- Driving in New Hampshire costs an estimated $1,727 per year in fuel, ranking #32 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 $4.070/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 59% compared to gasoline.
01 Quick Facts
| Metric | Value | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost (23.7 MPG on-road fleet avg) | $1,727 | $1,949 |
| Regular gas price | $4.070/gal | $4.079/gal |
| Combined gas tax (state + federal) | 42.2¢/gal | — |
| Miles driven per capita | 10,057 | 11,327 |
| Electricity rate (residential) | 23.4¢/kWh | 16.5¢/kWh |
| Driving cost rank | #32 of 51 | — |
02 Gas Prices
Regular gasoline in New Hampshire averages $4.070 per gallon (EIA New England PADD regional average), which is $0.01 below the national average of $4.079. New Hampshire ranks #21 among states for gas prices (1 = most expensive).
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices, August 202603 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 RatesAt 10,057 miles per year and 23.7 MPG (on-road fleet average), the average driver in New Hampshire pays roughly $179 in combined gas taxes annually.
| Tax Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| State gasoline tax | 23.8¢/gal |
| Federal gasoline tax | 18.4¢/gal |
| Combined total | 42.2¢/gal |
| Annual tax burden (at 10,057 mi, 23.7 MPG) | $179 |
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, 2024New 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 Census05 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 Type | MPG | Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Compact sedan | 28.2 | $1,451 |
| Midsize SUV | 19.6 | $2,088 |
| Pickup truck | 18.3 | $2,237 |
Estimate your vehicle's fuel cost using EPA data.
Use the Calculator06 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 Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Mean travel time to work | 27.1 min |
| Drove alone to work | 72.1% |
| Public transit | 0.7% |
| Worked from home | 16.1% |
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 $0.172 per mile for gasoline.
EIA Form 861, Table 5A: Average Monthly Bill — Residential, 2024; EPA average EV efficiency ~3.3 mi/kWh| Metric | Gasoline | Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.172 | $0.071 |
| Annual fuel/energy cost (10,057 mi) | $1,727 | $713 |
| Annual savings with EV | $1,014 (59%) | |
08 Neighboring States
Here is how New Hampshire's driving costs compare to neighboring states:
| State | Gas Price | VMT/Capita | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $4.070 | 10,057 | $1,727 |
| Maine | $4.070 | 11,128 | $1,911 |
| Vermont | $4.070 | 11,209 | $1,925 |
| Massachusetts | $4.058 | 8,821 | $1,510 |
09 Data Sources
- Federal Highway Administration: Table PS-1, Selected Measures for Identifying Peer States, 2024. fhwa.dot.gov
- Federal Highway Administration: Highway Statistics 2022, Table MF-121T: State Motor-Fuel Tax Rates. fhwa.dot.gov
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices by State/Region, August 2026. eia.gov
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Form EIA-861, Table 5A: Average Monthly Bill — Residential, 2024. eia.gov
- U.S. Census Bureau: ACS 1-Year Estimates, Table S0801: Commuting Characteristics by Sex, 2023. data.census.gov
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency / Department of Energy: Fuel Economy Guide database, model years 2024–2025 (vehicle-type MPG); The 2025 Automotive Trends Report, EPA-420-R-26-001 (fleet trends). epa.gov
- DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Transportation Energy Data Book, Edition 40, Table 4.3: on-road fuel economy of the light-duty vehicle fleet, 23.7 MPG (2020, the most recent year published). tedb.ornl.gov