Massachusetts vs New Hampshire
Side-by-side construction cost comparison for 2026. Massachusetts averages $241/sq ft and New Hampshire averages $200/sq ft for mid-range builds — so a 2,000 sq ft home in New Hampshire costs about $82,156 less.
More affordable for new construction
$200/sq ft vs $241/sq ft — saves $82,156 on a 2,000 sq ft build
| Metric | Massachusetts | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 $/sq ft | $241 | $200 ✓ |
| 1,500 sq ft | $361,665 | $300,048 ✓ |
| 2,000 sq ft | $482,220 | $400,064 ✓ |
| 2,500 sq ft | $602,775 | $500,080 ✓ |
| Labor Index | 1.38 | 1.12 ✓ |
| Material Index | 1.32 | 1.12 ✓ |
| Avg Permit Cost | $5,500 | $3,200 ✓ |
| Median Home Price | $628,000 | $482,000 ✓ |
| Home Price YoY | +4.5% | +5.8% |
| Climate | Humid continental | Humid continental |
Massachusetts Notes
- ›High union labor costs
- ›Strict energy codes (Stretch Code)
- ›Historic district restrictions in many towns
- ›Glacial till soil conditions
New Hampshire Notes
- ›No state sales tax on materials
- ›Granitic bedrock may require blasting
- ›Short summer build season
- ›Deep frost line
Massachusetts vs New Hampshire on the underlying numbers
Cost per square foot is a summary. These are the measured inputs behind it, each from a named federal source, so you can see why the two states differ rather than just by how much.
| Measure | Massachusetts | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
Mid-range cost per sq ft Construction only, land excluded | $253 | $210 |
Builder-grade per sq ft Same basis, entry-level finishes | $187 | $155 |
Median trade wage BLS OEWS, May 2025 — the largest single driver of the cost gap | $37.25/hr | $28.89/hr |
Electrician BLS OEWS median | $38.18/hr | $30.21/hr |
Land share of property value FHFA WP 19-01 | 48.6% | 41% |
Implied land markup on build Share divided by (100 minus share) | 95% | 69% |
Heating degree days NOAA 10-year average, base 65F | 5,740 | 7,042 |
Cooling degree days Drives HVAC sizing and running cost | 632 | 380 |
Residential energy code U.S. DOE Building Energy Codes Program | 2021 IECC with amendments | 2018 IECC |
Single-family permits, 2025 Census BPS — how deep each builder market is | 5,018 | 3,279 |
Median new home in region Census Survey of Construction | 2,459 sq ft | 2,459 sq ft |
Wages and land account for most of the gap between any two states. Climate and code set the mechanical and envelope spec, and permit volume tells you how much competition there is for a builder's time — which affects the price you are quoted as much as any line item.
Cost by Home Size
| Size | Massachusetts | New Hampshire | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | $120,555 | $100,016 | New Hampshire saves $20,539 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $241,110 | $200,032 | New Hampshire saves $41,078 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $361,665 | $300,048 | New Hampshire saves $61,617 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $482,220 | $400,064 | New Hampshire saves $82,156 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $602,775 | $500,080 | New Hampshire saves $102,695 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $723,330 | $600,096 | New Hampshire saves $123,234 |
| 4,000 sq ft | $964,440 | $800,128 | New Hampshire saves $164,312 |
| 5,000 sq ft | $1,205,550 | $1,000,160 | New Hampshire saves $205,390 |
Construction costs: HouseBuildCalc Permit Cost Index (876,000+ building permits, 1,700+ ZIP codes), U.S. Census Bureau Survey of Construction, BLS Producer Price Index, NAHB Cost of Constructing a Home (published summaries). Median home prices: NAR Existing-Home Sales, 2026 estimates. For planning purposes only.