The Tax Brief real effective rates for 111+ countries — bi-weekly, free.
HEAD-TO-HEAD TAX COMPARISON · 2026

COUNTRY A New Hampshire VS COUNTRY B Virginia

Side-by-side analysis of income tax, effective rates, and take-home pay for New Hampshire and Virginia in 2026.

Daniel · CountryTaxCalc Updated June 2026 Tax Comparison 2026
Calculate your take-home → See all comparisons →
OVERVIEW
New Hampshire and Virginia share a Northeast-to-Mid-Atlantic comparison with significant implications for DC-area remote workers and professionals. Virginia has a nominally progressive income tax (2–5.75%) but the top 5.75% rate applies at just $17,001 of taxable income, making it effectively near-flat for virtually all working adults. New Hampshire's dual zero advantage (0% income + 0% sales tax) is powerful against Virginia's ~5.75% effective income rate. One notable feature of this comparison: Virginia's combined sales tax (~5.35%) is actually lower than most comparison states — lower than Arizona, Georgia, Colorado, and North Carolina — but New Hampshire still wins on sales tax with its 0% rate. Virginia's property tax (~0.83%) is well below New Hampshire's (~2.04%), which partially narrows the gap. At $100,000 income with a $300,000 home, New Hampshire holds a net advantage of approximately $3,427/year — driven by $5,452 income tax savings and $1,605 sales tax savings, offset by $3,630 more in property tax. At $300,000 income, the advantage grows to approximately $11,407/year. For DC-area remote workers who can establish genuine New Hampshire domicile, the savings are compelling — but Virginia's taxing rights apply to workers with regular employer presence in the state.
Section 01

The Big Picture

Top-line rates and effective take-home for a typical earner — including income tax, social contributions, and applicable surcharges.
⛰️
COUNTRY A
New Hampshire
TAX RATE
0%
No Income Tax and No Sales Tax — Dual Zero-Tax in the Northeast
No income tax on wages or investment income (Interest & Dividends Tax repealed January 1, 2025); 0% state sales tax; property tax ~2.04% average (3rd highest in US); no estate tax; no capital gains tax
🏛️
COUNTRY B
Virginia
TAX RATE
2–5.75%
Progressive Income Tax — Top 5.75% Rate Kicks In at Just $17,001
4 progressive brackets 2–5.75%; top 5.75% rate applies above $17,001 — effectively near-flat 5.75% on almost all income; 4.3% state sales tax (~5.35% combined average — notably lower than most comparison states); property tax ~0.83% average; no estate tax; capital gains taxed as ordinary income up to 5.75%
TYPICAL ANNUAL DIFFERENCE
Moving from Virginia → New Hampshire at Net annual New Hampshire advantage vs Virginia at $100K–$300K (income + sales tax saving minus property tax premium)
$3,427–$11,407 net
That's $286–$951/month net at $100K–$300K income back in your pocket
Section 02

Tax Savings by Income Level

Net take-home after all income tax, social contributions, and surcharges — for a single employee with no dependents.
GROSS INCOME
⛰️ NH TAX
🏛️ VA TAX
SAVINGS
10-YEAR
$50,000
$0 income tax; ~$4,794 property (2.04% × $235K home); $0 sales = ~$4,794 total
~$2,876 income tax (~5.75% effective above $17K threshold); ~$1,951 property (0.83% × $235K home); ~$1,070 sales (5.35% × $20K) = ~$5,897 total
NH saves ~$2,876 income + ~$1,070 sales = $3,946; pays ~$2,843 more property = ~$1,103 net NH advantage at $50K
$11,030
$100,000
$0 income tax; ~$6,120 property (2.04% × $300K home); $0 sales = ~$6,120 total
~$5,452 income tax (~5.75% effective); ~$2,490 property (0.83% × $300K home); ~$1,605 sales (5.35% × $30K) = ~$9,547 total
NH saves ~$5,452 income + ~$1,605 sales = $7,057; pays ~$3,630 more property = ~$3,427 net NH advantage at $100K
$34,270
$200,000
$0 income tax; ~$10,200 property (2.04% × $500K home); $0 sales = ~$10,200 total
~$11,452 income tax (~5.75% effective); ~$4,150 property (0.83% × $500K home); ~$2,140 sales (5.35% × $40K) = ~$17,742 total
NH saves ~$11,452 income + ~$2,140 sales = $13,592; pays ~$6,050 more property = ~$7,542 net NH advantage at $200K
$75,420
$300,000
$0 income tax; ~$14,280 property (2.04% × $700K home); $0 sales = ~$14,280 total
~$17,202 income tax (~5.75% effective); ~$5,810 property (0.83% × $700K home); ~$2,675 sales (5.35% × $50K) = ~$25,687 total
NH saves ~$17,202 income + ~$2,675 sales = $19,877; pays ~$8,470 more property = ~$11,407 net NH advantage at $300K
$114,070
$500K capital gain
$0 state capital gains tax (New Hampshire: no income or capital gains tax)
~$28,750 Virginia state capital gains tax (VA taxes capital gains as ordinary income at up to 5.75%)
NH saves ~$28,750 on each $500K capital gain event vs Virginia
Depends on frequency; NH pays ~$3,630 more in property tax annually on equivalent $300K home
💡

CountryTaxCalc.com is reader-supported. When you use our partner links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. This helps us provide free tax calculators and comparison tools. Learn more about our affiliate partnerships

Talk to a Real CPA

Taxhub

★ 4.8 verified reviews  ·  3,758 reviews

Moving between states means a complex multi-state tax return. Taxhub matches you with a real CPA via video call — average cost $325. Rated 4.8★ by 3,700+ clients.

⚠ Not for simple single-state returns. Free filing is fine for straightforward W-2 situations.

Get Matched With a CPA →

Interested in reaching this audience? Advertise on CountryTaxCalc →

⛰️

New Hampshire Pros & Cons

+ PROS
  • Dual zero-tax advantage — New Hampshire has both 0% income tax and 0% sales tax; Virginia charges ~5.75% effective income tax and ~5.35% combined sales tax; at $200,000 income, NH saves approximately $13,592 in combined income and sales taxes
  • No capital gains tax — New Hampshire charges $0; Virginia taxes capital gains at up to 5.75% as ordinary income; a $500,000 gain saves approximately $28,750
  • Significant income tax saving — Virginia's top rate of 5.75% applies at just $17,001 of taxable income; virtually all working adults pay near-flat 5.75%; at $200,000, approximately $11,452/year saved by moving to New Hampshire
  • No estate tax — both New Hampshire and Virginia have no estate tax; equal on this dimension
− CONS
  • Property tax much higher than Virginia — New Hampshire's ~2.04% is more than 2.4× Virginia's ~0.83%; on a $500,000 home, NH pays approximately $6,050/year more in property tax; Northern Virginia counties (Fairfax, Arlington) often approach 1.0–1.1% effective rates — still well below NH
  • No access to DC-area career ecosystem — Amazon HQ2, the Pentagon, CIA/NSA, Dulles Technology Corridor, and proximity to Washington DC make Northern Virginia one of the most economically dynamic regions in the US; New Hampshire cannot replicate this
  • Virginia's sales tax is notably low — Virginia's ~5.35% combined average is lower than most comparison states; NH still wins with 0%, but the sales tax gap is smaller here than in most NH comparisons
🏛️

Virginia Pros & Cons

+ PROS
  • Northern Virginia economic powerhouse — Amazon HQ2 (Arlington), major federal contractors (Booz Allen, SAIC, Northrop Grumman), Pentagon, CIA/NSA, and Dulles technology companies create career density unique in the US
  • Lower combined sales tax than most states — Virginia's ~5.35% combined average is below many comparison states; though it exceeds New Hampshire's 0%, it represents a moderate burden for households spending significantly on taxable goods
  • Lower property tax than New Hampshire — Virginia's ~0.83% average is well below NH's ~2.04%; for homeowners, Virginia's property tax significantly narrows its income tax disadvantage vs New Hampshire
  • DC Metro infrastructure — DC Metro rail, Dulles Airport, and proximity to the nation's capital provide lifestyle and career access that New Hampshire's independent economy cannot match
− CONS
  • Effectively near-flat 5.75% income tax — Virginia's top bracket at $17,001 means virtually all earned income is taxed at or near 5.75%; at $100,000, approximately $5,452; at $300,000, approximately $17,202; New Hampshire residents pay $0
  • Capital gains taxed as ordinary income — Virginia taxes all capital gains at up to 5.75% with no preferential rate; New Hampshire charges $0; a $500,000 gain costs approximately $28,750 in Virginia state tax
  • Sales tax higher than New Hampshire — Virginia's ~5.35% rate means ~$1,605/year on $30,000 of spending vs NH's $0; the gap is smaller than vs other states, but NH still saves annually
  • Income tax structure penalises all earners — the top 5.75% rate at $17,001 is unusual; it captures virtually all Virginia residents at the top rate on most of their income
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Does New Hampshire have an income tax?

No. New Hampshire eliminated its last income tax — the Interest & Dividends Tax — effective January 1, 2025. New Hampshire has 0% state income tax on wages, salaries, investment income, capital gains, and retirement distributions. New Hampshire also has 0% state sales tax — making it the only state in the continental US with both zero income and zero sales tax.

What is Virginia's effective income tax rate?

Virginia has four progressive brackets: 2% on the first $3,000, 3% on $3,001–$5,000, 5% on $5,001–$17,000, and 5.75% above $17,001. The practical effect is that virtually all working adults pay approximately 5.75% on most of their income. At $100,000 gross income, a single filer pays approximately $5,452 in Virginia state income tax.

How does Virginia's sales tax compare to New Hampshire's?

Virginia's combined sales tax (~5.35% average) is lower than most US states, but New Hampshire has 0% sales tax. On $30,000/year of taxable spending, Virginia costs approximately $1,605 more than New Hampshire. The sales tax gap is smaller in the NH-VA comparison than in most other NH comparisons — but New Hampshire still wins on sales tax.

How do property taxes compare between New Hampshire and Virginia?

New Hampshire's effective property tax rate (~2.04%) is approximately 2.4 times higher than Virginia's (~0.83%). On a $400,000 home: New Hampshire costs approximately $8,160/year; Virginia approximately $3,320/year — a difference of approximately $4,840/year. Northern Virginia counties (Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun) often have effective rates of 1.0–1.1%, which is still well below New Hampshire.

Is New Hampshire or Virginia better for DC-area remote workers?

New Hampshire is financially superior for fully remote workers. At $150,000 income, NH saves approximately $8,628 in income tax and $2,408 in sales tax vs Virginia, minus approximately $4,830 more in property tax = approximately $6,200 net annual advantage. However, remote workers with regular employer presence in Virginia may owe Virginia income tax under its nexus rules. For genuinely location-independent remote workers who can establish NH domicile, the savings are compelling.

Is New Hampshire or Virginia better for investors?

New Hampshire is definitively better for investors. Virginia taxes all capital gains at up to 5.75% as ordinary income with no preferential rate. New Hampshire charges $0 on all investment income and capital gains. A $500,000 capital gain saves approximately $28,750 in state tax by being a New Hampshire rather than Virginia resident. For frequent investors or those planning a major liquidity event, domicile in New Hampshire provides substantial state tax savings.
From the brief
PT20%qualifying work, 10yr
IT€300kall foreign income, 15yr
GR7%foreign income, 15yr
The Tax Brief · Subscribe free

More like this, every two weeks.

Verified rates, real after-tax figures, plain English. Free.

Bi-weekly. No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.