New Hampshire to California Moving Guide
Updated June 6, 2025

Planning a 3,087 mile interstate move from New Hampshire to California? This moving guide will help you compare living in New Hampshire vs California across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like cold, harsh winters vs mild, sunny weather), food & health (like Apple Cider Doughnuts vs Avocado Toast), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs spanish, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in California), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Apple Cider Doughnuts and Maple Glazed Ham, but get your taste buds ready for Avocado Toast & Fish Tacos
- California housing costs are 68% more expensive than in New Hampshire
- Rent in California is 38.55% more expensive than in New Hampshire
- Moving from New Hampshire to California will cost on average between $3,000 - $10,500
- Our top recommended New Hampshire to California movers is OCD Moving Services LLC
New Hampshire to California Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New Hampshire to California
- Cold, harsh winters
- Limited job market
- Expensive heating costs
- Lack of cultural diversity
- Mild, sunny weather
- Diverse job opportunities
- Lower heating costs
- Rich cultural experiences
- High housing prices
- Dense urban areas
- Traffic congestion
- Seasonal monotony
- Lower cost of living
- Close-knit communities
- Natural landscapes
- Four distinct seasons
Pros of moving from New Hampshire to California
- Say goodbye to cold, harsh winters and hello to mild, sunny weather
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to California with diverse job opportunities
- Swap the expensive heating costs of New Hampshire for lower heating costs in California
- Get ready for rich cultural experiences in California
Cons of moving from New Hampshire to California
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in New Hampshire to live with high housing prices in California
- You'll lose out on the pro of close-knit communities and have to settle with the con of dense urban areas
- Time to bid farewell to natural landscapes and get used to traffic congestion in California
- Swap four distinct seasons for seasonal monotony
New Hampshire vs. California: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New Hampshire | California |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Apple Cider Doughnuts | Avocado Toast |
Most popular meat dish | Maple Glazed Ham | Fish Tacos |
Most popular street food item | Lobster Rolls | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan Maple Cookies | Plant-based Burgers |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
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 New Hampshire to California, you will be trading the iconic Apple Cider Doughnuts of New Hampshire for the equally delicious Avocado Toast of California. And while the locals in New Hampshire rave about their flavorful Maple Glazed Ham and sumptuous Lobster Rolls, California residents know they have tasty Fish Tacos and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Maple Cookies they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Plant-based Burgers of California. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New Hampshire eateries like The Common Man, Moxy, and Republic Cafe. After the boxes are unpacked in California, don't wait too long before making your way to California's acclaimed eateries like Chez Panisse, Pink's Hot Dogs, and Gjelina.
When comparing lifestyles, California shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New Hampshire. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in California, compared to what you are used to in New Hampshire. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in California.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New Hampshire and California
Comparison | New Hampshire | California |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Spanish, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, scenic views | Eco-friendly features, outdoor living spaces |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that New Hampshire is known for will be replaced with the Spanish and Modern architecture typical of California.
- Compared to New Hampshire's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and scenic views, California real estate listings often highlight features like eco-friendly features and outdoor living spaces.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; California is more walkable than New Hampshire.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; California is more bike-friendly than New Hampshire.
- California has more of an urban feel than New Hampshire.
- California housing costs are 68% more expensive than in New Hampshire, with a median home price of $783,666 compared to New Hampshireβs $465,926.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in California have increased 42% compared to a 68% increase in New Hampshire.
- Rent in California is 38.55% more expensive than in New Hampshire.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New Hampshire and California
Comparison | New Hampshire | California |
---|---|---|
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 | Snowstorms, Floods | Earthquakes, Wildfires |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 80Β°F / 55Β°F | 85Β°F / 60Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 34Β°F / 17Β°F | 68Β°F / 48Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 47" | 22" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 60" | Variable |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from New Hampshire to California. California gets 40% more sunshine days than New Hampshire.
- California has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to New Hampshire.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and floods in New Hampshire, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and wildfires in California.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in California is 5 degrees warmer than in New Hampshire.
- The average winter lows are 31 degrees warmer than they are in New Hampshire.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in California. California receives 25 fewer inches of rain compared to New Hampshire.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New Hampshire and California
Comparison | New Hampshire | California |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $89,992 | $91,551 |
Cost of Living Index | 116.8 | 136.4 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 13.3% |
Avg. Property Tax | 2.05% | 0.76% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0% | 7.25% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Retail | Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in California tend to earn about 2% more than in New Hampshire
- The COLI in California will be 17% higher than what you are used to living in New Hampshire
- The state income tax in CA is 13.3% compared to 5% in NH
- The affluence in California is high compared to moderate in New Hampshire
- The poverty level is moderate in California compared to low in New Hampshire
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in New Hampshire and high in California
Political and Religious Climate in New Hampshire vs. California
Comparison | New Hampshire | California |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately conservative, swing state | Largely liberal, Democratic stronghold |
Local Politics | Local politics vary, with a mix of Republican and Democratic strongholds | Local politics lean heavily Democratic, especially in urban areas |
Religion | Christianity dominates, but less religious overall compared to the national average | Diverse religious landscape, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and non-religious groups |
- New Hampshire tends to lean moderately conservative and is a swing state in its political climate
- California, on the other hand, is often described as a largely liberal Democratic stronghold
- California's religious environment can be described as a diverse religious landscape, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and non-religious groups
- New Hampshire's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as dominated by Christianity but less religious overall compared to the national average
Education Guide When Moving from New Hampshire to California
Comparison | New Hampshire | California |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of New Hampshire Dartmouth College Southern New Hampshire University | University of California Stanford University California State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Little Harbour School (Portsmouth) Maude H. Trefethen School (New Castle) Matthew Thornton Elementary (Londonderry) | Point Vicente Elementary School (Rancho Palos Verdes) Mill Valley Middle School (Mill Valley) Hawthorne Elementary (Beverly Hills) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Oyster River Middle School (Durham) Hampton Academy (Hampton) Cooperative Middle School (Stratham) | Henry E. Huntington Middle School (San Marino) Alice Fong Yu Alternative School (San Francisco) The Nueva School (Hillsborough) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Academy for Science and Design (Nashua) Hanover High School (Hanover) Bedford High School (Bedford) | Henry M. Gunn High School (Palo Alto) California Academy of Mathematics and Science (Carson) Troy High School (Fullerton) |
Top 3 private high schools | Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter) St. Paul's School (Concord) The Derryfield School (Manchester) | Harvard-Westlake School (Los Angeles) The Harker School (San Jose) Polytechnic School (Pasadena) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Derryfield School (Manchester) Nashua Christian Academy (Nashua) Mount Zion Christian Schools (Manchester) | The Nueva School (Hillsborough) The Webb Schools (Claremont) Chadwick School (Palos Verdes Peninsula) |
Top 3 School Districts | Hanover School District Bedford School District Londonderry School District | San Marino Unified School District Palo Alto Unified School District Arcadia Unified School District |
How Much Do New Hampshire to California Movers Cost?
Moving 3,087 miles from New Hampshire to California will typically cost between $4,500 and $10,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,500 - $10,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-8 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: CC Relocation, Inc.
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,953 | 300 ft3 | $9.84 |
1 Bedroom | $4,406 | 450 ft3 | $9.79 |
2 Bedrooms | $7,306 | 750 ft3 | $9.74 |
3 Bedrooms | $10,661 | 1100 ft3 | $9.69 |
4 Bedrooms | $15,427 | 1600 ft3 | $9.64 |
5+ Bedrooms | $17,266 | 1800 ft3 | $9.59 |
Top New Hampshire to California Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New Hampshire to California movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

OCD Moving Services LLC
Best moving company overall for New Hampshire to California
Manchester to California
- Manchester to Anaheim
- Manchester to Bakersfield
- Manchester to Chula Vista
- Manchester to Fresno
- Manchester to Irvine
- Manchester to Long Beach
- Manchester to Los Angeles
- Manchester to Oakland
- Manchester to Riverside
- Manchester to Sacramento
- Manchester to San Diego
- Manchester to San Francisco
- Manchester to San Jose
- Manchester to Santa Ana
- Manchester to Stockton