Best Counties for Retirement in New Hampshire 2026
10 counties ranked with the Retiree lens of the County Fit Score.
Top 5 Retirement Counties in New Hampshire
All 10 Retirement-Ranked Counties in New Hampshire
| Rank | County | County Fit Score | baseline CountyScore | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carroll County, NH | 45 | 49.7 | -4.7 |
| 2 | Rockingham County, NH | 44.5 | 48.9 | -4.4 |
| 3 | Sullivan County, NH | 43.1 | 43.1 | 0 |
| 4 | Cheshire County, NH | 41.7 | 43.6 | -1.9 |
| 5 | Merrimack County, NH | 41.1 | 43.8 | -2.7 |
| 6 | Grafton County, NH | 40 | 45 | -5 |
| 7 | Strafford County, NH | 39.9 | 40.3 | -0.4 |
| 8 | Coos County, NH | 39.6 | 41.4 | -1.8 |
| 9 | Belknap County, NH | 38 | 39.2 | -1.2 |
| 10 | Hillsborough County, NH | 37.8 | 39.5 | -1.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best county for retirement in New Hampshire?
Based on the Retiree lens, Carroll County ranks as the top retirement county in New Hampshire with a County Fit Score of 45. The baseline CountyScore remains visible for context.
How many counties in New Hampshire are ranked for retirement?
We rank 10 counties in New Hampshire with the Retiree lens, using independent importance values for health, safety, taxes, cost, disaster risk, water, and weather.
Also Browse New Hampshire Counties For
Retirement Rankings by State
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019-2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.