Why Are People Moving Out of NH, and What Does It Mean in Salem NH?
The quick answer: Some people leave New Hampshire, mostly to cut costs, be near family or start fresh. Florida and Maine top the list. Still, more people move in than out, and most come from Massachusetts. If you own in Salem NH and want to move up, maybe to North Andover MA, that flow shapes your plan.
Why do my buyers keep crossing the Massachusetts and New Hampshire border?
Maybe you saw a headline that people are leaving New Hampshire. Maybe a neighbor in Salem NH just put up a sign and moved south.
Now you feel torn. Should you stay put? Move up where you are? Or cross back into Massachusetts?
If that question keeps you up at night, you aren't alone. I hear it from owners in Salem NH every week. Here's what the research says, and what it means for your next move.
People leave for a reason. Make sure your reason fits your life, not a headline.
In this guide
Are people really leaving New Hampshire?
Some are. More are coming in.
A University of New Hampshire survey found about 24% of residents might leave in the next five years, NHPR reported in August 2026. That sounds like a lot. In Vermont and Connecticut, the same kind of number runs as high as 40%.
Thinking about it isn't the same as doing it. New Hampshire grew by about 6,800 people from mid 2024 to mid 2025, per the NH Fiscal Policy Institute. Nearly all of that growth came from people moving in.
Why do people leave New Hampshire?
Most people have more than one reason. The UNH Carsey School found money comes up the most. People also name the weather, family, the political climate and wanting a change.
- Cost of living. Housing is the big one. A family needed over $158,000 a year to afford the typical single family home in 2025, per the NH Fiscal Policy Institute. Prices are up 78.3% since 2019.
- Family. Kids move away, grandkids come along, and people follow them.
- Weather. Long winters push some retirees south.
- A fresh start. Younger, single residents are the most likely to go.
Income and schooling made little difference in who was thinking of leaving. Age and life stage mattered more.
Where are people moving when they leave NH?
Mostly south and to Maine.
| Where New Hampshire lost the most tax filers | Net filers lost, 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|
| Florida | 854 |
| Maine | 623 |
| North Carolina | 429 |
| South Carolina | 332 |
| Texas | 171 |
Source: NH Fiscal Policy Institute, from IRS tax filer data, May 27, 2026. Massachusetts was the biggest source of new filers, with a net gain of 4,009.
So the loss is spread out. No single state pulls a big share of the people who live here.
Who is moving into New Hampshire?
Mostly people from Massachusetts, and mostly working age.
People 26 to 44 made up 56.9% of New Hampshire's net gain in tax filers, per the NH Fiscal Policy Institute. Filers under 26 were the only age group with a net loss.
Move-ins from Massachusetts were back to about 2018 levels by 2024. Salem NH sits right on the line, so many of those buyers look here first. They want no tax on their wages, more room and a short drive back to work.
Is now a good time to sell in Salem NH and move up?
It can be, if your numbers work. The same people moving in are the buyers for your home.
Watch your tax bill. The 2025 rate in Salem NH is $18.16 per $1,000 of assessed value. The town's 2026 revaluation, when it updates every home's value to match the market, raised early values for single family homes by about 51% on average. The town says a higher value doesn't mean a bill that's higher by the same amount, because a new rate is set too. The new bills come in December 2026.
Before you list, ask for your home's likely sale price from accurate similar sales. Then line up the next house, so you move once. Our buying and selling at the same time guide shows the order.
Should you stay in New Hampshire or move to North Andover MA?
It comes down to where you work, what you'll pay each month and what you want close by.
If you work in Massachusetts, you already pay Massachusetts tax on that pay, even while you live in Salem NH, per the Massachusetts DOR. New Hampshire doesn't tax wages, per the NH Department of Revenue Administration. So the tax gap may not be as big as you think.
I grew up in North Andover MA and lived at Mill Pond with my kids. We'd take the dogs to Weir Hill, go kayaking and grab morning coffee at Good Day Cafe. The kids were close to Kittredge, the middle school and the high school. So I know why families cross the line both ways.
Our honest Massachusetts vs New Hampshire comparison runs the math for your paycheck. Our moving up in North Andover MA or Salem NH guide starts with your payment.
What should you ask before you make a move?
- Where will I work in five years, and in which state?
- What's my full monthly cost in each town, with taxes and insurance?
- How will the 2026 revaluation change my Salem NH tax bill?
- Can I buy the next house before I sell this one?
- Do I want to be near family, or near my job?
Write your answers down. Then call me, and we'll put real numbers next to them.
For Salem NH owners thinking about a move
Thinking about leaving Salem NH or moving up?
Sign up and tell me where you'd like to land. I'll send homes that fit, plus a plan to sell and buy so you move once.
About Lisa Sevajian
Lisa Sevajian is a Realtor with the Lisa Sevajian Group at eXp Realty. The Lisa Sevajian Group is licensed in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. She has guided almost 2,000 families through buying and selling and has ranked in the top 1.5% of over 1.4 million Realtors nationwide, verified by RealTrends. She serves the Andovers, the Merrimack Valley, Seacoast MA and NH, Southern NH and the North Shore. Buying, she makes sure you don't overpay. Selling, she makes sure you don't say yes to too little. Call Lisa Sevajian at 978-457-3406.
Home, for me, is here
This is home for me. I grew up north of Boston. I raised my two daughters here as a single mom while I built my business. When they were little, they hosted open houses with me.
We lived at Mill Pond in North Andover MA. I hiked Weir Hill with my dogs. I launched my kayak on the pond. A lot of my mornings started at Good Day Cafe.
So when you ask me about a town, you get more than numbers. Ask me about a school, a street or your commute, and you get someone who has lived it. If you're making a move here, you won't make it alone.
Lisa is an expert negotiator and we were able to get everything that we wanted for our offer.
Kevin Liu, bought a home in Georgetown MA, verified Zillow review
She listened to me and understood what I needed in this home sale.
Elizabeth Reifsnyder, sold a home in Andover MA, verified Zillow review
Read real client storiesSee all reviewsMore about Lisa Sevajian
Featured by HGTV, Forbes, HousingWire, Boston magazine, RealTrends Verified and Boston Agent Magazine, syndicated by The Globe and Mail and Yahoo Finance, among many others.
Questions people ask
Why are people moving out of NH?
Mostly cost of living, being near family, the weather and wanting a fresh start, per UNH research. Most people name more than one reason.
Is New Hampshire losing population?
No. New Hampshire grew by about 6,800 people from mid 2024 to mid 2025. Nearly all of that came from people moving in.
Where do people from New Hampshire move to?
Florida and Maine top the list, then North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas, per IRS filer data from the NH Fiscal Policy Institute.
Where do people moving to New Hampshire come from?
Mostly Massachusetts. It was the largest source of new tax filers, with a net gain of 4,009 from 2022 to 2023.
Who is most likely to leave New Hampshire?
Younger and single residents, per the UNH Carsey School. Income and education made little difference.
How many people want to leave New Hampshire?
About 24% said they might leave in the next five years, per a UNH survey reported in August 2026.
Is it a good time to sell my house in Salem NH?
It can be. Many buyers moving from Massachusetts look in Salem NH first. Get your likely sale price from accurate similar sales and line up your next home before you list.
Will my Salem NH tax bill go up after the 2026 revaluation?
It depends on your home. Early values for single family homes in Salem NH rose about 51% on average, but a new rate is set too. New bills come in December 2026.
Should I move from Salem NH to North Andover MA?
It depends on where you work and your monthly cost. If you work in Massachusetts, you already pay Massachusetts tax on that pay, so the gap may not be as big as you think.
Does New Hampshire have an income tax on wages?
No. New Hampshire doesn't tax wages, and the tax on interest and dividends ended after 2024.
How much income do you need to buy a house in New Hampshire?
Over $158,000 a year for the typical single family home in 2025, per the NH Fiscal Policy Institute. Your number depends on the house, rate and down payment.
Can I sell in Salem NH and buy in Andover MA at the same time?
Yes. We're licensed in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. We can line up both moves so you move once.
Sources
- UNH Carsey School: Retaining residents is important to New Hampshire's future: why do people leave? (checked November 5, 2026)
- NHPR: UNH survey finds a quarter of Granite Staters are considering moving away, August 24, 2026
- NH Fiscal Policy Institute: Younger residents lead interstate movement to New Hampshire, May 27, 2026
- NH Fiscal Policy Institute: New Hampshire continued to rely on migration from Massachusetts in 2025, February 23, 2026
- Town of Salem NH: 2025 tax rate, $18.16 per $1,000 (checked November 5, 2026)
- Town of Salem NH: Understanding the 2026 property revaluation (checked November 5, 2026)
- NH Department of Revenue Administration: Interest and Dividends Tax and no tax on wages (checked November 5, 2026)
- Massachusetts DOR: 2025 Form 1-NR/PY instructions, nonresident wages (checked November 5, 2026)
- Hero photo: Arlington Mill Reservoir, Salem NH, by Ken Gallager, CC BY-SA 4.0
This is general information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Check with your attorney, lender and CPA before you decide.
I'll guide you home.
Lisa Sevajian