire border town is the perfect place to live.
First Place Safety Award form ABC NH/VT
By Lewis Builders Development 25 Sep, 2020
On September 24, 2020, the Associated Builders and Contractors NH/VT chapter hosted their 2020 Annual Construction Safety Awards. Annual safety awards are for the BEST safety records, MOST IMPROVED safety records, and MOST CREATIVE safety programs among “small” and “large” member firms. Lewis Builders received top honors for having the best safety record of cases resulting in lost workdays in the SIC 15 100,000 – 200,000 personnel-hours category. SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) 15 is the category for building construction.
New Home featuring Huber ZipSystem R-Sheathing
By Lewis Builders Development 15 Jul, 2020
What is Zip System Sheathing? How does it work? And how is it saving you money? We answer all these questions and more as we introduce the first article in a new series we are calling "Do You Know Your Home?"
More Posts
Share by: