Sugar Hill

Grafton Countyβ€’White Mountainsβ€’Population: 647

Overview

Sugar Hill sits on a ridge in Grafton County near Franconia, known for some of the most photographed mountain views in New Hampshire, particularly during fall foliage season. The town's small village and rural character have kept it a quieter alternative to nearby resort towns.

Sugar Hill's elevated position offers panoramic views of the Franconia Range and Presidential Range, drawing photographers and leaf-peepers each autumn. The town's small commercial center includes inns and galleries catering to visitors.

Housing in Sugar Hill reflects its scenic, elevated setting, drawing artists, retirees, and second-home buyers who value the town's views and quiet character.

Pros & Cons

βœ“ Pros

  • β€’Scenic views
  • β€’Quiet setting
  • β€’Artistic community
  • β€’Mountain access

βœ— Cons

  • β€’Remote location
  • β€’Limited services
  • β€’Small population

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Sugar Hill.

2025 Local Tax Rate
$11.94
per $1,000 assessed value
2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate
$11.32
Equalization ratio: 95%
Municipal
$4.87
Local School
$4.91
State Education
$1.18
County
$0.98

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

YearTotal RateEffective RateMunicipalLocal SchoolState Ed.County
2025$11.94$11.32$4.87$4.91$1.18$0.98

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home ValueEstimated Annual TaxEstimated Monthly
$250,000$2,985$249
$350,000$4,179$348
$500,000$5,970$498
$750,000$8,955$746
$1,000,000$11,940$995

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $11.94 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High
74.7Β°F
Winter Avg High
29.7Β°F
Annual Snowfall
64.6 in
Annual Rainfall
44.6 in
Sunny Days/Year
246
Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5 β€’ Updated 7/4/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston
149 mi
~171 min drive
Manchester
99 mi
~113 min drive
Portsmouth
141 mi
~162 min drive
Concord
82 mi
~92 min drive
Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMap β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Safety & Crime

Safety Score
10/10
Crime Rate
1.55/1,000
Crime Trend
stable
Data source: FBI Crime Data Explorer (UCR) - https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/ β€’ Updated 8/12/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score
8/100
Trail Miles
0.0
0
Boat Launches
2
00

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:0 miles
XC Ski Trails:0 miles
0

Economy & Demographics

πŸ’°Income

Median Household Income
$124,500
Per Capita Income
$158,215
Median Family Income
$143,438

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value
$455,700
Median Rent
$950/mo
Homeownership Rate
94.05%

πŸ’ΌEmployment

Unemployment Rate
2.12%
In Labor Force
330
Work From Home
1.58%

πŸŽ“Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher
16.3%
Total with Degree
88

πŸš—Commute

Work From Home
1.58%

πŸ‘₯Demographics

Median Age
60.4 years
Avg Household Size
2.51 people
Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year) β€’ Census Data Year: 2022 β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Compare Sugar Hill with Other Towns

See how Sugar Hill stacks up against other NH communities.