Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Grand Forks?

Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Concord, NH's $1,410, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Grand Forks?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $30,000 in Grand Forks.

Which has lower taxes, Concord or Grand Forks?

Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Grand Forks under North Dakota's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax).

Concord vs Grand Forks Cost of Living 2026

Concord

New Hampshire

$1,410/mo est.

Grand Forks

North Dakota

$920/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Concord, NH versus $920 in Grand Forks, ND. Overall, Grand Forks, ND is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Concord, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,701 in Concord, NH and $63,838 in Grand Forks, ND — about 24% higher in Concord, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax.

Concord, NH

Grand Forks, ND

Rent

Studio

$876

$784

+11% in Concord, NH

1 Bedroom

$1,134

$761

+33% in Concord, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,475

$947

+36% in Concord, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,769

$1,371

+22% in Concord, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$323,700

$243,300

+25% in Concord, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$83,701

$63,838

+24% in Concord, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$49,760

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

29.4 yr

+11.3 yr in Concord, NH

Homeownership

57.4%

46.5%

+10.9 pp in Concord, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.1%

39.2%

+0.9 pp in Concord, NH

Avg Commute

23.2 min

14.8 min

+8.4 min in Concord, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

180.7

360.3

+99% in Grand Forks, ND

Property Crime

1,251.5

2,290.6

+83% in Grand Forks, ND

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

46.4°F

40.0°F

+6.4°F in Concord, NH

Annual Precipitation

40.6 in

20.8 in

+19.8 in in Concord, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.85/gal

+2% in Concord, NH

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

14.1

+48% in Concord, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$18.21

+16% in Concord, NH

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Concord, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Grand Forks, ND

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Concord, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Concord, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Concord, NH

Average prices — Northeast vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / ND)

None

+5.0 pp in ND

Income Tax (top rate)

None

2.50%

+2.5 pp in ND

Concord vs Grand Forks — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Grand Forks?: Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Concord, NH's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Grand Forks?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $30,000 in Grand Forks.
Which has lower taxes, Concord or Grand Forks?: Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Grand Forks under North Dakota's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).