How much does a nursing home cost in New Hampshire?
The median nursing home cost in New Hampshire is $13,444 per month for a private room and $12,243 per month for a semi-private room, based on the CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey released March 2026. That's roughly $161,330 per year for a private room.
New Hampshire costs run 28% above the national median.
2026 New Hampshire senior care costs at a glance
| Care type | New Hampshire median/month | National median (CareScout 2025) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing home (private) | $13,444 | $10,798 | +25% |
| Nursing home (semi-private) | $12,243 | $9,581 | +28% |
| Memory care (est) | $10,050 | $7,750 | +30% |
| Assisted living | $8,025 | $6,200 | +29% |
| Non-medical caregiver (hourly) | $40 | $35 | +14% |
See your exact spend-down timeline for New Hampshire
Enter your savings, income, and care type to see how long your money lasts before reaching New Hampshire Medicaid asset limits.
Open the New Hampshire calculator →Nursing home costs by New Hampshire city
Costs vary by metro area within the state. Urban markets typically run 10–25% above state medians, while rural areas can be 10–20% below.
City-level estimates are based on CareScout 2025 metro-area data. Individual facility costs vary 20–40% from these medians depending on amenities, staffing ratios, and room type.
New Hampshire Medicaid for nursing home care
New Hampshire Medicaid covers nursing home care for residents who meet both medical eligibility (need for skilled nursing care) and financial eligibility (limited assets and income). Understanding the rules before you need them can save your family hundreds of thousands of dollars.
New Hampshire Medicaid 2026 asset limits
Individual applicant: $2,500 in countable assets (2026)
Married couple, one spouse applying: Community spouse may keep up to $162,660 under the federal Community Spouse Resource Allowance (2026 maximum), plus the home, one vehicle, and personal belongings
The 5-year look-back period in New Hampshire
New Hampshire Medicaid reviews all asset transfers made within 60 months (5 years) of your application date. Gifts to family, property transfers below market value, or large unexplained withdrawals trigger a penalty period that delays Medicaid eligibility — during which you must private-pay.
New Hampshire's 2026 penalty divisor is approximately $13,444 per month (~$442 per day). A $50,000 transfer that violates the look-back rule would create roughly a 112-day penalty period during which New Hampshire Medicaid will not cover care costs.
This is why elder law attorneys consistently advise families to begin Medicaid planning at least 5 years before nursing home care is needed.
Find a New Hampshire elder law attorney
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys maintains a state-by-state directory of certified elder law attorneys.
Find a New Hampshire attorney →What makes New Hampshire different
New Hampshire's primary Medicaid waiver for seniors is the Choices for Independence (CFI) Waiver, with approximately 5,951 slots administered by the Bureau of Adult and Aging Services within DHHS. New Hampshire uses a state-specific $2,500 individual asset limit (slightly above the federal $2,000 default). Two regulatory categories distinguish New Hampshire's assisted-living landscape: "Residential Care" facilities (non-medical assistance and social activities) and "Supported Residential Health Care" facilities (additional skilled nursing services, with licensed nursing care available up to 21 days). Functional eligibility requires assistance with two or more ADLs as determined by a registered nurse using New Hampshire's Medical Eligibility Assessment tool. ServiceLink, the state's Aging and Disability Resource Center, serves as the primary application gateway.
Sources: state Medicaid agency program documentation and CMS spousal-impoverishment standards. See our methodology page for the broader data sources used across this site.
How New Hampshire compares to neighboring states
Cost differences across state lines can be substantial. Some families consider relocating for care, particularly if adult children live across a border.