The Unwritten Rules of New Hampshire Locals Just Know

When you move to New Hampshire—or even just spend enough time here, you start to realize something pretty quickly:

There are rules:

Katie and I talked about them this morning.  Being new here, we needed to know.

Nobody hands you a list. There’s no official guide. But somehow… everyone just knows.

And if you don’t? Oh, you’ll learn. Fast.

Like small talk. People here are kind, but efficient. You’ll get a nod, maybe a quick “hey,” and that’s it. No need to unpack your entire life story while grabbing coffee.

Which, by the way… I asked you on Facebook and received some very amazing answers.

• Julia Richardson: “Iced coffee is year round no matter the weather ✌🏻”
• No notes. That’s just facts. Snowstorm? Iced. 10 degrees? Still iced.

Then there’s driving, arguably where the “unwritten rules” become very written in people’s minds.

You let someone merge? They better give you the wave. That’s basic human decency around here.

And also…

• Jennifer Davis: “Slowing down prior to highway tolls is essential for keeping you and everyone else safe… Speed Limit signs and No Turn On Red signs are not suggestions.”
• She’s not wrong. There’s a quiet expectation that you’re paying attention and not driving like it’s your own personal racetrack.

And for the love of everything…

• Michelle Renée Renzi: “Don’t be a masshole use your blinkah!” - this was my favorite. LOL
• Honestly, this might be the most New England sentence ever written.

READ MORE: “A Quick Thank You (and 10 Random Things About Us) From Garret & Katie”

There are social rules, too. Like the fact that “local” is… relative.

• Annmaria Tierno: “Welcome to NH now go home. Also, if you’ve lived here for 20 years you’re still a newcomer.”
• It’s funny… but also not entirely a joke.

And then there are the seasonal truths. You don’t complain about winter, you prepare for it. You survive it. And when that first 50-degree day hits? Shorts. Immediately. No hesitation.

That’s kind of the vibe of New Hampshire in general. It’s not flashy. It’s not loud about what it is.

But once you get it… you get it.

And you start following the rules without even realizing it.  Did we miss something?  Let us know in the app.