New Hampshire vs Rhode Island:
Take-Home Pay Comparison
Side-by-side tax comparison between New Hampshire (no income tax) and Rhode Island (5.99% top rate, graduated). See which state lets you keep more at every salary level, and how cost of living changes the picture.
Tax Structure: New Hampshire vs Rhode Island
New Hampshire has no state income tax, while Rhode Island uses a graduated system with rates of 3.75-5.99%. On a $100K salary, this creates a state tax difference of $3,894/year that New Hampshire residents simply don’t pay.
Rhode Island’s graduated brackets mean the gap between these two states widens at higher salaries. At $200K, the state tax difference grows to $7,787/year, while at $50K it’s only $1,947.
Take-Home at Every Salary Level
New Hampshire wins at 10 out of 10 salary levels tested. The advantage is consistent and significant across the income spectrum.
| Salary | New Hampshire | Rhode Island | Difference | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40K | $34,320 | $32,763 | −$1,557 | New Hampshire |
| $50K | $42,355 | $40,408 | −$1,947 | New Hampshire |
| $60K | $50,390 | $48,054 | −$2,336 | New Hampshire |
| $75K | $61,538 | $58,617 | −$2,920 | New Hampshire |
| $100K | $79,125 | $75,232 | −$3,894 | New Hampshire |
| $120K | $93,195 | $88,523 | −$4,672 | New Hampshire |
| $150K | $113,751 | $107,911 | −$5,840 | New Hampshire |
| $200K | $148,887 | $141,100 | −$7,787 | New Hampshire |
| $250K | $183,264 | $173,530 | −$9,734 | New Hampshire |
| $300K | $215,329 | $203,648 | −$11,681 | New Hampshire |
Cost of Living: New Hampshire (108) vs Rhode Island (105)
Take-home pay only tells part of the story. New Hampshire has a cost of living index of 108 while Rhode Island is at 105 (national average = 100).
With similar costs of living (108 vs 105), the tax difference is the primary factor. What you see in raw take-home pay is essentially what you get in purchasing power: $73,264 in New Hampshire vs $71,649 in Rhode Island.
Married Filing Jointly: How It Changes the Comparison
For a single earner at $100K filing jointly, take-home becomes $84,710 in New Hampshire and $80,817 in Rhode Island \u2014 a difference of $3,894. The gap remains similar regardless of filing status.
Should You Move from Rhode Island to New Hampshire?
On paper, moving from Rhode Island to New Hampshire would save $3,894/year on a $100K salary, or $19,468 over 5 years. But relocation involves real costs: moving expenses, potentially buying/selling a home, changing jobs, and adjusting to a new community.
The $3,894/year savings is meaningful but probably not enough to justify a move on its own. However, combined with other factors like career growth, lifestyle preferences, or family proximity, it could tip the scale.