Calculate Your Property Tax
Enter your home value and select a municipality to see estimated annual property taxes and detailed tax component breakdowns.
Compare Up to 3 Municipalities
Add municipalities to compare property tax rates side-by-side. See how tax components vary across different communities.
Tax Component Breakdown
Understand how your property taxes are distributed across different components: Municipal, County, State Education, and Local Education.
Interactive Tax Rate Map
Explore property tax rates across New Hampshire. Click on any municipality to see detailed information including all tax components.
Tax Rate Comparison Trends
Visualize how total property tax rates and individual components compare across your selected municipalities.
Understanding New Hampshire Property Taxes
New Hampshire relies heavily on property taxes to fund local and state services. Unlike many states, New Hampshire has no income tax or general sales tax, making property taxes a critical revenue source.
How Property Taxes Are Calculated
Your annual property tax bill = (Assessed Home Value / 1,000) × Total Tax Rate
Tax Components Explained
- Municipal Tax: Funds local government services including police, fire, public works, and general administration
- County Tax: Supports county-level services such as corrections, nursing homes, and cooperative extension
- State Education Tax: A statewide property tax that funds education through the state
- Local Education Tax: Locally-determined rate that funds school district operations and facilities
Why Tax Rates Vary So Widely
Property tax rates in New Hampshire vary significantly due to several factors:
- Property Values: Communities with higher property values can generate more revenue with lower rates
- School Funding: Education costs are the largest component, often exceeding 60% of the total tax rate
- State Aid: "Donor towns" receive less state education aid, while "recipient towns" receive more
- Commercial Tax Base: Towns with robust commercial development can offset residential tax burdens
- Services and Infrastructure: Cost of providing services varies based on population density and geographic factors
Donor Towns vs. Recipient Towns
New Hampshire's education funding system creates "donor" and "recipient" towns. Donor towns are wealthier communities that pay more into the state education system than they receive back. Recipient towns receive more state aid than they contribute. This system attempts to equalize educational opportunities across the state but can result in higher effective tax rates for donor communities.
Understanding Tax Burden Inequality
Some municipalities do carry an unfair tax burden relative to others. Factors include:
- Property-poor communities must levy higher rates to provide basic services
- Donor towns face "double taxation" by funding both local schools and state aid to other districts
- Communities with declining populations may struggle to maintain infrastructure with a smaller tax base
- Resort and vacation communities may need to provide services for populations that exceed year-round residents