Short answer
The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) sets each town's property tax rate in the fall, after the town, school and county budgets are final, usually between October and December. A town can't send the tax bill that uses the new rate until the DRA certifies it, so many towns mail that bill in late fall or early winter.
Who sets a town's property tax rate in New Hampshire?
State law (RSA 21-J:35) gives the Commissioner of Revenue Administration the job of computing and setting the tax rate for each town and city. Towns estimate the rate while they build their budgets, but the rate isn't official until the DRA certifies it.
How is the tax rate calculated?
The DRA starts with the money the town, school district and county voted to spend, subtracts the revenue they expect from other sources, and divides what's left by the town's total assessed property value. The result is quoted per $1,000 of assessed value, and it's made up of four parts:
- Municipal (the town or city)
- County
- State education
- Local education (the school district)
What does this mean if I'm buying a home this fall?
Your lender estimates the property tax from the most recent bill and rate available. When the new rate comes out, the tax on the home can change, and so can the escrow part of your payment. At closing, the taxes are split between buyer and seller based on the figures available that day. Ask your closing attorney or title company how your purchase agreement handles a bill that arrives after closing.
What happens to my escrow when the new rate comes out?
If your taxes are paid through escrow, your loan servicer pays the new bill and looks at your escrow account once a year. A higher bill can mean a shortage and a higher monthly payment after that review; a lower one can mean a lower payment or a refund. The NH tax bills and escrow guide walks through how that works.
Where can I find my town's 2026 rate?
Your town or city website usually posts the new rate once the DRA certifies it, and the DRA publishes rates for every town. The property tax calculator and town pages on this site use the 2025 rates for now and will be updated once the 2026 rates are published.
Sources
- NH DRA, Chapter 14: Real Estate Taxes (tax collector manual)
- NH RSA 21-J:35, Establishment of tax rates
Checked October 27, 2026. Rules and dates change, so confirm current details before you rely on them.
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