DC to New Hampshire Moving Guide
Updated June 18, 2025

Planning a 488 mile interstate move from DC to New Hampshire? This moving guide will help you compare living in DC vs New Hampshire across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Half-Smoke vs Apple Cider Donuts), real estate & housing (victorian, row houses vs colonial, rural cottages), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in DC), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Half-Smoke and Mumbo Sauce Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Apple Cider Donuts & Boiled Dinner
- New Hampshire housing costs are 25% less expensive than they are in DC
- Rent in New Hampshire is 18% more affordable than in DC
- Moving from DC to New Hampshire will cost on average between $1,500 - $4,500
- Our top recommended DC to New Hampshire movers is Bookstore Movers
DC to New Hampshire Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from DC to New Hampshire
- High cost of living
- Heavy traffic
- Urban noise
- Limited outdoor access
- Political bustle
- Lower cost of living
- Less congestion
- Quieter surroundings
- Abundant nature trails
- Peaceful communities
- Less diverse
- Limited transit options
- Quieter evenings
- Fewer cultural venues
- Less historical richness
- Cultural diversity
- Public transport
- Vibrant nightlife
- Access to museums
- Historical landmarks
Pros of moving from DC to New Hampshire
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic and moving to New Hampshire with less congestion
- Swap the urban noise of DC for quieter surroundings in New Hampshire
- Get ready for abundant nature trails in New Hampshire
Cons of moving from DC to New Hampshire
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the cultural diversity in DC to live with less diversity in New Hampshire
- You'll lose out on the pro of public transport and have to settle for the con of limited transit options
- Time to bid farewell to vibrant nightlife and get used to quieter evenings in New Hampshire
- Swap access to museums for fewer cultural venues
DC vs. New Hampshire: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | DC | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Half-Smoke | Apple Cider Donuts |
Most popular meat dish | Mumbo Sauce Chicken | Boiled Dinner |
Most popular street food item | Food Truck Tacos | Fried Clams |
Most popular vegan food | Vegetable Curry | Maple Quinoa Bowl |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from DC to New Hampshire, you will be trading the iconic Half-Smoke of DC for the equally delicious Apple Cider Donuts of New Hampshire. And while the locals in DC rave about their flavorful Mumbo Sauce Chicken and sumptuous Food Truck Tacos, New Hampshire residents know they have tasty Boiled Dinner and Fried Clams to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegetable Curry they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Maple Quinoa Bowl of New Hampshire. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic DC eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Zaytinya, and Founding Farmers. After the boxes are unpacked in New Hampshire, don't wait too long before making your way to New Hampshire's acclaimed eateries like Moxy, Common Man, and Surf Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, New Hampshire shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than DC. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in New Hampshire compared to what you are used to in DC. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in New Hampshire.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between DC and New Hampshire
Comparison | DC | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Victorian, Row houses | Colonial, Rural cottages |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to metro, Historic charm | Scenic views, Spacious yards |
- The Victorian and Row houses architecture that DC is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Rural cottages architecture typical of New Hampshire.
- Compared to DC's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to metro and historic charm, New Hampshire real estate listings often highlight features like scenic views and spacious yards.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; New Hampshire is less walkable than DC.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; New Hampshire is less bike-friendly than DC.
- New Hampshire has less of an urban feel than DC.
- New Hampshire housing costs are 25% less expensive than they are in DC, with a median home price of $465,926 compared to DCβs $619,320.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New Hampshire have increased by 68% compared to an 8% increase in DC.
- Rent in New Hampshire is 18% more affordable than in DC.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between DC and New Hampshire
Comparison | DC | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, Floods | Snowstorms, Floods |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87Β°F / 71Β°F | 80Β°F / 56Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F / 29Β°F | 34Β°F / 17Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 40.77" | 43.40" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 15.4" | 60.52" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from DC to New Hampshire. New Hampshire gets 3% fewer sunshine days than DC.
- New Hampshire has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to DC.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in DC, but be on the lookout for potential snowstorms and floods in New Hampshire.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in New Hampshire is 7 degrees colder than in DC.
- The average winter lows are 12 degrees colder than they are in DC.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in New Hampshire. New Hampshire receives 2.6 more inches of rain compared to DC.
Financial & Community Snapshot: DC and New Hampshire
Comparison | DC | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $101,027 | $89,992 |
Cost of Living Index | 140.1 | 116.8 |
State Income Tax | 6% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.55% | 2.05% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 0% |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Education, Professional Services | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Tourism |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Significant | Minimal |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New Hampshire tend to earn about 11% less than in DC
- The COLI in New Hampshire will be 17% lower than what you are used to living in DC
- Hooray, moving to NH means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in New Hampshire is moderate compared to high in DC
- The poverty level is low in New Hampshire compared to moderate in DC
- In terms of homelessness, it is significant in DC and minimal in New Hampshire
Political and Religious Climate in DC vs. New Hampshire
Comparison | DC | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Heavily Democratic | Swing State, leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Focus on federal and local governance issues | Local governance with a strong emphasis on individual freedom |
Religion | Diverse religious landscape | Less religiously diverse, Christian majority |
- DC tends to lean heavily Democratic in its political climate
- New Hampshire, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state that leans Democratic
- New Hampshire's religious environment can be described as less religiously diverse with a Christian majority
- DC's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a diverse religious landscape
Education Guide When Moving from DC to New Hampshire
Comparison | DC | New Hampshire |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Georgetown University George Washington University American University | Dartmouth College University of New Hampshire Saint Anselm College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Janney Elementary Mann Elementary Eaton Elementary | Little Harbour School Matthew Thornton Elementary Main Dunstable Elementary |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Deal Middle School Hardy Middle School McKinley Middle School | Rye Junior High Hampton Academy Amherst Middle School |
Top 3 High School Schools | School Without Walls High School Banneker High School Wilson High School | Phillips Exeter Academy St. Paul's School Hanover High School |
Top 3 private high schools | Sidwell Friends School St. Albans School Georgetown Day School | Phillips Exeter Academy St. Paul's School Holderness School |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Maret School Sidwell Friends School Georgetown Day School | Phillips Exeter Academy St. Paul's School Kimball Union Academy |
Top 3 School Districts | DC Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative Windham School District Bedford School District |
How Much Do DC to New Hampshire Movers Cost?
Moving 488 miles from DC to New Hampshire will typically cost between $2,000 and $4,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $4,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Mic's Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,257 | 300 ft3 | $4.19 |
1 Bedroom | $1,867 | 450 ft3 | $4.15 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,079 | 750 ft3 | $4.11 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,470 | 1100 ft3 | $4.06 |
4 Bedrooms | $6,433 | 1600 ft3 | $4.02 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,161 | 1800 ft3 | $3.98 |
Top DC to New Hampshire Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best DC to New Hampshire movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.