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New Hampshire
Professional New Hampshire Movers for Local & Interstate Moves
New Hampshire is the rare state with no income tax on wages and no general sales tax, and as of January 1, 2025 even the old interest-and-dividends levy is gone, so every dollar of household income now stays in the household. That tax structure is the single biggest reason Massachusetts residents keep moving north: Census figures put the Massachusetts-to-New Hampshire inbound flow at about 20,300 people in 2024, the largest from any state. Star Van Lines is a USDOT-licensed interstate carrier (USDOT #4176875, MC #1607491) that handles local and long-distance moves across all of New Hampshire. Because so much of that demand crosses one border, we have been working the I-93 corridor between Boston and Manchester since 2016.
Our New Hampshire moving services cover packing, loading, transport, delivery, and short-term storage at warehouse locations nationwide. Demand splits between two patterns: short cross-border hops from the Bay State and long cross-country hauls, with Los Angeles to Manchester running about 3,024 miles. A move from Manchester to Nashua covers just 18 miles down the FE Everett Turnpike. A move from Manchester to Boston runs about 53 miles. We handle both with the same coordinator and the same written estimate, from the first walk-through to delivery day.
Thinking about a move to New Hampshire? Call (855) 822-2722 or use our online quote calculator. You'll get an itemized estimate that breaks down every line item, so there aren't any surprises on moving day. We're rated 4.0 on Trustpilot, 4.5 on Google, and 4.75 on Facebook across 240+ reviews.
Moving services in New Hampshire
Star Van Lines provides local, long-distance, and interstate moving services across New Hampshire. We handle packing, loading, transport, and delivery for residential and commercial moves. The state's geography splits the work, because the dense southern tier near the Massachusetts line, the Seacoast, and the White Mountains each ask something different of a crew. Every move includes a single coordinator, a trained crew, and a written estimate.
Local moving in New Hampshire
Local moves in New Hampshire cluster in the southern tier. A two-person crew runs $160-$356 per hour; three movers run $240-$534. We serve Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Salem, and the Seacoast around Portsmouth, plus the Lakes Region and White Mountains to the north. But access varies widely, because older Concord and Portsmouth homes have narrow staircases and on-street parking, while mountain and Lakes Region driveways are often long, steep, and unpaved. And the I-93 corridor runs heavy Boston-commuter traffic, so load and arrival windows are planned around rush hour.
Long-distance moving from New Hampshire
Long-distance moves from New Hampshire run in two directions. The standout lane in search demand is California to New Hampshire, about 3,024 miles from Los Angeles to Manchester, a true coast-to-coast haul. The other heavy corridors run south to Florida, roughly 1,300 to 1,500 miles, plus the dense feeder of short moves up from Massachusetts. We run regular loads down I-93 toward Boston and the mid-Atlantic and coordinate the western hauls as full interstate relocations. Because nor'easters can close I-93 and I-89 with little warning, your coordinator builds flexibility into any December-through-March schedule.
Packing and storage
We offer full-service packing, partial packing, and self-pack options. Full-service means our crew brings every box and material and packs each room; partial lets you choose which rooms we handle; self-pack is the lowest-cost option. We have 43 warehouse locations nationwide for short-term and long-term storage. But in New Hampshire, the swing from sub-zero January nights to humid summers makes climate-controlled storage important for wood furniture, antiques, and electronics held between a move and a later move-in date.
Auto transport and specialty items
We ship vehicles by open or enclosed carrier, and on a haul as long as the California-to-New-Hampshire lane many households move multiple cars rather than drive them. We also move pianos, antiques, and gun safes with specialty crating. Because the Lakes Region and White Mountains draw seasonal owners, ski gear, boats, and snowmobiles turn up often on New Hampshire manifests, and they need careful handling alongside a standard auto-transport order.
How much does moving in New Hampshire cost?
Moving costs in New Hampshire reflect an above-average cost of living and a tight southern-tier labor market. Local moves typically run $160-$356 per hour for a two-person crew with a truck. Long-distance moves start at $550 for a studio and reach $8,050 for a large four-plus-bedroom home, depending on distance, weight, and access at both ends.
Local moving rates
| Crew size | Hourly rate |
|---|---|
| 2 movers + truck | $160-$356 / hour |
| 3 movers + truck | $240-$534 / hour |
| 4 movers + truck | $320-$712 / hour |
Long-distance rates from New Hampshire
| Move size | Estimated price range |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 Bedroom | $550 - $2,000 |
| 2-3 Bedrooms | $1,000 - $4,450 |
| 4+ Bedrooms | $1,650 - $8,050 |
Popular routes and pricing from New Hampshire
| Route | Distance | Avg cost (2-3 BR) |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester to Boston | 53 mi | $1,000 - $1,200 |
| Manchester to Charlotte | 863 mi | $2,300 - $2,800 |
| Manchester to Orlando | 1,316 mi | $2,800 - $3,400 |
| Manchester to Denver | 2,010 mi | $3,050 - $3,750 |
| Manchester to Los Angeles | 3,024 mi | $3,600 - $4,450 |
Pricing reflects market averages for moves in and from New Hampshire as of June 2026. Your final price depends on inventory weight, packing level, access at pickup and delivery, and scheduling flexibility. Call (855) 822-2722 or use our free quote calculator for an exact estimate.
What affects your moving price
- Shipment weight and volume are the biggest factors on any long-distance move from New Hampshire.
- Distance drives the base price. Manchester to Boston is 53 miles; Manchester to Los Angeles is 3,024.
- Access at both ends matters. Historic Concord and Portsmouth homes, plus long unpaved mountain driveways, can call for a shuttle or extra crew time.
- How much packing you want us to do. Full-service runs more than partial, and self-pack is the lowest option.
- When you move. Summer is peak demand, while deep winter brings snow and ice that slow loading.
- Add-on services like auto transport, climate-controlled storage, and specialty handling for boats, snowmobiles, or pianos carry their own pricing.
Moving routes from New Hampshire
Moving to New Hampshire: what you should know
A move to New Hampshire involves more than logistics. The "Live Free or Die" state backs its motto with a tax structure unlike any neighbor: no tax on wages, no tax on retail purchases, and after the 2025 repeal of the interest-and-dividends tax, no tax on investment income either. Below is a quick guide covering cost of living, access and logistics, climate and timing, and the residency rules that affect your move.
What it costs to move to New Hampshire
New Hampshire's cost of living index is 104.2 (US average = 100, BEA RPP 2024), above the national figure, though the absence of income and sales taxes offsets a good deal of it. Local moving labor reflects the tight southern-tier market, with a two-person crew running $160-$356 per hour. Median home value is $402,500 (Census ACS 2020-2024) and median monthly rent is $1,491, while median household income is $99,031, one of the highest in the country. Because there is no sales tax, the everyday cost of furnishing a new home runs lower than across the border. And with no income tax on wages, take-home pay stretches further for the many residents who keep Greater Boston jobs.
Access and logistics
New Hampshire's main corridor is I-93, the north-south spine through Salem, Manchester, and Concord into the White Mountains. I-95 covers the short Atlantic stretch through Portsmouth, I-89 runs northwest from Concord to Lebanon and the Vermont line, and the I-293 and I-393 beltways serve the Manchester and Concord metros. But the I-93 corridor carries heavy Boston-commuter traffic, so crews plan load and arrival windows around weekday rush. Farther north, White Mountains and Lakes Region driveways are often long, steep, and unpaved, frequently needing a smaller shuttle vehicle to reach the home from the main road.
Climate and timing
New Hampshire has warm summers with July highs near 83 degrees in Concord and cold winters with January lows around 13. The state gets about 42 inches of precipitation and 67.7 inches of snow a year, and the northern mountains see far more, with Mount Washington averaging around 282 inches. But the headline risk is winter weather: nor'easters and ice storms can shut highways for a day, and mountain corridors through Franconia and Pinkham Notch need extra scheduling buffers. The best window for a move is late April through May or September through October, because roads are clear and the worst weather has passed. Avoid deep winter and the late-March mud season, since thawing rural driveways turn soft.
Residency and regulations
New residents of New Hampshire have 60 days to get a New Hampshire driver license and 60 days to register a vehicle after establishing residency. Apply through the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles (dmv.nh.gov) once you are settled, and note that registration is a two-part process that begins at your town or city clerk. New Hampshire historically required an annual safety and emissions inspection, but that program is suspended as of 2026, so confirm the current requirement when you register. The state does not offer online voter registration, so plan to register in person at your town or city clerk or on Election Day.
What to know before moving to New Hampshire
Benefits of moving to New Hampshire
0,415,342
Population
$0,031
Median household income
0.2 (US = 100, BEA RPP 2024)
Cost of living index
none (wages and, since 0, investment income)
State income tax
0%
State sales tax
Massachusetts (about +0,300 in 2024)
Top inbound source
New Hampshire is home to about 1.4 million people, anchored by the Manchester-Nashua metro of roughly 430,000 in the south, with Concord, Dover, and the Seacoast filling out the picture. The economy leans on professional and business services, advanced manufacturing in defense and aerospace, and healthcare. Median household income is $99,031, among the highest in the country, helped along by a tax structure with no levy on wages or retail purchases. The migration story points firmly inward: Massachusetts is the single largest source of new residents, sending about 20,300 people north in 2024. And the state's population grew 2.7 percent between 2020 and 2025.
Is New Hampshire a good place to live?
New Hampshire offers a tax-friendly, four-season life with mountains, lakes, and a short coastline, all within easy reach of Boston. But the trade-offs are real: home prices and the overall cost of living run above the national average, winters are long and snowy, and the property tax that funds local services is among the highest in the country. Whether it's a good fit depends on how much you value the no-income, no-sales-tax structure and outdoor access against high housing and property-tax costs.
Tax environment
New Hampshire's draw is what it does not tax. There is no individual income tax on wages or salaries, and the former 3 percent interest-and-dividends tax was fully repealed effective January 1, 2025, so investment income is now untaxed too (Tax Foundation 2026; New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration). There is also no general sales tax and no estate or inheritance tax. The trade-off is property tax: the effective rate runs about 1.50 percent of home value and funds roughly 60 percent of state and local tax revenue, because the state leans on it in place of income and sales taxes.
Housing market
Median home value in New Hampshire is $402,500 (Census ACS 2020-2024), and median monthly rent is $1,491, both above national norms. Demand is strongest in the southern tier within commuting range of Boston, where Salem, Nashua, and Manchester draw steady cross-border buyers. A high ownership rate of 72.8 percent reflects a settled market. And because there is no sales tax, the cost of furnishing and outfitting a new home runs a bit lower than in neighboring states.
Job market and economy
New Hampshire's economy is led by professional and business services, the largest contributor to state output, alongside advanced manufacturing. Dartmouth Health in Lebanon is the largest private employer, BAE Systems runs defense-electronics operations around Nashua and Manchester with more than 6,500 workers, and C&S Wholesale Grocers is headquartered in Keene. SIG Sauer manufactures firearms in Newington. The labor force participation rate is 66.1 percent, one of the highest in the country, and 40.6 percent of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Safety and natural risks
Winter weather is New Hampshire's defining hazard. Nor'easters, ice storms, and heavy mountain snow can close roads and knock out power, and the state also sees inland and coastal flooding and the occasional tropical storm. Wildfire and earthquake risk stay low. If you are buying near a river or in the mountains, plan for snow load and flood exposure, and factor winter access into both insurance and how you schedule a move.
Who thrives in New Hampshire?
Massachusetts tax refugees crossing the border
Massachusetts was the single largest source of people moving into New Hampshire in 2024, sending an estimated 20,000-plus residents north. Many keep their Greater Boston jobs and commute down I-93 while trading the Massachusetts income tax for New Hampshire's no-income, no-sales-tax structure. They cluster in the southern tier, in Salem, Nashua, Manchester, and Derry, within an hour of the line.
Retirees protecting investment income
With the interest-and-dividends tax fully repealed for 2025, New Hampshire became tax-free on retirement and investment income on top of having no tax on wages or pensions. Retirees living on portfolio dividends, IRA withdrawals, and interest now keep all of that income, which draws downsizers from higher-tax New England states to the Lakes Region, the Seacoast, and the Concord area.
Manchester-Nashua tech and advanced-manufacturing hires
The Manchester-Nashua metro anchors the state's economy with a tight labor market and unemployment near the low threes. Professionals taking jobs in the region's defense, advanced-manufacturing, and tech employers relocate into Manchester, Nashua, and Bedford, often from out of state, drawn by high household incomes and no state income tax on those earnings.
California long-haul transplants seeking lower cost of living
California to New Hampshire is the standout long-distance demand signal, a roughly 3,024-mile haul from Los Angeles to Manchester. These households leave California's high income and sales taxes for a state with neither, trading coastal home prices for a New Hampshire median home value near $402,500. The cross-country move is the project that most benefits from full-service packing, vehicle transport, and storage on arrival.
Seacoast and White Mountains second-home owners
New Hampshire's compact Atlantic coastline around Portsmouth and its White Mountains and Lakes Region draw buyers of vacation and second homes. With no sales tax and no income tax on rental or investment returns, owners furnishing or seasonally relocating between a primary residence and a New Hampshire property generate steady demand for partial-load moves and seasonal storage.
First week after moving to New Hampshire: what to do
After your move to New Hampshire, several tasks need attention in the first weeks. New Hampshire gives new residents 60 days for both a driver license and registration, and the registration runs through your town or city clerk first, so it pays to start early. Here is a prioritized checklist.
- Update your driver license.
New Hampshire gives new residents 60 days to get a New Hampshire license after establishing residency. Bring your current license and proof of residency to the Division of Motor Vehicles. (dmv.nh.gov)
- Register your vehicle.
You have 60 days to register, and the process is two-part: begin at your town or city clerk where you live, then complete the state transaction. The state's annual inspection program is suspended as of 2026, so confirm the current requirement when you register.
- Transfer your auto insurance.
Contact your insurer to re-rate your policy for New Hampshire. Premiums vary by town and coverage, and the state has its own minimum requirements.
- Register to vote.
New Hampshire does not offer online voter registration, so register in person at your town or city clerk's office, at a session of the supervisors of the checklist, or at the polls on Election Day.
- Update homeowner's or renter's insurance.
Because winter storms and flooding are New Hampshire's leading hazards, review snow-load and flood coverage. Standard policies don't cover flood damage, so a riverfront or low-lying home may need a separate flood policy.
- Forward your mail.
USPS Change of Address is free online at usps.com. Mail forwarding starts within 7-10 business days.
- Transfer medical records.
Contact your current providers before the move and find a new primary care physician. Dartmouth Health anchors care across much of the state.
- Update school records.
If you have children, request transcripts from the previous district and contact your new one about enrollment and deadlines. The New Hampshire school year usually starts in late August.
New Hampshire at a glance: schools, jobs, and things to do
Schools and universities
The Hanover School District, the Hollis-Brookline Cooperative, and the Bedford School District rank among the strongest in the state, with Hanover testing in the top tier statewide. The University of New Hampshire in Durham is the public land-grant flagship, founded in 1866. The state is also home to Dartmouth College in Hanover, an Ivy League institution founded in 1769, and Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, which has the largest enrollment in the state. Because school quality varies by town, it pays to research the specific district before choosing where to land.
Major employers
Dartmouth Health, centered on Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, is the state's largest private employer. BAE Systems runs large defense-electronics operations around Nashua, Hudson, and Manchester with more than 6,500 New Hampshire workers, and C&S Wholesale Grocers is headquartered in Keene. SIG Sauer manufactures firearms in Newington. Because the economy leans on professional and business services, defense and advanced manufacturing, and healthcare, job seekers in those fields find the steadiest opportunities, especially in the Manchester-Nashua metro.
Attractions and recreation
The White Mountains and the White Mountain National Forest, crowned by Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast, anchor the state's outdoor draw. Lake Winnipesaukee, the largest lake in New Hampshire at 72 square miles, is the heart of the Lakes Region. The Kancamagus Highway is a 34.5-mile scenic byway famous for fall foliage, and Franconia Notch State Park holds the Flume Gorge and the Cannon Mountain tramway. The historic Seacoast around Portsmouth rounds out a long list of reasons people move here.
FAQ
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Local moving in New Hampshire typically costs $160-$356 per hour for a two-person crew with a truck, or $240-$534 for the three-person crew a three-bedroom home usually needs. At 4-6 hours, that puts a typical three-bedroom local move around $960 to $3,204 once crew size and access are factored in. Historic stairs and long mountain driveways can add time. Call (855) 822-2722 for an itemized estimate.
Long-distance moves from New Hampshire start at $550 for a studio and reach about $8,050 for a large four-plus-bedroom home. The final price depends on shipment weight, distance, and access at both ends. A two-to-three-bedroom move from Manchester to Boston runs about $1,000 to $1,200, while the cross-country lane to Los Angeles runs higher. Star Van Lines provides written estimates so your price won't change after booking.
Search our USDOT number 4176875 on the FMCSA SAFER website (safer.fmcsa.dot.gov). This federal database confirms our operating authority, MC number 1607491, insurance status, and safety record. Any legitimate interstate mover should be able to provide a verifiable USDOT number.
In New Hampshire the charges to ask about are long-carry fees when a truck can't park near the door, shuttle fees when a full-size truck can't reach a long unpaved mountain driveway, and stair fees for historic walk-up units in Concord or Portsmouth. We disclose every potential charge in your written estimate before you book, so nothing is a surprise on moving day.
Federal law requires interstate movers to offer two levels: Released Value Protection (free, covering $0.60 per pound per item) and Full Value Protection (paid, covering repair, replacement, or cash settlement at current value). Star Van Lines is fully insured under USDOT #4176875 and can explain both options when you request a quote.
New residents of New Hampshire have 60 days to get a New Hampshire driver license and 60 days to register a vehicle after establishing residency. Registration is a two-part process that begins at your town or city clerk and then completes as a state transaction. The state's annual vehicle inspection program is suspended as of 2026, so confirm the current requirement when you register.
Yes. New Hampshire has no individual income tax on wages or salaries and no general sales tax, and the former 3 percent interest-and-dividends tax was fully repealed effective January 1, 2025, so investment income is no longer taxed either. For someone moving from Massachusetts, that means no state tax on a paycheck and no sales tax at the register, though New Hampshire's property tax runs higher to make up the difference.
New Hampshire's cost of living index is 104.2 (US average = 100, BEA RPP 2024), above the national figure, but the lack of income and sales taxes offsets part of that. Median home value is $402,500 and median monthly rent is $1,491, with the strongest demand in the southern tier near Boston. Median household income is $99,031, among the highest in the nation.
Late April through May or September through October is the best window, with clear roads and mild weather. Avoid December through March, when most of Concord's roughly 68 inches of annual snow falls and nor'easters can shut highways. Also watch the late-March mud season, when thawing rural and mountain driveways turn soft and make access hard for a heavy truck.
Yes. The drive from Los Angeles to Manchester is about 3,024 miles, a coast-to-coast haul in the top distance band, so many households ship one or more vehicles rather than drive them. We move cars by open or enclosed carrier on the same order as your household goods. Because you have 60 days to register in New Hampshire, it helps to time the delivery so each car arrives within that window.
Massachusetts was the largest single source of new New Hampshire residents in 2024, sending about 20,300 people north. The draw is the tax structure: no income tax on wages, no sales tax, and no tax on investment income. Most cross-border movers settle in the southern tier within an hour of the line, in Salem, Nashua, Manchester, and Derry, where many keep a Greater Boston job and commute down I-93.
Climate-controlled storage is the safer choice. New Hampshire swings from sub-zero January nights to humid summers, so unconditioned storage risks condensation and freeze-thaw cycles that warp wood, crack electronics, and let mildew set into upholstery. For anything held between a move and a later move-in date, a unit that holds steady temperature and humidity protects wood furniture, antiques, and documents.
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USDOT #4176875 | MC #1607491 | Licensed & Insured