Seven in ten families in New Hampshire now choose cremation rather than a burial, a higher rate than all but a handful of states. While more affordable than a traditional funeral and burial, cremation costs are continuing to rise across New England, where costs were already higher than in other regions.
There are also other trends that you should know about if you’re dealing with the loss of a loved one or planning end-of-life services.
Statewide Trends Shaping Cremation in 2026
The cremation rate in NH has steadily increased over the past decade, reflecting broad national trends. Most frequently, families opt for direct cremation, which includes transportation, permits, and cremation without a formal funeral service. It’s the simplest and most affordable type of cremation service. Yet, even direct cremation can cost several thousand dollars. So, families are shopping around more frequently than in past years.
Today, more people start looking for services on a search engine like Google, typing in phrases like “crematoriums near me” or “low-cost cremation in NH.” Many cremation services providers are responding by being more transparent about pricing by publishing price lists online.
Pricing Shifts and Regional Differences Across New Hampshire
A significant change families notice is the wide variation in direct cremation pricing, depending on location. Even in a relatively small state, the average costs can differ by more than $1,500 from one city to another. Local operating costs, real estate prices, and competition all impact the price you pay.
The most recent survey of average costs for direct cremation in different cities in New Hampshire shows the differences.
| City | Average Direct Cremation Price |
| Concord | $3,972 |
| Derry | $1,795 |
| Dover | $2,195 |
| Keene | $2,826 |
| Laconia | $1,350 |
| Manchester | $2,049 |
| Nashua | $2,770 |
| Portsmouth | $2,240 |
| Rochester | $2,397 |
| Salem | $2,435 |
Since this data is now more than a year old, and cremation costs typically rise between 5% to 8% per year, expect 2026 costs to be even higher.
For many families, these numbers come as a surprise. You may see a low-cost cremation advertised that starts around $1,500 but ends up costing twice that amount once you add in the services and options you want.
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Expect Higher Costs in 2026
A big operating expense for a crematorium is utilities, and costs continue to rise. Nearly every power company serving New Hampshire significantly increased its rates during the second half of 2025:
- NH Electric Cooperative (NHEC) raised rates by about 29% in August 2025.
- Community Power NH (CPCNH) increased rates by 38% in Dover.
- Unitil and Eversource raised rates twice in 2025, with the latest increase about 25%.
- Liberty Utilities has a pending rate increase under review, which could increase natural gas prices by more than 50%.
The Benefits of Donating Your Body to Medical Science
With costs rising, families are increasingly looking for dignified alternatives. You may want to consider donating your body to science. When you become a body donor, you can make a meaningful contribution to medical education, surgical training, and research while also eliminating your cremation costs.
In New Hampshire and throughout New England, nonprofit United Tissue Network (UTN) coordinates body donations and provides free cremation for families. At the time of passing, UTN handles the arrangements for transportation of the deceased, placement with a reputable medical research or education facility, cremation after studies are completed, and return of the cremated remains upon request. This is a free service for families.
Many families take comfort in knowing that the passing of a loved one is helping to advance medical science in several ways:
- Educating the next generation of doctors
- Training for surgeons to improve their surgical skills
- Researching diseases and looking for cures and treatment options
- Testing medical devices to improve the quality of life for patients
Body donation offers free cremation but also provide an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Looking Ahead to 2026
One thing is certain when you look at trends for 2026: cremation services will be more expensive.
If you search online for “crematoriums near me,” looking for low-cost options, you may want to consider becoming a body donor. There is a severe shortage of bodies and human tissue available, and your donation can help change that.
If you would like to learn more about body donation or how to get free cremation in New Hampshire, visit the United Tissue Network website at unitedtissue.org.
