Boston MA-Manchester NH Metro 55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities

Active adults and retirees looking for a 55+ community in the Boston or Manchester area have plenty of options that can suit their needs. Residents in the area have access to great health care facilities, cultural attractions, a four-season climate, and scenic natural landscapes including a beautiful coastline.

Climate & Geography

Boston lies along the Atlantic Ocean, which makes up its eastern shoreline while Manchester is located on the Merrimack River in southern New Hampshire.

The Boston metropolitan area that has a population of 4.9 million residents. The Boston area is mostly comprised of urban and suburban neighborhoods. The Manchester area is much smaller with a population of only 115,644, making it an ideal place for those looking for a retirement community in a less dense urban environment.

The Boston-Manchester area residents enjoy a four-season climate, summers are warm and humid, but winters can be very stormy and have heavy snowfall. Residents and visitors enjoy beautiful New England fall foliage, winter sports, sandy beaches along the coastline during the summer and picturesque natural landscapes in the spring.

Recreation, Culture & Entertainment

Boston has a variety of museums and historical sites for adults to visit:

• Paul Revere’s house
• Museum of Fine Arts
• Battleship Cove
• Boston Symphony Orchestra

Many 55+ residents enjoy walking through the Boston Public Garden or exploring the Freedom Trail, which takes you on a journey of colonial and war-era locations like Bunker Hill and Beacon Hill.

Boston is home to a variety of professional sports team including the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, Boston Bruins, and Boston Celtics.

Manchester’s entertainment options include:

• The Currier Museum of Art
• The Zimmerman house which was designed by Frank Lloyd-Wright and has many unusual features.
• Watching a baseball game with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats minor league team
• Seeing a show at the historic Palace Theatre
• Explore the multiple brew pubs in the area
• Enjoy the SEE Science Center with the grandkids

For active adults looking for something more adventurous the Manchester area is home to ski parks, nature preserves with hiking trails, lakes for fishing and other waterways for boating.

Cost of Living & Taxes

The cost of living in Massachusetts is typically higher than the national average. Although the cost of living is higher, the yearly income of most residents is also higher than the U.S. national average. Massachusetts has a 6.25% sales tax.

The overall cost of living in New Hampshire is also above the national average. The state does not tax Social Security or income tax, and there is no sales tax. New Hampshire does have a 5% tax on dividends and interest that is above $2,400 per person, and property taxes are among the highest in the country.

Health Care

Boston has some of the best health care facilities in the U.S. including Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, McLean Hospital, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, all of which have nationally ranked specialties.

According to U.S. News & World Reports the highest-ranking hospitals in Manchester are Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center and the Manchester Veterans Affairs Medical Center.