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Side-by-side state comparison

Massachusetts vs New Hampshire Paycheck Comparison (2026)

Last reviewed: April 20, 2026

At $100,000 single filer, take-home difference

Moving from Massachusetts to New Hampshire saves approximately $5,460 per year at $100,000 single.

Computed from the tax engine with 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and state tax. Standard deduction, no pre-tax contributions.

Massachusetts and New Hampshire sit next door but tax wages very differently. Massachusetts levies a 5% flat state tax on wage income, with an additional 4% surtax on income above $1 million (the so-called "millionaire surtax"). New Hampshire's older tax on interest and dividend income was phased out, so a New Hampshire resident's wage paycheck shows only federal tax and FICA on the state-and-local line. At any salary level below $1 million, the Massachusetts state load is roughly 5% of taxable income; New Hampshire's is zero. Many Boston-area workers consider this trade-off when deciding where to live, weighing the paycheck difference against New Hampshire's higher property taxes and longer commute.

How the state tax structures compare

FeatureMassachusettsNew Hampshire
State structure5 percent flat plus millionaire surtaxNo tax on wages (interest/dividends tax phased out)
Taxes wages?YesNo

Take-home at four common salary points

Single filer, 2026 brackets, standard deduction, no pre-tax contributions. Delta is New Hampshire take-home minus Massachusetts take-home.

SalaryMassachusettsNew HampshireDelta
$50,000$39,625$42,355+$2,730
$100,000$73,720$79,180+$5,460
$150,000$105,601$113,791+$8,190
$250,000$169,833$183,182+$13,349

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New Hampshire takes home more

+$5,460

more per year vs. Massachusetts · $455/mo · $210/paycheck

5-Year Difference

$27,300

Tax Component
Massachusetts
New Hampshirewinner
Gross Salary$100,000$100,000
Federal Tax$13,170$13,170
Social Security$6,200$6,200
Medicare$1,450$1,450
State Tax$5,000$0
Local / City Tax$0$0
State Payroll Deductions$460$0
Annual Take-Home$73,720$79,180
Effective Tax Rate26.28%20.82%
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Massachusetts vs New Hampshire FAQ

What is the New Hampshire tax advantage for wage earners?
New Hampshire doesn't tax wage income. The state's older Interest and Dividends Tax was phased out. So for a wage earner with no significant investment income, the state-income-tax line on a New Hampshire paycheck is zero. Massachusetts charges 5% flat on Massachusetts taxable wages.
Does the Massachusetts millionaire surtax change the comparison at most salaries?
No. The 4% surtax applies only to income above $1 million. Below that threshold, both Massachusetts wage earners and the Massachusetts vs New Hampshire comparison use the 5% flat rate alone. The surtax becomes a factor only for very high earners.
If I work in Boston but live in New Hampshire, what tax applies?
Massachusetts requires non-residents who work in Massachusetts to pay Massachusetts state tax on Massachusetts-earned wages. A New Hampshire resident commuting to Boston pays Massachusetts state tax on those wages, withheld at the source. To benefit from New Hampshire's no-wage-tax structure, the work location also needs to be in a no-tax state.

See also

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Reviewed

How This Page Is Reviewed

The Massachusetts vs New Hampshire comparison is reviewed against primary federal and state sources before each major tax-year update. Source links below are the references used to validate brackets, wage bases, and supported local taxes.

Reviewed by

PaycheckCalc Research Desk

Last reviewed

2026-04-20