New Hampshire
NH · Data from 2022–2023 government sources
New Hampshire, the Granite State, is a small but fiercely independent New England state known for its dramatic mountain scenery, tax-free shopping, and first-in-the-nation presidential primary. From the peak of Mount Washington — famous for some of the world's worst weather — to the seacoast of Portsmouth, New Hampshire packs remarkable diversity into its 9,349 square miles.
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New Hampshire was settled by English colonists in 1623, making it one of the earliest European settlements in North America. It was one of the original 13 colonies and the ninth state to ratify the Constitution — the decisive vote that put the Constitution into effect. New Hampshire's motto, 'Live Free or Die,' written by Revolutionary War hero General John Stark, captures the state's independent spirit. The first-in-the-nation presidential primary, held since 1920, gives New Hampshire outsized political influence.
Economy
New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax — one of only nine states with neither, making it an attractive place for businesses and shoppers. The economy is driven by technology, healthcare, tourism, and manufacturing. The state has a highly educated workforce and consistently ranks among the top states for median household income. Tourism generates over $6 billion annually, driven by skiing, fall foliage, and summer lake recreation.
Geography & Landmarks
New Hampshire covers 9,349 square miles with terrain ranging from 18 miles of Atlantic coastline to the White Mountains in the north. Mount Washington at 6,288 feet is the highest peak in the northeastern United States and once held the record for the highest wind speed ever observed on Earth's surface (231 mph in 1934). The White Mountain National Forest covers 800,000 acres. The Lakes Region, centered on Lake Winnipesaukee, is a popular summer vacation area. Franconia Notch, a narrow mountain pass in the White Mountains, features the Flume Gorge, a natural 800-foot-long granite gorge with walls rising 70 to 90 feet. The Presidential Range within the White Mountains contains some of the most extreme weather on Earth.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail — Photo Credit: ATC/Benjamin Hays
Source: NPS API
Culture & Traditions
New Hampshire's cultural identity blends rugged self-reliance with artistic tradition. The MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, established in 1907, is the nation's oldest artists' residency program and has hosted composers, writers, and visual artists including Aaron Copland, James Baldwin, and Alice Walker. The state's political culture is distinctive — the New Hampshire primary has been the first-in-the-nation presidential primary since 1920, giving this small state outsized influence in American politics. The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, founded in 1932, operates the oldest craft fair in the nation, held annually at Mount Sunapee. New Hampshire's culinary traditions include maple syrup production (the state taps thousands of sugar maples each spring), cider donuts, and the New England boiled dinner. The Hampton Beach Seafood Festival draws over 150,000 visitors each September, and the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon hosts NASCAR events that fill the state with racing fans.
Notable Cities
Concord
CapitalThe state capital, a small city known for the New Hampshire State House (the oldest state house in which the legislature still meets in its original chambers) and the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium.
44,049
Population
$77,874
Median income
$287,600
Home value
$1,277
Median rent
40.1
Median age
5.3%
Unemployment
57.2%
Homeownership
6,976
Bachelor's+
Manchester
New Hampshire's largest city, with a revitalized downtown centered on the historic Amoskeag Millyard — once the largest textile mill complex in the world.
Portsmouth
A charming seaport city with colonial-era architecture, a thriving restaurant scene, and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (actually located on Seavey's Island in Kittery, Maine).
Hanover
Home to Dartmouth College, the ninth-oldest college in the U.S. and one of the eight Ivy League schools, in the scenic Upper Valley of the Connecticut River.
North Conway
A gateway to the White Mountains and a popular outlet shopping destination. Tax-free shopping combined with mountain scenery draws visitors year-round.
Capital city data: Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022)
Intel File · Fun Facts
Mount Washington once recorded a wind gust of 231 mph (1934), which held the world record for 62 years.
New Hampshire is one of only nine states with no income tax and no sales tax.
The New Hampshire presidential primary has been the first-in-the-nation primary since 1920 — state law requires it to be held before any other state's primary.
The Old Man of the Mountain, a rock formation on Cannon Mountain that appeared on the state quarter, collapsed in 2003 after thousands of years.
Alan Shepard, the first American in space, was from Derry, New Hampshire.
Data & Statistics
Demographics
- Population
- 1,379,610
- Median income
- $90,845
- Median age
- 43.1
- Median home value
- $337,100
- Below poverty line
- 98,162
- Bachelor's degree+
- 236,189
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2022)
Agriculture
- Total farms
- 3,949
- Cropland
- 105,297 acres
- Market value
- $249M
Source: USDA NASS, Census of Agriculture (2022)
Public Health
- Obesity rate
- 32.8%
- Diabetes rate
- 9.8%
- Smoking rate
- 10.4%
- High blood pressure
- 33.3%
- Uninsured
- 4.0%
Source: CDC BRFSS Prevalence Data (2023, 2022 fallback)
National Parks & Sites
- National parks
- 0
- Total NPS sites
- 2
- Sites
- Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park
Source: National Park Service API
Climate
- Avg temperature
- 45.6°F
- Avg high
- 56.0°F
- Avg low
- 34.8°F
- Annual precipitation
- 46.1 in
- Annual snowfall
- 69.4 in
Source: NOAA Climate Normals (2010)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the capital of New Hampshire?▾
Concord is the capital of New Hampshire. Its State House, built in 1819, is the oldest state house in the nation in which the legislature still meets in its original chambers.
What is the New Hampshire primary?▾
The New Hampshire presidential primary is the first primary election in the U.S. presidential nominating process (Iowa traditionally holds the first caucus). Since 1920, New Hampshire law has required its primary to be held before any other state's, giving its voters outsized influence in selecting party nominees.
What is there to do in the White Mountains?▾
The White Mountains offer skiing (multiple resorts including Bretton Woods and Loon), hiking (including the challenging Presidential Range), the Mount Washington Cog Railway, fall foliage drives through Franconia Notch, and the Kancamagus Highway — one of New England's most scenic roads.
Why is New Hampshire called the Granite State?▾
New Hampshire is called the Granite State because of its extensive granite formations and quarries. Granite has been quarried commercially in the state since the early 1800s and was used in many notable buildings and monuments.
Data sources
U.S. Census Bureau · USDA NASS · CDC BRFSS · National Park Service · NOAA CDO
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau. This product uses the NASS API but is not endorsed or certified by NASS.
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