In this article, we will discuss the 15 best places in New Hampshire for a couple to live on only social security. You may skip our detailed discussion on inflationary pressures for women in the US and see the 5Best Places in New Hampshire for a Couple to Live on Only Social Security.
According to Gallup’s annual Economy and Personal Finance Poll this year, 41% of Americans believe inflation or the high cost of living is the most important financial problem facing their family. This marks the third year in a row that inflation concerns have hit a record high among respondents. For context, during the economic crisis of 2008, the percentage of Americans who believed inflation to be their most important financial concern was 18%.
READ ALSO: 12 Best Places to Retire in Hungary and15 Best Places to Retire in Uruguay.
Inflationary Pressures on Women
While inflationary pressures impact all Americans, studies show that such pressures can be particularly troublesome for certain demographics. For example, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2022, 4.4% of all women in the labor force were likely to be among the working poor in comparison to 3.7% of men. Alarmingly, 13.1% of families maintained by women earners were likely to be living below the poverty level. In contrast, 6.5% of families maintained by male earners were likely to be living below the poverty level.
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The reasons women tend to be more susceptible to the risks of inflation tend to revolve around factors such as gender pay gaps, barriers in access to education & professional opportunities, and a lack of financial literacy. While households relying on women workers are the ones most significantly impacted by such dynamics, research from Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA) suggests that it may also impact the economy in general. According to Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), closing the U.S. gender gap in labor force participation could boost the country’s GDP by an impressive 5%.
Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA) is one of the 50 largest institutional asset managers globally. In the last year, the company has managed to surpass analysts’ expectations for earnings in 3 separate quarters. On August 1st, the company released its Q2 2024 financial results in which it achieved a revenue of $2.03 billion. Adjusted operating EPS for the period were $2.27 which managed to surpass analyst expectations by 3.5%. The management credited its impressive earnings performance to strong fee-based revenues in the Wealth and Investment Management segments, which allowed it to offset its aggregate loss ratios in its Health segment.
Apart from achieving consistent growth in revenue and earnings, the company has improved its dividend payouts considerably over the last 2 years. During the first 2 quarters of 2024, Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA) paid out common stock dividends of $0.4 per share. Last month, the company declared a 12.5% increase in its common stock dividend, increasing it to $0.45 per share. With its impressive financial performance and stable outlook, Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA) looks to be one of the best dividend stocks in its industry.
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Retiring in New Hampshire
Results from Gallup’s Economy and Personal Finance Poll this year show that the second biggest financial concern for retirees is housing costs. 14% of respondents believe that the cost of owning or renting a home is their single biggest financial concern. Our article on the Best Places in Wisconsin for a Couple to Live on Only Social Security shows how households struggling to afford housing often have to compromise on their long-term savings in order to make ends meet in the short term. In such circumstances, individuals are compelled to withdraw funds from their retirement accounts, putting them at risk of being financially insecure in retirement.
For individuals retiring in states such as New Hampshire, these risks are amplified by the fact that it is quite an expensive state to retire in. In fact, according to Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z), the average home price in the state is currently $485,943. In comparison to the rest of the country, Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z) reports that the average home price in New Hampshire is 34% more expensive.
However, one advantage of retiring in the Granite State is that it has no state income tax. Thus, individuals looking to retire on social security alone will be glad to know that the state does not tax social security or other forms of retirement income. In addition, while some of the best places to retire in New Hampshire are quite expensive, there are numerous lesser-known locations that are among the cheapest.
Join us as we take a look at the best places in New Hampshire for a couple to live on only social security.
15 Best Places in New Hampshire for a Couple to Live on Only Social Security
15 Best Places in New Hampshire for a Couple to Live on Only Social Security
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Methodology
To develop our list of best places in New Hampshire for a couple to live on only social security, we initially picked out the most recommended places in New Hampshire for a couple to live on only social security on the internet. We used 10+ sources including Movoto, Smart Asset, and World Atlas to develop a shortlist. Further research was narrowed down to these places only.
Among these best places, we developed a scorecard using metrics such as livability scores, cost of living, and average rent. Livability scores were sourced from Area Vibes while average rent was obtained from Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z). By standardizing these metrics on a linear scale, each place was scored, based on which we sorted our list in descending order. The top 15 places were chosen for our list of best places in New Hampshire for a couple to live on only social security.
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Here are the 15 Best Places in New Hampshire for a Couple to Live on only Social Security.
15. Lincoln
Insider Monkey Score: 7.54
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Livability Score: 64
Median Rent: $2,000
IM Cost of Living: 94.4
In terms of rent, Lincoln is the most expensive destination on our list. However, the cost of living in the city is 5.6% lower than the national average. Residents can enjoy excursions all year round, with opportunities for skiing & snowboarding in the winters and enjoying mountain biking adventures in the summers.
14. Franklin
Insider Monkey Score: 7.90
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Livability Score: 66
Median Rent: $1,650
IM Cost of Living: 100.4
If you’re looking for small & affordable New England towns you should consider Franklin. It is located about 20 miles north of Concord, the state capital. With a median rent of just $1,650 and easy access to Concord’s amenities, Franklin is one of the best places in New Hampshire for a couple to live on only social security.
13. Derry
Insider Monkey Score: 7.98
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Livability Score: 79
Median Rent: $1,752
IM Cost of Living: 117.0
Just southeast of Manchester lies Derry. Derry offers an excellent blend of culture, history, and natural beauty. One downside of retiring to Derry is that in terms of cost of living, it is the most expensive destination on our list.
12. North Conway
Insider Monkey Score: 8.15
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Livability Score: 74
Median Rent: $1,913
IM Cost of Living: 105.4
North Conway is a popular tourist destination located in the Mount Washington Valley. However, it is also one of the best places in New Hampshire for a couple to live on only social security. It is bustling with activities and excursions all around the year, ranging from ski slopes to indoor water parks and even railroad tours.
11. Littleton
Insider Monkey Score: 8.58
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Livability Score: 64
Median Rent: $1,500
IM Cost of Living: 94.4
Located near the Connecticut and Ammonoosuc Rivers, Littleton is a small town surrounded by a myriad of natural attractions. Apart from hiking trails and state parks, it is also home to attractions such as the Littleton Historical Museum and the Littleton Opera House. Since the town is located on the interstate highway 93, it also offers plenty of opportunities for road trips across the region.
10. Conway
Insider Monkey Score: 8.65
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Livability Score: 73
Median Rent: $1,588
IM Cost of Living: 105.4
A few miles south of North Conway lies the town of Conway. While the cost of living in both places is similar, housing costs in Conway are much more affordable than in North Conway. Residents in Conway can enjoy access to the sights and sounds of the Echo Lake State Park, engaging in activities such as swimming, hiking, non-motorized boating, and fishing.
9. Manchester
Insider Monkey Score: 8.73
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Livability Score: 80
Median Rent: $1,875
IM Cost of Living: 109.9
Manchester is the largest city in New Hampshire. It is the perfect destination for retirees who wish to have access to big city amenities and lifestyles. It is particularly appealing to art lovers as it is home to the Currier Museum of Art and several galleries and theatres.
8. Laconia
Insider Monkey Score: 8.97
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Livability Score: 76
Median Rent: $1,900
IM Cost of Living: 101.6
Laconia is located on the shores of two stunning lakes Lake Winnipesaukee and Winnisquam Lake. It is an excellent retirement destination for sports enthusiasts due to its array of watersports. It is also home to the New Hampshire Fighting Spirit hockey team and the Winnipesaukee Muskrats baseball team.
7. Somersworth
Insider Monkey Score: 9.27
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Livability Score: 79
Median Rent: $1,900
IM Cost of Living: 103.4
Somersworth lies in eastern New Hampshire, just a few miles from Maine. Whilst being a small and suburban city itself, it lies in close proximity to other more populated centers such as Dover.
6. Rochester
Insider Monkey Score: 9.53
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Livability Score: 80
Median Rent: $1,800
IM Cost of Living: 104.4
Just 7 miles from Somersworth lies Rochester. The city offers an incredible balance of nature and culture, making it one of the best places in New Hampshire for a couple to live on only social security.
5. Newport
Insider Monkey Score: 10.76
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Livability Score: 73
Median Rent: $1,500
IM Cost of Living: 89.1
In terms of both rent and cost of living, Newport is one of the most affordableplaces to retire in New Hampshire. It is the perfect destination for retirees looking to explore natural beauty during their golden years. It is home to attractions such as the Pollard Mill Falls, an incredible cascading waterfall feature that draws tourists from all over New England.
4. Concord
Insider Monkey Score: 10.89
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Livability Score: 88
Median Rent: $1,850
IM Cost of Living: 103.7
Concord is the state capital of New Hampshire. It is one of the places that offers a perfect blend of vibrant city life along with access to plenty of serene natural wonders. In terms of affordability, the cost of living in Concord is 3.7% higher than the national average, however, its median rent is $1850, which is significantly lower than the national median.
3. Berlin
Insider Monkey Score: 10.18
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Livability Score: 65
Median Rent: $1,300
IM Cost of Living: 85.8
In terms of affordability, Berlin is the best place in New Hampshire for a couple to live on only social security. Its median rent is $1,300 while its cost of living is 14.2% lower than the national average. Both these scores are the lowest out of all the destinations on our list.
2. Keene
Insider Monkey Score: 11.53
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Livability Score: 86
Median Rent: $1,700
IM Cost of Living: 98.1
Keene is located in southern New Hampshire. It lies close to several natural attractions, such as the Horatio Colony Nature Preserve and the Green Mountain National Forest. It also hosts the Keene Music Festival every summer, which is one of the largest music festivals in New England.
1. Claremont
Insider Monkey Score: 12.85
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Livability Score: 88
Median Rent: $1,600
IM Cost of Living: 91.6
Claremont is located in western New Hampshire, just 10 miles from the state border with Vermont. Whilst it is a small city, this close-knit community is the best place in New Hampshire for a couple to live on only social security. It is quite affordable in terms of both housing and cost of living. In addition, it is surrounded by acres of stunning forests and parks.
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Disclosure: None. 15 Best Places in New Hampshire for a Couple to Live on Only Social Security is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Eight New Hampshire municipalities have moved to block the opening of casinos within their borders, taking advantage of a new state law that gives communities the power to opt out of hosting gambling establishments.
Amy Manzelli, president of the board of Granite Staters for Responsible Gaming, said the law, which took effect last year, has been widely welcomed by residents who value the ability to have a direct say in which establishments shape the character of their town or city.
“In New Hampshire, there’s a pretty deep and passionate vein of local control,” she said.
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Henniker, N.H., Candia, N.H., Bedford, N.H., Barrington, N.H., Hancock, N.H., New London and Littleton, N.H., voted to bar casinos within their municipal boundaries. The city of Portsmouth, N.H., moved to block gambling establishments within its city limits within three months of House Bill 737 being signed into law by the governor.
Conway, N.H., is expected to hold a similar vote on April 14.
This is separate from the option towns and cities have to opt out of Keno, a state-run lottery game.
State Rep. Bill Boyd, R-Merrimack, who sponsored both the casino opt-out bill and the legislation allowing social districts in municipalities last year, said the two laws share the same philosophy: giving towns more control over what is allowed within their boundaries.
“I’m not surprised, but I’m very happy with the immediate engagement because it tells me that people are paying attention to local control and how they want their communities to look,” Boyd said of the number of towns that have already acted under the new law.
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When gaming establishments were first legalized in New Hampshire, they were envisioned as small, locally-owned operations. The industry has since grown dramatically, with gaming halls now functioning as large-scale entertainment venues complete with restaurants and live shows. New Hampshire’s gaming industry is on track to become a $1.1 billion market within three years, according to experts.
That rapid growth has left many communities uneasy about the demands large gambling venues could place on local infrastructure, including emergency services and traffic management, Manzelli said.
“New Hampshire doesn’t really have a great mechanism for making sure municipalities have a way of dealing with those impacts,” she said. “As the gaming industry evolved, the laws were written for your classic ‘Mom and Pop’ type bingo night, very small-scale establishments.”
The law includes a grandfather clause protecting casinos that are already operating or were in the pipeline at the time a community votes to opt out.
In Littleton, plans for a casino proposed by an out-of-state operator have been in development for at least three years. In February, a casino developer, GSG Littleton Propco LLC, purchased a property in town for a gaming establishment, according to state and town records.
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Since those plans predate the town’s opt-out vote, they would not be affected by it, Boyd said.
Under the law as written, it only prevents new casinos from being sited in communities that have passed such a vote.
“Even if towns like Littleton don’t want you, you’ve got 260-some odd cities and towns that exist in the state of New Hampshire. “I would think they (casinos) could find a community that would say, ‘we really want you to come to our community,’ and they will welcome them with open arms and work with their local system to make the facility happen,” Boyd said.
General John Stark Day celebrated in New Hampshire
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TRAFFIC AND INTERDICT ILLEGAL ACTIVITY MORE EFFICIENTLY. TODAY, THE GRANITE STATE CELEBRATES THE LEGACY OF GENERAL JOHN STARK. THE SECOND MONDAY OF APRIL IS OBSERVED AS GENERAL JOHN STARK DAY. HE WAS A HERO OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND IS CREDITED WITH WRITING THE WORDS THAT BECAME NEW HAMPSHIRE’S MOTTO. HE WROTE, QUOTE, LIVE FREE OR DIE. DEATH IS NOT THE WORST OF EVILS, WHICH WAS LATER SHORTENED TO LIVE FREE OR DIE. A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY, EVERY GENERATION, MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED, ARE WHY WE ARE FREE. IT’S NOT JUST GENERAL STARK. HE SHOWED US THE WAY AND GENERAL WASHINGTON, BUT EVERY GENERATION OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY HAVE ENSURED THAT FREEDOM. STARK IS MOST WELL KNOWN FOR SERVICE AT THE BATTLE OF BENNINGT
The Granite State honored the legacy of Gen. John Stark on Monday. Gen. John Stark Day is observed on the second Monday in April. Stark was a hero of the American Revolution and is credited with writing the words that became New Hampshire’s state motto. He wrote “Live Free or Die: Death is not the worst of evils,” later shortened to “Live Free or Die.”>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go
MANCHESTER, N.H. —
The Granite State honored the legacy of Gen. John Stark on Monday.
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Gen. John Stark Day is observed on the second Monday in April.
Stark was a hero of the American Revolution and is credited with writing the words that became New Hampshire’s state motto. He wrote “Live Free or Die: Death is not the worst of evils,” later shortened to “Live Free or Die.”
>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go
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“A lot of people in our country, every generation, men and women who have served, are why we are free,” said Gov. Kelly Ayotte. “It’s not just General John Stark. He showed us the way, and General Washington, but every generation of men and women who have served our country have ensured that freedom.”
Stark is known for his service at the Battle of Bennington in Vermont.
He retired in 1810 and died in Manchester in 1822.
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The New Hampshire Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources heard two ideas to address shrinking insect populations in New Hampshire during a Tuesday hearing.
One measure, House Bill 1431, would direct the state Pesticide Control Board to reclassify a group of pesticides that is particularly harmful to pollinators and wildlife as restricted use, meaning their use would be limited to professional pesticide applicators. The group of pesticides, called neonicotinoids, has been linked to ecosystem-wide effects from insect and bird population declines to cyanobacteria blooms.
Another bill, House Bill 1086, would establish a committee to study the feasibility and possible outcomes of a ban on seeds treated with neonicotinoid pesticides. Seed treatments are common in grain crops, including corn.
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Both bills were sponsored by Rep. John MacDonald, R-Wolfeboro.
“We have to do something,” MacDonald said Tuesday. “I’m not trying to take away any powers of the Pesticide Control Board, but nobody’s doing anything. And I don’t know, I can’t figure out why.”
The windshield effect and beyond
Rosemary Malfi, director of conservation policy for the insect conservation nonprofit Xerces Society, said the decline of insects in New Hampshire is evident in the “windshield effect.”
“Do you remember, anyone who drove a car in the ’90s or early 2000s, you actually got bugs on your windshield? I think everyone here probably knows that that doesn’t happen so much anymore. Neonicotinoid insecticides, or ‘neonics,’ are a major contributor to these declines,” she said.
Forty percent of the bumblebee species historically found in New Hampshire are locally extinct or in severe decline, while about 70% of butterfly species are losing numbers, too, Malfi said. Other classes of insects, including aquatic insects, are affected as well.
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This ripples out to affect animals higher up the food chain, including fish and birds. Beneath insects on the ecosystem ladder, meanwhile, are the microorganisms that contribute to harmful cyanobacteria blooms; this means that insect decline can allow cyanobacteria to proliferate, potentially worsening those costly problems, said Rep. Peter Bixby, D-Dover.
Learning from neighbors
As proposed, HB 1086 calls for a committee of three representatives and one senator to assess data from Quebec and New York, where bans on neonicotinoid treated seeds are in place already. They could also assess information from other areas with bans, MacDonald said.
The committee would assess whether bans in other regions have affected crop yields. Some speakers on Tuesday said studies show neonicotinoid seeds to be ineffective at increasing yields.
“We’re concerned that our agricultural community is being asked to pay for a product on seeds that isn’t necessarily helping productivity, but is having serious consequences, both to soil ecology and to water ecology,” said Carol Foss, senior adviser for science and policy with NH Audubon.
Nisa Marks, a wildlife biologist and organic farmer from Henniker, N.H., said neonicotinoids were not necessary for successful crops. But some farmers who attended said restrictions could harm them. Sarah Wrocklage, of Tecce Farm in Durham, N.H., said pests would cause losses on her farm if she could not treat them with chemicals.
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In her testimony, Wrocklage also touched on another area that the committee would be directed to consider: Whether it would be possible for farmers to switch to untreated seeds at all. Some of the sweetcorn that Tecce Farm plants is only available in treated form, Wrocklage said.
She and another farmer, Chuck Souther of Concord’s Apple Hill Farm, called for more involvement of local farmers and New Hampshire experts, including those from the University of New Hampshire. As proposed, they said, they did not support the bill, feeling it did not adequately take into account the unique circumstances on New Hampshire farms.
“We do need to look at this, but we need to look at it under New Hampshire conditions,” Souther said.
Requiring action
Though conservationists and farmers agreed insect decline was a problem, at the Tuesday hearings, some senators and speakers questioned the necessity of the bills.
Sen. Howard Pearl, R-Loudon, who is vice chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, asked if a study committee was necessary given the associated costs.
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MacDonald said it was. The committee called for in HB 1086 would be “targeted, efficient, and time-bound,” he said. It is designed to last through the summer of 2026 and deliver a report in November.
On HB 1431, speakers, including Robert Johnson of the New Hampshire Farm Bureau Association, suggested the task of restricting neonicotinoid use should be left up to the Pesticide Control Board. Johnson said he disagreed with directing the board’s actions through legislation.
But MacDonald said he had been part of conversations and a subcommittee with the Pesticide Control Board regarding neonicotinoids and had seen no action resulting from those meetings.
“This bill provides clarity on whether action is optional or whether it’s required,” he said.
Both bills have been amended from their original form. As introduced, HB 1086 proposed a ban on seed coatings rather than a study committee, while HB 1431 originally proposed more restrictions, including prohibitions on the use of chemicals on state property and on flowering plants. It also originally sought to make the violation of these rules a misdemeanor for individuals and a felony for organizations or companies. But as amended, the bill leaves more elements of the ban in the hands of the Pesticide Control Board.
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Rep. Jonah Wheeler, D-Peterborough, said he had favored a stricter version of both bills in committee discussions, but believed the amended legislation would be a step forward nonetheless. The legislation “deals with a really urgent issue that our constituents are begging us to tackle,” he said.
“The more that we as a society find ourselves away from … symbiosis with the environment in which we live, the natural harmony that exists on this planet, then the more we will find ourselves with problems like pest infestations,” he said.
