NH Town Guide

Find Your Perfect New Hampshire Town

White Mountains

New England's highest peaks, world-class skiing, and four-season adventure in the heart of the North Country.

35
Towns
69,967
Total Population

About White Mountains

The White Mountains region is New Hampshire's most dramatic landscape — a place where 4,000-foot peaks rise above glacially carved valleys, where the Presidential Range dominates the horizon, and where outdoor adventure defines daily life. Mount Washington, at 6,288 feet the highest peak in the northeastern United States, sits at the center of this region and has been drawing visitors since the 19th century. Today the region attracts hikers, skiers, climbers, and nature lovers from across the country and around the world.

The economy here is built on tourism, outdoor recreation, and the services that support them. North Conway, the region's commercial hub, is home to one of New England's premier outlet shopping destinations alongside world-class climbing at Cathedral and Whitehorse Ledges. Ski resorts — Bretton Woods, Attitash, Wildcat, Cranmore, and others — provide significant winter employment and draw hundreds of thousands of skiers annually. The Appalachian Mountain Club operates a network of huts and lodges that support year-round backcountry recreation.

Housing in the White Mountains is generally more affordable than southern New Hampshire, reflecting the region's distance from major employment centers. North Conway and Conway offer the widest range of services and the most active real estate market. Towns like Jackson, Bartlett, and Sugar Hill attract buyers seeking a true mountain lifestyle, with properties ranging from ski condos to historic farmhouses. The tradeoff is a longer commute to Concord, Manchester, or Portland, Maine — though remote work has made this less of a barrier for many buyers.

The natural environment is the region's defining asset. White Mountain National Forest encompasses 800,000 acres of protected land, including the Presidential Range, Franconia Notch State Park, and Crawford Notch State Park. The Appalachian Trail passes through the region, and the 48 peaks over 4,000 feet draw "peak baggers" from across New England. In winter, the region receives some of the heaviest snowfall in the Northeast, creating exceptional conditions for skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.

Community life in the White Mountains is shaped by the rhythms of the seasons and the culture of outdoor recreation. The region has a strong tradition of volunteerism — trail maintenance, search and rescue, and conservation work are deeply embedded in local culture. Year-round residents tend to be self-reliant and community-minded, and the region's small towns maintain a genuine New England character that has largely resisted the homogenization found in more suburban areas.

Regional Highlights

Mount Washington: highest peak in the Northeast at 6,288 feet
Bretton Woods: largest ski resort in New Hampshire
White Mountain National Forest: 800,000 acres of protected land
Franconia Notch and Crawford Notch State Parks
North Conway: outlet shopping and world-class rock climbing
Appalachian Trail and 48 peaks over 4,000 feet

Towns in White Mountains

Conway

Carroll County • Pop. 9,822

Median Home
$249k
Median Income
$59k
outdoor enthusiaststourism workers+1
Learn More →

Berlin

Coos County • Pop. 9,425

Median Home
$93k
Median Income
$42k
outdoor enthusiastsvalue seekers+1
Learn More →

Plymouth

Grafton County • Pop. 6,682

Median Home
$235k
Median Income
$71k
studentsacademics+1
Learn More →

Littleton

Grafton County • Pop. 6,005

Median Home
$237k
Median Income
$51k
outdoor enthusiastssmall town lovers+1
Learn More →

Campton

Grafton County • Pop. 3,343

Median Home
$225k
Median Income
$108k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Bristol

Grafton County • Pop. 3,244

Median Home
$212k
Median Income
$75k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Thornton

Grafton County • Pop. 2,708

Median Home
$274k
Median Income
$83k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Bethlehem

Grafton County • Pop. 2,484

Median Home
$246k
Median Income
$82k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

North Conway

Carroll County • Pop. 2,349

Median Home
$249k
Median Income
$59k
outdoor enthusiaststourism workers+1
Learn More →

Holderness

Grafton County • Pop. 2,004

Median Home
$347k
Median Income
$79k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Ashland

Grafton County • Pop. 1,938

Median Home
$174k
Median Income
$53k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Alexandria

Grafton County • Pop. 1,776

Median Home
$250k
Median Income
$82k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Lincoln

Grafton County • Pop. 1,631

Median Home
$268k
Median Income
$64k
ski enthusiastsoutdoor workers+1
Learn More →

Lisbon

Grafton County • Pop. 1,621

Median Home
$167k
Median Income
$63k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Rumney

Grafton County • Pop. 1,498

Median Home
$241k
Median Income
$59k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Woodstock

Grafton County • Pop. 1,434

Median Home
$296k
Median Income
$65k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Grafton

Grafton County • Pop. 1,385

Median Home
$213k
Median Income
$73k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Bridgewater

Grafton County • Pop. 1,160

Median Home
$324k
Median Income
$78k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Franconia

Grafton County • Pop. 1,083

Median Home
$440k
Median Income
$69k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Bath

Grafton County • Pop. 1,077

Median Home
$195k
Median Income
$65k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Monroe

Grafton County • Pop. 864

Median Home
$242k
Median Income
$79k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Wentworth

Grafton County • Pop. 845

Median Home
$264k
Median Income
$87k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Warren

Grafton County • Pop. 825

Median Home
$162k
Median Income
$51k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Sugar Hill

Grafton County • Pop. 647

Median Home
$456k
Median Income
$125k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Hebron

Grafton County • Pop. 632

Median Home
$434k
Median Income
$106k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Lyman

Grafton County • Pop. 585

Median Home
$167k
Median Income
$86k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Groton

Grafton County • Pop. 569

Median Home
$207k
Median Income
$69k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Waterville Valley

Grafton County • Pop. 508

Median Home
$364k
Median Income
$89k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Landaff

Grafton County • Pop. 446

Median Home
$244k
Median Income
$77k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Benton

Grafton County • Pop. 374

Median Home
$268k
Median Income
$64k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Dorchester

Grafton County • Pop. 339

Median Home
$144k
Median Income
$46k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Easton

Grafton County • Pop. 292

Median Home
$388k
Median Income
$99k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Orange

Grafton County • Pop. 277

Median Home
$264k
Median Income
$104k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Ellsworth

Grafton County • Pop. 93

Median Home
$215k
Median Income
$74k
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Livermore

Grafton County • Pop. 2

Median Home
Median Income
familiesnature lovers
Learn More →

Explore More Regions

Discover other regions of New Hampshire and find the perfect community for you.