Living in Concord should be your next step! According to Wikipedia, the Pennacook people lived in Concord for thousands of years until European settlers arrived in 1659. They called the area "Penacook," based on the Abenaki word "pannukog," meaning "bend on the river." The colonial government incorporated the community as a city in 1733, under the name "Rumford." It was renamed to "Concord" in 1765, after the resolution of a boundary dispute between Rumford and Bow. The name was meant to symbolize the concord between the two communities.
Concord became a prominent town in the 19th century, with people moving to Concord NH to work in granite quarries, railroad depots, furniture factories, and printing studios. The city became the capital city of New Hampshire in 1808. In the 20th century, the economy slowed down, but the city reinvented itself as a political, legal, and insurance hub. The city's nicknames are "New Hampshire's Main Street" and "The Capital City."
What is Concord NH known for? Concord is well known today as the state capital of New Hampshire and the host of the first presidential primary in the country. Is Concord a good place to live? Yes, it is a very good place to live, combining the amenities of a city with a friendly small-town vibe.
Moving to Concord NH can give you convenient access to top public schools and private schools, and great local businesses you can shop and work at. But before you start moving to Concord NH, you should learn about the benefits of living in Concord. Here's what to know about living in Concord.
Where Is Concord?
Where is Concord, and what county is Concord in? Concord is in Merrimack County, and it's the center of the Concord micropolitan area. It's inside the larger Boston metro area and the Greater Boston area. It is 68.6 miles from Boston to Concord, and it is 17.6 miles from Manchester to Concord. Concord borders Hopkinton, Webster, Boscawen, Canterbury, Loudon, Chichester, Pembroke, and Bow.
Concord is located within the Merrimack River watershed, and the river flows through the center of Concord New Hampshire. Concord has a well-developed downtown area, but outlying areas are less developed and contain large green areas. Concord Area Transit (CAT) provides public transportation services for all residents living in Concord. You can use the CAT system map to see where bus routes stop in Concord. Interstate 93 and US Route 3 run north to south, while US Route 202 runs west to east, so you can drive while living in Concord and drive for moving to Concord NH.
Concord NH Population and Demographics
According to the US Census in 2020, the Concord NH population was 43,976, up by 3.0% since 2010. Concord has reported population growth in every US Census, though the amount of growth varies from census to census. The Concord NH population increased almost tenfold between 1800 and 1900, but in recent decades, the population growth has been just a few percentage points in each decade.
Concord is the third-largest city in New Hampshire, behind Manchester and Nashua. The Concord NH population density is 687.52 people living in Concord per square mile, more than four times higher than the countywide density.
Notable people living in Concord include Franklin Pierce, Christa McAuliffe, and Matt Bonner. Notable Concord demographics include:
- 51.7% male, 48.3% female
- Median age of people living in Concord New Hampshire: 40.7
- Racial and ethnic composition of residents living in Concord: 85.4% White (84.5% non-Hispanic), 5.2% two or more races, 4.1% Asian, 3.8% Black or African American, 3.1% Hispanic or Latino, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
- Median household income of people living in Concord: $83,701 (roughly 87.5% of the state median)
- Educational attainment of residents living in Concord: 93.0% of residents over the age of 25 have graduated from high school, 40.1% have a bachelor's degree
- Foreign-born population of people living in Concord: 7.8%
Concord is a popular city for singles. 53.7% of residents living in Concord are currently single, with 38.7% of men living in Concord having never been married. Many Concord residents are long-term residents. Over two-thirds of people living in Concord moved to the city in 2010 or an earlier year. 7.8% of residents living in Concord have veteran status.
Here are the latest crime rates in Concord, according to the FBI in 2022:
- Overall Concord crime rate: 1,492 offenses per 100,000 people living in Concord (31.2% higher than the New Hampshire rate, 35.8% lower than the national average)
- Violent Concord crime rate: 138 crimes per 100,000 people living in Concord (9.9% higher than the state rate, 62.7% lower than the national rate)
- Property Concord crime rate: 1,354 offenses per 100,000 residents living in Concord (33.9% higher than the state average, 30.7% lower than the national average)
While Concord has high crime rates compared to New Hampshire's rates, it's a safe place to live in terms of the national average. It has lower crime rates than most major cities in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine; the Manchester crime rate is 48.6% higher than the Concord crime rate. According to the Concord Monitor, Concord crime rates have fallen below pre-pandemic rates across the city. The Concord Police Department employs 81 police officers.
Concord Cost of Living
Some sources don't provide Concord cost of living statistics, so you can use Manchester cost of living figures to create a rough estimate. The Manchester cost of living index is 114.1, meaning the average cost of items in the Manchester area is 14.1% higher than the national average. According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four living in the Manchester metro area would need to earn $119,110 a year.
This sounds high, but the Concord cost of living is lower than the cost of living in Portland, Maine, and other major cities. You can save money by moving to Concord NH because there is no income or sales tax in New Hampshire. Property taxes can be high, but you can save money by renting Concord real estate or applying for high-paying professions in the job market.
Concord NH real estate is fairly affordable, even for single family homes for sale. According to Redfin, the median price of homes for sale Concord NH is $440,000, with a median price per square foot of $267. According to RentCafe, prices for Concord apartments start at $1,985 a month. Statistics on the average price of rent in Concord may be hard to find, as there are only a few apartment complexes in Concord.
Typical Concord Living Expenses
- 1 pound of white rice: $2.56
- 1 pound of apples: $2.13
- 1 pound of potatoes: $0.90
- 1 gallon of gasoline: $3.16
- Average Concord utilities per month: $218.54
- 1 summer dress: $45.00
Source: Numbeo
Concord New Hampshire Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Concord
Concord has a few official neighborhoods and villages, giving you plenty of options for apartments and homes for sale Concord NH. Here are the best places to live in Concord.
Penacook | Quaint, Spacious, and Upscale Homes for Sale Concord NH and Condos
Penacook is a village in Concord. It's officially part of Concord, but it has its own commercial center, phone exchange, and zip code. Penacook used to be a mill town, and dams along the Contoocook River still produce electricity for the community. The dams and former mills add a quaint vibe to Penacook, and you can find many quaint condos and homes for sale in Penacook.
Most Penacook homes for sale have two or three bedrooms and around 1,500 square feet of space, making them suitable for couples and small families. Prices are around $450,000, but many homes and condos have upscale amenities like open kitchens and vinyl siding.
Concord Heights | Best Concord Neighborhood for Commuters and Shoppers
Concord Heights is a neighborhood in southeastern Concord, along the Merrimack River. It includes Concord Municipal Airport and major commercial districts, with restaurants like The Windmill Restaurant and stores like Best Buy and Target. It's the best neighborhood in Concord for shoppers and frequent travelers.
Concord Heights has a smaller real estate market than Penacook, but you can still find ranch homes and condos throughout the area. Many Concord Heights homes for sale have two bedrooms and around 1,000 square feet, making them suitable for couples. You can buy a two-bedroom condo for less than $300,000.
Concord Weather and Climate
The Concord NH climate type is humid continental, with warm and rainy summers and freezing and very snowy winters. According to Weather Spark, July is the hottest month of the year, with an average temperature of 71 degrees and an average high of 81. Temperatures peak in mid-July and stay relatively warm until mid-September. They decline significantly during the autumn and early winter. January is the coldest month of the year, with an average temperature of 22 degrees and an average low of 15. Average lows are below freezing between mid-November and early April.
The area receives an average of 34.2 inches of Concord rain and 51.8 inches of snow. Each month besides February has at least seven days of precipitation, and all months have at least one-third overcast or mostly cloudy days. Winters in Concord can be harsh. Temperatures can drop below 10 degrees at any point in the wintertime.
Concord can experience winter storms that create extremely low temperatures, high winds, and over a foot of snow. It is essential that you follow Concord weather forecasts in the wintertime and prepare for these storms in advance. You should always wear a heavy coat, gloves, and a scarf before going outside in the winter.
September is the best month to visit and start moving to Concord NH. The average temperature is 61 degrees, meaning you can stay comfortable in a long-sleeved shirt without a jacket. You can visit various outdoor activities in September and enjoy the natural beauty of New England as fall colors start to appear.
Things to Do in Concord NH
You can enjoy a wide range of things to do in Concord NH you can't find in big cities, including great stores! Market Basket and Hannaford are two of the top grocery stores in Concord. Gibson's Bookstore is a top locally run store, while Granite State Naturals is a family-owned natural food store.
White Park is one of the oldest parks in Concord and contains amenities you can't find in other Concord parks or outdoor attractions in the surrounding area. The park contains Monkey Around Playground, the largest playground in Concord, as well as a seasonal splash pad and Eastman Baseball Field.
1 White Street, Concord, NH, 03301, 603-225-8690
Concord Country Club is one of the top country clubs in New Hampshire. The club is home to a Ross Forbes-designed 18-hole golf course and is home to six golf leagues, including one for children. The club is home to a winter dining club, a swimming pool, and an on-site PGA pro shop.
22 Country Club Lane, Concord, NH, 03301, 603-228-0232
The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center is the top museum in Concord. It has 20,000 square feet of interactive and family-friendly science and engineering exhibits, including a planetarium, a science playground, and a full-sized replica of a Mercury-Redstone rocket. You can attend planetarium shows and special events throughout the year, including summer camps.
2 Institute Drive, Concord, NH, 03301, 603-271-7827
Additional Things to Do in Concord
The Concord Parks and Recreation Department oversees parks and public spaces in the small city and organizes special events like basketball tournaments throughout the year. You can see upcoming events using the City of Concord events calendar.
Concord Restaurants
New Hampshire has many unique foods, including clam chowder, lobster rolls, and apple cider donuts. You can try out these foods and many others from family-friendly and affordable Concord restaurants.
The Windmill offers breakfast and brunch in a cozy, family-friendly setting. You can order freshly made breakfast sandwiches, omelets, pancakes, and French toast, with all menu items costing less than $20.
172 Loudon Road, Concord, NH, 03301, 603-225-0600
Beefside is a kid-friendly breakfast and lunch restaurant best known for its roast beef sandwiches. You can also enjoy fried and baked seafood dinners, prime rib, biscuits and gravy, and other classic American dishes.
106 Manchester Street, Concord, NH, 03301, 603-228-0208
The Barley House is the best restaurant in Concord for alcoholic drinks, with rotating taps and an extensive list of craft beers and whiskeys. You can enjoy hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, and salads with fresh ingredients.
132 North Main Street, Concord, NH, 03301, 603-228-6363
Concord NH Jobs
According to DataUSA, roughly 22,700 people have jobs in Concord NH. The Concord job market grew by roughly 800 jobs between 2022 and 2023, with growth in several sectors. Health care, retail trade, and educational services are the three biggest job sectors in Concord, with all three having median earnings of over $65,000 a year. Over 10% of jobs in Concord NH are management occupations, with median earnings of almost $150,000 a year.
According to Payscale, the average base salary in Concord is $74,000 a year, while the average hourly rate is $22.19. As New Hampshire has no state income tax, you will take home more money than you take in other New England states. Major employers in Concord include Concord Hospital, the Community College System of New Hampshire, and Chubb. You can apply for Concord NH jobs on Indeed, and you can research City of Concord NH jobs on the municipal government's website.
Concord Schools
Nearly all students living in Concord attend schools in the Concord School District. Some students living in Penacook attend schools in the Merrimack Valley School District. You can use the City of Concord school service map to see which schools your child living in Concord will attend.
The Concord School District contains five elementary schools. US News ranks Christa McAuliffe School as the best elementary school in Concord, also ranking it in the top 50 elementary schools in the state. 57% of Christa McAuliffe School students test at or above the proficiency level in reading. Concord School District is home to one middle school, Rundlett Middle School, which US News ranks in the top 100 middle schools in New Hampshire.
The school district has one high school, Concord High School. There are not multiple high schools in Concord. Concord High School is home to some unique programs, including Rising Tide Pathways. Rising Tide Pathways are classes in specific career sectors, giving students skills and training they can use to get jobs in their desired lines of work. Rising Tide Pathways include the arts, architecture, health science, and hard sciences.
There are a few private schools in Concord, including Parker Academy and Shaker Road School. Concord is home to a few colleges and universities. NHTI is a community college with over 80 academic programs, and the University of New Hampshire Law School (UNH Law) is the only law school in New Hampshire. The Concord Public Library serves all residents living in Concord.
Concord Statistics and Information
- County: Merrimack County
- Concord area: 67.19 square miles
- Concord zip code: 03301, 03302, 03303, and 03305
- Concord area code: 603
- Concord elevation: 272 feet
- Concord time zone: Eastern Time Zone (UTC -4 and -5)
- Closest airport to Concord: Concord Municipal Airport (CON), inside Concord
Concord Map
You can use this Concord map for easy access to the best art galleries, things to do in Concord NH, and restaurants in Concord NH!
Start Living in Concord Today
Living in Concord gives you access to a great place! You'll enjoy spending time on things to do in Concord NH, applying for high-paying Concord jobs, and moving into an upscale and affordable house.
Moving to Concord NH isn't tricky, especially if you hire the right moving company. Preferred Movers has the top Concord movers, with over 900 moves performed each year. Call 603-379-2272 for a free estimate now.
