New Hampshire's Historic State Capital Is Perfect For Retirees With A Reasonable Cost Of Living

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston said in March 2025 that inflation and rising costs were putting a squeeze on retirement budgets across New England. Despite this, on the average, New Hampshire still feels within reach and offers a solid quality of life. World Population Review, an aggregator of public cost-of-living data, put the state's 2024 cost-of-living index at 112.6 — well below Massachusetts at 145.9 and a bit under Vermont's 114.4. Retirees here spend less on groceries, utilities, and healthcare than people in neighboring states. The extra money stays in their monthly budget and helps protect their retirement savings from inflation.

Concord, the state capital, takes that affordability and adds real safety and community. The city became the official capital in 1808. The U.S. Census Bureau shows median rent here was $1,360 from 2019 to 2023 — under the New Hampshire state median of $1,423 and way below places like Walpole, Massachusetts, where median gross rent hit $2,070 over the same period. For retirees who don't want to make mistakes as they plan their retirement, this affordability really matters.

Concord works out well for retirees when it comes to housing costs and taxes. Zillow shows the average home value in Concord was $441,957 in May 2025. Compare that to nearby Bow at $591,703, or Pembroke at $455,462. So, Concord's prices are more than $150,000 lower than Bow's. That's a huge difference, especially for folks trying to stretch retirement savings or buy on a fixed income.

The city also provides targeted property tax relief for seniors, which is one of the best tax breaks homeowners can receive. According to the City of Concord, if you're 65 to 74, Concord knocks $80,000 off your property's assessed value. That jumps to $131,000 for ages 75-79. Hit 80 or older? You get $223,000 off. There are income limits, though. Singles can't make more than $44,100, couples stay under $63,000. Your assets need to be below $150,000 too, but they don't count your house. Concord's 2024 tax rate was $27.69 per $1,000 of assessed value. These breaks offer an effective strategy to minimize tax liability in retirement and can cut hundreds or thousands off your annual property tax bill.

If you want more options, Concord's senior living communities cover the range. Havenwood Heritage Heights lists independent living starting at $1,740 a month. Assisted living kicks off around $4,660. That puts Concord in line with some of the cheapest assisted living costs for seniors across the country.

In Concord, retirees get a good retirement lifestyle without breaking the bank. Concord Hospital is the main medical center in town. It's a teaching hospital that works with Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine and operates as a Level II Trauma Center. So you can get advanced care for pretty much anything that comes up. The emergency department saw about 74,000 patients in 2024, which makes it the busiest in New Hampshire. That's a big deal since healthcare is one retirement expense people often overlook. For everyday health needs, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Concord covers primary care, lab tests, and X-rays, making it easy to get care close to home.

Seniors don't have to rely on a car, either. According to Concord Area Transit, the city's Senior Transit program is free for anyone 60 and up. It takes people to medical appointments, grocery stores, and social events on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This completely gets rid of the costs and stress of driving.

Concord's cultural spots add to daily life. The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center takes up 45,000 square feet with interactive science and engineering exhibits. It also has a full-dome digital planetarium and an observatory. The city has good arts venues and community events where people actually show up and connect with each other. For example, the Capitol Center for the Arts hosts Broadway shows and big events in its 1,304-seat theater.