Communities

Below is a table of SNHPC member communities listed in descending order by total population. The population figures are source from US Census 2020. The table also includes an overall ranking of populations based on all 234 municipalities within New Hampshire.

 SNHPC Communities by Population (Census 2020)NH Rank
1Manchester115,6441

2

Derry34,3174
3Londonderry25,8269
4Bedford23,32211
5Goffstown18,57714
6Windham15,81719
7Hooksett14,87121
8Weare9,09233
9New Boston6,10858
10Auburn5,94660
11Chester5,23268
12Deerfield4,85575
13Candia4,01395
14Francestown1,610160

New Hampshire regional planning commissions (RPCs) were established by NH state legislature in 1968. RPCs are governed and controlled by a Board of Commissioners comprised of representatives appointed by each of the Commission’s communities. Communities may either appoint or elect their representatives to their regional planning commission. RPCs are required by NH Statutes to carry out a variety of duties, such as creating a regional Comprehensive Plan, completing a housing needs assessment, and reviewing developments of regional impact.

SNHPC Map

The primary role of an RPC is to support local municipalities in their planning and community development responsibilities. This is done in a variety of ways, including:

  • Assisting communities prepare local planning documents such as master plans, CIPs, natural resource inventories, open space plans and hazard mitigation plans;
  • Developing local ordinances and providing technical assistance and general guidance to local land use boards;
  • Helping to secure funding for transportation and other infrastructure projects;
  • Working with municipalities to obtain and administer state and federal grant programs; and
  • Reducing costs to municipalities through regional coordination, inter-municipal cooperation and problem solving (NHARPC.org)
The SNHPC region is comprised of: Auburn, Bedford, Candia, Chester, Deerfield, Derry, Francestown, Goffstown, Hooksett, Londonderry, Manchester, New Boston, Weare, and Windham