Concord, N.H. – The 2025 New Hampshire Healthy Aging Data Report (HADR) was released on May 1, revealing trends and disparities in the health of older adults throughout the state. The report presents a detailed picture of aging in New Hampshire that’s provided nowhere else: a neighborhood-level examination of the challenges faced by older adults. The report includes 244 community profiles for every city and town.

“The mission of the N.H. Alliance for Healthy Aging is to make New Hampshire a great place to live as we all age. The HADR is a valuable tool for advancing this mission and for understanding how our population is changing, as well as understanding the health outcomes for older adults both at the state level and at the community/town level,” said Jennifer Rabalais, Co-Director, Center on Aging and Community Living at University of New Hampshire. “The HADR is a great tool for beginning community-level conversations about the kind of communities that we all want to live in.”

The report reveals community strengths and challenges to inform targeted interventions. It was produced by UMass Boston Gerontology Institute researchers and funded by Point32Health Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan.

Among its many insights, the report highlights:

  • New Hampshire’s older population is growing: 26.7% of the state is now 60 or older, with 19% being 65 or older.
  • The older population is more educated: Of people 65 and older, about 20% have a college degree and 16% have a graduate or professional degree.
  • Many older adults live alone: A quarter of New Hampshire residents who are 65 or older live alone.

“This is what is magic about our report: We report at very local levels,” said Elizabeth Dugan, PhD Principal Investigator, Gerontology at University of Massachusetts Boston. “That empowers advocates who live in those communities. It helps policymakers make smarter investments, and helps philanthropists see what their investments yield over time.”

The 2025 New Hampshire Healthy Aging Data Report online resources include:

  • 244 individual community profiles
  • 152 maps listing community rates for each indicator (both ranked and alphabetized)
  • 18 interactive web maps
  • An infographic summarizing key findings
  • Technical documentation

“When we use data to inform our work, we can change policies and practices, engage community and give context to what is affecting people and what is most relevant,” said Greg Shell, chair of the Point32Health Foundation board of directors and vice chair of the parent company Board of Point32Health. “The Healthy Aging Data reports provide critical information and are essential tools to make New England a better place to grow up and grow old.”

 

 About the New Hampshire Alliance for Healthy Aging

Formed in 2016, the New Hampshire Alliance for Healthy Aging (NHAHA) is a statewide coalition focused on the health and well-being of older adults in New Hampshire. NHAHA works to promote its shared vision to create communities in New Hampshire that advance culture, policies, and services which support older adults and their families, providing a wide range of choices that advance health, independence, and dignity.

 

About the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston

As the research, service, and community engagement arm of the gerontology enterprise at the University of Massachusetts Boston, the Gerontology Institute produces research, collaborates with stakeholders to improve systems and communities, and offers programs and services that enhance the lives of older adults. Our work continues to be motivated by a commitment to promoting equity in aging—in health, in access to services and supports, in life conditions, and in financial security.

 

About Point32Health Foundation
Building on values of service and giving, Point32Health Foundation works with communities to support, advocate and advance healthier lives for everyone. Point32Health Foundation is the result of the combination of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation and Tufts Health Plan Foundation and advances equity-focused solutions in healthy aging, access to healthy food and behavioral health in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

 

Reach out to kathryn.selinga@unh.edu for more information.