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New Hampshire: homes, climate zones and who licenses the work

New Hampshire has 648,000 housing units. 51.5% were built before 1980, and the median year built is 1979. 72.8% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

How old the homes are

New Hampshire housing units, by year built

Layers drawn to scale

New Hampshire housing units by year built 51.5% of New Hampshire housing units were built before 1980 and 48.5% in 1980 or later. 2020 or later: 1.3%; 2010–2019: 6.6%; 2000–2009: 11.8%; 1990–1999: 10.1%; 1980–1989: 18.8%; 1970–1979: 14.6%; 1960–1969: 8.3%; 1950–1959: 6.5%; 1940–1949: 3.4%; 1939 or earlier: 18.6%. Before 1980 51.5% 1980 or later 48.5% 2020 or later 1.3% 2010–2019 6.6% 2000–2009 11.8% 1990–1999 10.1% 1980–1989 18.8% 1970–1979 14.6% 1960–1969 8.3% 1950–1959 6.5% 1940–1949 3.4% 1939 or earlier 18.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035 and B25003; heating fuel below from B25040.

Age changes what applies to a house. In general, anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 must be certified in lead-safe work practices under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, which the EPA administers directly in New Hampshire.

How homes are heated

How homes in New Hampshire are heated

Main heating fuel, share of about 556,000 occupied homes

  • Fuel oil or kerosene 39.5%
  • Utility gas 21.4%
  • Propane or other tank gas 19.2%
  • Electricity 11.1%
  • Wood 5.8%
  • Other fuel 1.8%
  • No fuel used 0.8%
  • Solar energy 0.3%
  • Coal or coke 0.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, table B25040 (occupied housing units).

Climate and building zones

The 2021 International Energy Conservation Code assigns every county a climate zone from 1 to 8 and a moisture regime: A for moist, B for dry, C for marine. Zones 7 and 8 have no letter. Here is how New Hampshire's residents divide among them, by the county they live in.

IECC 2021 zoneShare of residentsCounties
5A79.7%5
6A20.3%5

ENERGY STAR rates windows, doors and skylights for four climate zones of its own. All of New Hampshire falls in the Northern zone.

By NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, counties here average 162 days a year with a low of 32°F or colder, weighted by where people live. The range runs from 145 days in the mildest county to 197 in the coldest.

Flood risk and flood insurance

1.1% of residential structures in New Hampshire carry a National Flood Insurance Program policy: 4,490 policies, in FEMA's count as of August 3, 2026.

In FEMA's National Risk Index, 1 of 10 counties rates high or very high for coastal flooding.

Fire ants and termites

No county in New Hampshire is inside the federal imported fire ant quarantine.

Who licenses the work in New Hampshire

Before anyone starts work, check the license with the agency below. Where the state does not license a trade, cities and counties may; ask the one where the house is.

Checked 2026-09-29. Licensing rules change; the agency's own page is the authority.

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035, B25040 and B25003 data.census.gov
  2. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Guide to Determining Climate Zone by County: Building America and IECC 2021 Updates basc.pnnl.gov
  3. U.S. Department of Energy Prototype Building Models (climate zones 1–8 and moisture regimes A, B, C) energycodes.gov
  4. ENERGY STAR Climate zones by county for windows, doors and skylights energystar.gov
  5. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual and seasonal ncei.noaa.gov
  6. Federal Emergency Management Agency OpenFEMA NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (as of 2026-08-03) fema.gov
  7. Federal Emergency Management Agency National Risk Index, county ratings fema.gov
  8. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Imported fire ant quarantine map aphis.usda.gov
  9. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations 7 CFR part 301, subpart P, Imported Fire Ant ecfr.gov
  10. New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food, Division of Pesticide Control agriculture.nh.gov agriculture.nh.gov
  11. New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food, Division of Pesticide Control agriculture.nh.gov agriculture.nh.gov
  12. New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food, Division of Pesticide Control npic.orst.edu npic.orst.edu
  13. oplc.nh.gov oplc.nh.gov oplc.nh.gov
  14. doj.nh.gov doj.nh.gov doj.nh.gov
  15. New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (certification through the American Council for Accredited Certification) oplc.nh.gov oplc.nh.gov
  16. New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (certification through the American Council for Accredited Certification) dhhs.nh.gov dhhs.nh.gov
  17. epa.gov epa.gov epa.gov