Assisted Living in New Hampshire

    Assisted living communities provide personalized care and support while helping seniors maintain their independence. Services include help with daily activities, medication management, meals, and personal care.

    461 communitiesAvg $7,086/mo

    Paying for assisted living in New Hampshire

    Most New Hampshire families pay for assisted living out of pocket at first, usually from savings, the sale of a home, retirement income, or a long-term care insurance policy. Costs vary widely depending on the community, the region of the state, the size of the apartment, and how much daily help a resident needs. You can compare current local pricing in the tables below before reading on about programs that may help offset the cost of care.

    Keep in mind that "assisted living" bundles two very different expenses: the rent for housing and meals (room and board), and the personal-care and health services a resident receives. Public programs in New Hampshire only ever help with the care portion, never the room and board.

    Does Choices for Independence cover assisted living in New Hampshire?

    New Hampshire's Medicaid home- and community-based waiver, Choices for Independence (CFI), can help pay for the care and support services a person receives in an assisted living residence. It does not pay for room and board.

    CFI is for adults who are assessed as clinically eligible for a nursing-home level of care but who choose to live in the community instead. Covered services can include personal care, homemaker help, case management, adult day services, and similar supports.

    A few important points:

    • CFI is not an entitlement, so there can be a waitlist even when you qualify.
    • Eligibility is based on both a clinical assessment and Medicaid financial limits (income and assets).
    • You apply by submitting a Medicaid application online through NH EASY, at a local DHHS District Office, or through your Aging and Disability Resource Center (ServiceLink). The Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services can also point you in the right direction.

    Not every assisted living community participates in CFI, so ask a specific community whether it accepts the waiver before you assume the care costs will be covered.

    Does Medicare cover assisted living in New Hampshire?

    No. Medicare does not pay for room and board or for the ongoing custodial (personal) care that defines assisted living, in New Hampshire or anywhere else.

    Medicare may still help with related medical needs, such as:

    • Doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription drugs
    • Short-term skilled nursing or rehabilitation after a qualifying hospital stay
    • Medically necessary home health or hospice care, when you meet the criteria

    For free, unbiased help understanding what your Medicare plan covers, contact New Hampshire's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), delivered through the ServiceLink / Aging and Disability Resource Center network.

    Other ways to pay for assisted living in New Hampshire

    OptionHow it works
    VA Aid & AttendanceA pension supplement for wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities. It adds a monthly amount on top of a VA pension that can be applied toward assisted living.
    Long-term care insuranceIf a policy is already in place, it may cover much of the monthly cost. Check the daily benefit, elimination period, and any assisted living restrictions before relying on it.
    Reverse mortgage (HECM)Homeowners 62+ can borrow against home equity, with no monthly payments due until the home is sold. Most useful when one spouse stays in the home.
    Life insurance conversionSome whole-life policies can be sold or converted into a long-term care benefit while the policyholder is still living.
    Home sale or bridge loanProceeds from selling a home — or a short-term bridge loan while it's on the market — can fund care during a transition.

    Free and low-cost resources for New Hampshire seniors

    Compare & evaluate communities

    NH Health Facilities License Verification

    Official state tool to confirm an assisted living residence's license and view its status; select Health Facilities and the assisted living license type.

    (603) 271-9039

    DHHS Health Facilities Administration

    The state office that licenses and inspects assisted living residences; explains license types and oversight and can confirm a facility's standing.

    (603) 271-9039

    Pay for care

    Choices for Independence (CFI) Waiver

    New Hampshire's Medicaid waiver that can help pay for care services (not room and board) in assisted living for those needing a nursing-home level of care.

    (800) 351-1888

    NH Medicaid Eligibility for Adults

    State page explaining Medicaid medical-assistance eligibility, including for older adults and people who need long-term care.

    ServiceLink / SHIP (Medicare counseling)

    New Hampshire's free, unbiased State Health Insurance Assistance Program for understanding Medicare benefits and applying for cost-savings programs.

    (866) 634-9412

    NH Division of Veterans Services

    Helps New Hampshire veterans and dependents secure state and federal benefits that can help pay for care.

    (800) 622-9230

    Know your rights & get help

    Long-Term Care Ombudsman

    Investigates and helps resolve complaints and problems for residents of assisted living and other long-term care facilities; services can be anonymous.

    (800) 442-5640

    File a Complaint Against a Health Facility

    DHHS process for reporting concerns about a licensed assisted living residence or other health facility.

    (603) 271-9039

    New Hampshire Legal Assistance

    Free civil legal aid for older adults age 60+, including the rights of residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

    (800) 562-3174

    603 Legal Aid

    Statewide intake for free civil legal help; assists older adults and low-income residents with benefits, housing, and related issues.

    (800) 639-5290

    Support for families & caregivers

    Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ServiceLink)

    Your local one-stop for free guidance on long-term care options, benefits, and caregiver support across New Hampshire.

    (866) 634-9412

    Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services

    State agency overseeing programs and supports for older adults and their caregivers, including the Choices for Independence waiver.

    (800) 351-1888

    Laws & regulations

    He-P 804 & He-P 805 — Assisted Living Residence Licensing Rules

    The official New Hampshire administrative rules that govern how assisted living residences are licensed, staffed, and operated, covering both the residential care (He-P 804) and supported residential health care (He-P 805) categories, hosted and kept current by DHHS Health Facilities Administration.

    National resources

    Eldercare Locator

    Federal service that connects you to vetted local aging resources — care options, transportation, and in-home support — by ZIP code.

    (800) 677-1116

    Planning & paying for long-term care (LongTermCare.gov)

    Federal guide to the full range of ways families plan and pay for long-term care.

    Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline

    Round-the-clock information, crisis help, and emotional support for families facing dementia.

    (800) 272-3900

    Assisted living laws and regulations in New Hampshire

    Assisted living in New Hampshire is licensed and overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Health Facilities Administration. Communities are licensed as Assisted Living Residences, which the state divides into two categories: residential care, for lower-acuity residents, and supported residential health care, which allows a higher level of nursing-related services.

    State rules set standards for staffing, staff training, resident admission and discharge, medication management, resident rights, and the physical environment. The Health Facilities Administration reviews license applications and conducts inspections and complaint investigations to confirm communities meet these standards. Inspection findings and complaint outcomes are public records, and anyone can report a concern about a licensed facility to DHHS.

    Before choosing a community, confirm it holds a current license and review its inspection and complaint history using the state's official Health Facilities license verification search. If anything is unclear, you can call the Health Facilities Administration directly to confirm a facility's status.

    You can read the full rules in He-P 804 & He-P 805 — Assisted Living Residence Licensing Rules.

    Check a community's license before you commit

    The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Health Facilities Administration licenses these communities as Assisted Living Residence (Residential Care / Supported Residential Health Care)s and publishes their inspection and complaint history.

    Search the state's licensed facility database

    Last reviewed June 2026.

    Frequently asked questions about assisted living in New Hampshire

    It can help with the care portion, but not the room and board. The Choices for Independence (CFI) waiver may cover personal care and support services in an assisted living residence for people who qualify clinically for a nursing-home level of care and meet Medicaid financial limits. Because CFI is not an entitlement, there can be a waitlist, and not every community participates, so ask each community directly.

    Costs vary by region, by community, and by how much daily care a resident needs. Communities in and around larger areas often price differently than those in more rural parts of the state. The pricing tables below show current local figures so you can compare options near you.

    Assisted living residences provide housing, meals, and help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medications, with some health support depending on their license category. Nursing homes provide 24-hour skilled nursing and medical care for people with much higher needs. Many people in assisted living are clinically eligible for nursing-home care but choose to remain in a more home-like setting.

    For the Choices for Independence waiver, you must be assessed as needing a nursing-home level of care and meet Medicaid income and asset limits. You apply by submitting a Medicaid application through NH EASY, a local DHHS District Office, or your ServiceLink/Aging and Disability Resource Center. Eligibility for care help does not cover room and board.

    Use the state's official Health Facilities license verification search, run by the DHHS Health Facilities Administration. Select Health Facilities and the assisted living license type to confirm a community holds a current license. You can also call the Health Facilities Administration, and you may report concerns through the DHHS complaint process or the Long-Term Care Ombudsman.

    No. Medicare does not pay for room and board or the ongoing custodial care that defines assisted living. It may still cover related medical needs such as doctor visits, prescriptions, short-term skilled rehabilitation, and home health or hospice when you qualify. For free, unbiased help, contact New Hampshire's SHIP program through ServiceLink.

    Top-rated communities in New Hampshire

    Top cities for assisted living in New Hampshire

    1. Pinardville assisted living

      46 facilities$8,926/mo

    2. Goffstown assisted living

      43 facilities$8,956/mo

    3. Manchester assisted living

      43 facilities$8,937/mo

    4. Bedford assisted living

      41 facilities$8,938/mo

    5. Hooksett assisted living

      36 facilities$8,795/mo

    6. Hudson assisted living

      34 facilities$8,535/mo

    7. Nashua assisted living

      32 facilities$8,556/mo

    8. Pelham assisted living

      32 facilities$8,725/mo

    9. South Hooksett assisted living

      31 facilities$8,539/mo

    10. Auburn assisted living

      27 facilities$8,194/mo

    11. Bow assisted living

      26 facilities$8,335/mo

    12. Concord assisted living

      26 facilities$8,206/mo

    Cost of assisted living in New Hampshire

    The average cost of assisted living in New Hampshire is $7,086/month, compared to $4,896/month nationally.

    Room typeNew HampshireNational avg
    Studio$4,700$4,736
    1 Bedroom$7,589$5,203
    2 Bedrooms$4,038$5,173
    Semi-Private$6,356$4,369

    * Average monthly costs across communities in New Hampshire.

    Cost by care type in New Hampshire

    Care typeAvg. monthly costCommunities
    Independent Living$7,24884
    Assisted Living$7,086461
    Memory Care$8,044136

    Assisted Living cost in New Hampshire vs. nearby states

    StateAvg. monthly cost
    Vermont$5,932
    Maine$5,963
    New Hampshire$7,086
    Massachusetts$7,562
    National average$4,896

    * assisted living averages across communities in each state.

    Explore all cities in New Hampshire

    A

    1. Alton Bay
    2. Amherst
    3. Andover
    4. Atkinson
    5. Auburn

    B

    1. Barrington
    2. Bedford
    3. Belmont
    4. Berlin
    5. Bethlehem
    6. Blodgett Landing
    7. Boscawen
    8. Bow
    9. Bradford
    10. Brentwood
    11. Bristol
    12. Brookfield

    C

    1. Canaan
    2. Candia
    3. Canterbury
    4. Center Tuftonboro
    5. Center Barnstead
    6. Center Ossipee
    7. Center Sandwich
    8. Charlestown
    9. Chester
    10. Chichester
    11. Claremont
    12. Columbia
    13. Concord
    14. Contoocook
    15. Conway

    D

    1. Dalton
    2. Danbury
    3. Danville
    4. Deerfield
    5. Derry
    6. Dover
    7. Dublin
    8. Dummer
    9. Durham

    E

    1. East Merrimack
    2. East Wakefield
    3. Epping
    4. Epsom
    5. Exeter

    F

    1. Farmington
    2. Francestown
    3. Franconia
    4. Franklin
    5. Freedom
    6. Fremont

    G

    1. Gilford
    2. Glencliff
    3. Goffstown
    4. Gorham
    5. Goshen
    6. Grantham
    7. Greenfield
    8. Greenland
    9. Groveton

    H

    1. Hampstead
    2. Hampton
    3. Hampton Beach
    4. Hampton Falls
    5. Hanover
    6. Haverhill
    7. Hillsboro
    8. Hollis
    9. Hooksett
    10. Hudson

    J

    1. Jaffrey
    2. Jefferson

    K

    1. Keene
    2. Kingston
    3. Klondike Corner

    L

    1. Laconia
    2. Lancaster
    3. Lebanon
    4. Lee
    5. Littleton
    6. Londonderry
    7. Loudon
    8. Lyme

    M

    1. Madbury
    2. Manchester
    3. Melvin Village
    4. Meredith
    5. Merrimack
    6. Milan
    7. Milford
    8. Milton Mills
    9. Mirror Lake
    10. Mountain Lakes

    N

    1. Nashua
    2. New Boston
    3. New Hampton
    4. New Ipswich
    5. New London
    6. Newmarket
    7. Newport
    8. North Conway
    9. North Hampton
    10. North Haverhill
    11. North Walpole
    12. North Woodstock
    13. Northfield

    O

    1. Orford
    2. Ossipee

    P

    1. Pelham
    2. Pembroke
    3. Peterborough
    4. Piermont
    5. Pinardville
    6. Pittsfield
    7. Plainfield
    8. Plymouth
    9. Portsmouth

    R

    1. Raymond
    2. Rochester
    3. Rye

    S

    1. Salem
    2. Sanbornton
    3. Sanbornville
    4. Sandown
    5. Seabrook
    6. Seabrook Beach
    7. Sharon
    8. Somersworth
    9. South Hooksett
    10. Stark
    11. Strafford
    12. Stratham
    13. Suissevale
    14. Sunapee
    15. Suncook
    16. Swanzey

    T

    1. Tamworth
    2. Temple
    3. Tilton
    4. Tilton Northfield
    5. Tuftonboro

    U

    1. Union
    2. Unity

    W

    1. Warner
    2. Webster
    3. West Lebanon
    4. West Ossipee
    5. West Stewartstown
    6. West Swanzey
    7. Westmoreland
    8. Whitefield
    9. Wilton
    10. Winchester
    11. Windham
    12. Wolfeboro
    13. Wolfeboro Falls
    14. Wonalancet
    15. Woodsville

    Other types of senior living in New Hampshire

    Assisted Living in other states

    1. Alabama
    2. Alaska
    3. American Samoa
    4. Arizona
    5. Arkansas
    6. California
    7. Colorado
    8. Connecticut
    9. Delaware
    10. District of Columbia
    11. Federated States of Micronesia
    12. Florida
    13. Georgia
    14. Guam
    15. Hawaii
    16. Idaho
    17. Illinois
    18. Indiana
    19. Iowa
    20. Kansas
    21. Kentucky
    22. Louisiana
    23. Maine
    24. Marshall Islands
    25. Maryland
    26. Massachusetts
    27. Michigan
    28. Minnesota
    29. Mississippi
    30. Missouri
    31. Montana
    32. Nebraska
    33. Nevada
    34. New Hampshire
    35. New Jersey
    36. New Mexico
    37. New York
    38. North Carolina
    39. North Dakota
    40. Northern Mariana Islands
    41. Ohio
    42. Oklahoma
    43. Oregon
    44. Palau
    45. Pennsylvania
    46. Puerto Rico
    47. Rhode Island
    48. South Carolina
    49. South Dakota
    50. Tennessee
    51. Texas
    52. Utah
    53. Vermont
    54. Virgin Islands
    55. Virginia
    56. Washington
    57. West Virginia
    58. Wisconsin
    59. Wyoming
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