Key Findings
  • Driving in New Hampshire costs an estimated $1,103 per year in fuel, ranking #34 among all states.
  • The average driver in New Hampshire travels 10,057 miles per year, 1,270 miles below the national average.
  • Regular gasoline averages $2.852/gal (EIA New England PADD regional average), with a combined state and federal gas tax of 42.2 cents/gal.
  • An EV driver in New Hampshire would pay roughly $713/year for electricity, saving about 35% compared to gasoline.

01 Quick Facts

MetricValueNational Avg
Annual fuel cost (26 MPG fleet avg)$1,103$1,280
Regular gas price$2.852/gal$2.937/gal
Combined gas tax (state + federal)42.2¢/gal
Miles driven per capita10,05711,327
Electricity rate (residential)23.4¢/kWh16.5¢/kWh
Driving cost rank#34 of 51
FHWA PS-1 (2024), EIA Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices (Feb 2026), FHWA MF-121T (2022), EIA Form 861 (2024)

02 Gas Prices

Regular gasoline in New Hampshire averages $2.852 per gallon (EIA New England PADD regional average), which is $0.08 below the national average of $2.937. New Hampshire ranks #17 among states for gas prices (1 = most expensive).

U.S. Energy Information Administration, Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices, February 2026

03 Gas Taxes

New Hampshire charges a state gasoline excise tax of 23.8 cents per gallon. Combined with the federal excise tax of 18.4 cents per gallon, drivers in New Hampshire pay a total of 42.2 cents per gallon in fuel taxes. This ranks #38 among all states (1 = highest tax).

FHWA, Highway Statistics 2022, Table MF-121T: State Motor-Fuel Tax Rates

At 10,057 miles per year and 26 MPG, the average driver in New Hampshire pays roughly $163 in combined gas taxes annually.

Tax ComponentRate
State gasoline tax23.8¢/gal
Federal gasoline tax18.4¢/gal
Combined total42.2¢/gal
Annual tax burden (at 10,057 mi, 26 MPG)$163
FHWA MF-121T (2022); 26 U.S.C. §4081 (federal excise tax rate)

04 Miles Driven

The average driver in New Hampshire travels 10,057 miles per year, ranking #30 among all states (1 = most miles). This is 1,270 miles below the national average of 11,327.

FHWA, Table PS-1: Selected Measures for Identifying Peer States, 2024

New Hampshire has a total of 13.9 billion vehicle-miles traveled annually across all road types, with a population of 1,377,529 (58% urban).

FHWA PS-1, 2024; U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census

05 Annual Fuel Cost

Based on New Hampshire's average gas price and miles driven, here is the estimated annual fuel cost by vehicle type:

Vehicle TypeMPGAnnual Fuel Cost
Compact sedan33$869
Midsize SUV26$1,103
Pickup truck20$1,434
Calculated: VMT per capita ({s['vmt_per_capita']:,} mi) ÷ MPG × gas price (${s['gas_price']:.3f}/gal). MPG estimates from EPA Automotive Trends Report, 2023.

Estimate your vehicle's fuel cost using EPA data.

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06 Commuting

The average commute in New Hampshire takes 27.1 minutes one way. About 72.1% of workers drive alone to work and 16.1% work from home.

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates, Table S0801: Commuting Characteristics by Sex, 2023
Commute MetricValue
Mean travel time to work27.1 min
Drove alone to work72.1%
Public transit0.7%
Worked from home16.1%
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates, Table S0801, 2023

07 EV Comparison

The average residential electricity rate in New Hampshire is 23.4 cents per kWh, which ranks #9 among states (1 = most expensive). At an average EV efficiency of 3.3 miles per kWh, driving on electricity in New Hampshire costs roughly $0.071 per mile compared to $0.110 per mile for gasoline.

EIA Form 861, Table 5A: Average Monthly Bill — Residential, 2024; EPA average EV efficiency ~3.3 mi/kWh
MetricGasolineElectric
Cost per mile$0.110$0.071
Annual fuel/energy cost (10,057 mi)$1,103$713
Annual savings with EV$390 (35%)
EIA Form 861 (2024); EIA Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices (Feb 2026); EPA Fuel Economy Guide

08 Neighboring States

Here is how New Hampshire's driving costs compare to neighboring states:

StateGas PriceVMT/CapitaAnnual Cost
New Hampshire$2.85210,057$1,103
Maine$2.85211,128$1,221
Vermont$2.85211,209$1,230
Massachusetts$2.8458,821$965

09 Data Sources

  1. Federal Highway Administration: Table PS-1, Selected Measures for Identifying Peer States, 2024. fhwa.dot.gov
  2. Federal Highway Administration: Highway Statistics 2022, Table MF-121T: State Motor-Fuel Tax Rates. fhwa.dot.gov
  3. U.S. Energy Information Administration: Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices by State/Region, February 2026. eia.gov
  4. U.S. Energy Information Administration: Form EIA-861, Table 5A: Average Monthly Bill — Residential, 2024. eia.gov
  5. U.S. Census Bureau: ACS 1-Year Estimates, Table S0801: Commuting Characteristics by Sex, 2023. data.census.gov
  6. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Automotive Trends Report, 2023. epa.gov
Disclaimer. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. All data is sourced from U.S. government agencies as cited. Gasoline prices change frequently and vary by station, grade, and payment method. Gas tax rates reflect FHWA 2022 data and may have been adjusted since publication. Annual cost estimates use the formula: VMT ÷ MPG × Price per Gallon.