STD Rates in New Hampshire
CDC surveillance data for New Hampshire covering chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV — with 15-year trends, state rankings, and national comparisons.
New Hampshire has one of the lowest STD rates in the country — 49th out of 50 states in 2023, with a combined rate of 242.4 cases per 100,000 people. That's a real distinction. But low overall numbers can obscure what's actually been happening on the ground, and in New Hampshire's case, one disease has been climbing for the better part of two decades in ways the headline ranking doesn't capture.
Chlamydia remains the most commonly diagnosed STD in the state, with 2,756 cases reported in 2023 at a rate of 196.6 per 100,000. That's well below the national median of 471.3 — less than half. The rate has also been gradually declining since peaking around 2017 at 327.1, and it dropped another 3.1% between 2022 and 2023. For a state that already sat far below the national norm, the trend is moving in the right direction.
Gonorrhea is where New Hampshire's story gets more complicated. The rate in 2023 was 41.9 per 100,000 — still well below the national median of 152.2, but more than five times higher than it was in 2008, when it sat at just 7.6. That's a 451% increase over 15 years. The rate did pull back 11.6% from 2022 to 2023, which is notable, but the long-run trajectory tells a different story than the low ranking suggests. Syphilis followed a similar pattern — it climbed from 1.5 per 100,000 in 2008 to a peak of 5.3 in both 2021 and 2022 before falling to 3.9 in 2023, still more than two and a half times where it started. Both diseases are well below national medians, but neither has been standing still.
New Hampshire's HIV numbers are among the lowest in the country. Between 2017 and 2022 — the most recent years with available data — new diagnoses ranged from 28 to 38 cases per year, with a rate that never exceeded 3.2 per 100,000. The 2022 figure of 28 cases represents a multi-year low, though some of the apparent decline around 2020 likely reflects pandemic-related disruptions to testing rather than a true drop in transmission. If you're in Manchester, Nashua, or Concord and haven't been tested recently, STDTest.com can help you find a location nearby.
STD Trends in New Hampshire
New Hampshire's chlamydia rate has been declining slowly since a peak of 327.1 per 100,000 in 2017, landing at 196.6 in 2023 — less than half the national median of 471.3. The long-run picture is more nuanced: the rate is still 23% higher than it was in 2008, meaning the current decline is more of a plateau than a reversal. The state remains one of the lowest in the country, but the downward trend has been gradual rather than sharp.
Gonorrhea has been the most striking trend in New Hampshire's STD data over the past 15 years — rising 451% from a rate of 7.6 per 100,000 in 2008 to 41.9 in 2023. Even with an 11.6% drop between 2022 and 2023, the rate is more than five times its baseline. New Hampshire still sits well below the national median of 152.2, but the trajectory over this period is one of the steepest in the state's recent public health history.
Syphilis in New Hampshire peaked at 5.3 per 100,000 in both 2021 and 2022, then fell 26.4% to 3.9 in 2023 — the sharpest single-year drop of any STD in the state's recent data. That rate is still more than double where it was in 2008, and it remains below the national median of 14.8 by a wide margin. Whether the 2023 decline marks a turning point or a temporary dip is worth watching.
New Hampshire's HIV data covers 2017 through 2022 and shows a consistently low rate — ranging from 2.3 to 3.2 new diagnoses per 100,000 per year across that period. Case counts held steady around 31 to 38 annually before dipping to 28 in 2022. The apparent decline around 2020 should be read carefully: pandemic-era disruptions to testing likely suppressed diagnosis counts that year, meaning the drop may not reflect a true reduction in transmission.
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New Hampshire vs National Average
Comparing 2023 rates against the U.S. median across all 50 states.
| Infection | New Hampshire | US Median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia | 196.6 | 471.3 | 58.3% below |
| Gonorrhea | 41.9 | 152.2 | 72.5% below |
| Syphilis (P&S) | 3.9 | 14.8 | 73.6% below |
What the numbers mean — and what to do about them
New Hampshire's combined STD rate of 242.4 per 100,000 puts it near the bottom of all U.S. states — 49th out of 50 — and about 62% below the national median. In real terms, that's roughly 3,400 new chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis diagnoses across a state of 1.4 million people in a single year. For most residents, the personal risk on any given day is relatively low. But low statewide rates don't mean zero risk, and they tend to discourage the routine testing that catches infections before they spread.
The number that most warrants attention is gonorrhea. Its rate has risen more than 450% since 2008 — not because of any single outbreak, but through sustained, year-over-year growth. That pattern matters clinically because gonorrhea is frequently asymptomatic, especially in women. People carry it, transmit it, and often have no idea. The same is true for chlamydia, which still accounts for the majority of New Hampshire's STD cases. When symptoms don't appear, testing becomes the only reliable detection method — which is why trends in a low-rate state like New Hampshire can still carry real consequences for untested individuals.
If you live in or near Manchester, Nashua, or Concord, getting tested is straightforward — most clinics offer same-day appointments and results within a few days. New Hampshire's gonorrhea rate has climbed more than 450% over 15 years without most residents noticing. STDTest.com can show you where to get tested today.
WHO SHOULD GET TESTED
Sexually active adults under 25, who account for the majority of chlamydia cases nationally and in New Hampshire. Anyone with multiple partners should also consider routine gonorrhea screening — the state's gonorrhea rate has risen sharply over 15 years, and the infection is often asymptomatic. Men who have sex with men face elevated risk across all three major STDs and should test regularly regardless of symptom status.
HOW OFTEN
Once a year is a reasonable minimum for most sexually active adults. Given that New Hampshire's gonorrhea rate has climbed steadily since 2008 and only recently began to dip, those with new or multiple partners should consider testing every three to six months. Annual testing for chlamydia is recommended for all sexually active women under 25, regardless of the state's comparatively low overall rate.
WHAT TO EXPECT
STD testing is quick and mostly non-invasive. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are typically detected through a urine sample or swab, syphilis through a blood draw, and HIV through a blood test or oral swab. Results usually come back within a few days. Most clinics in Manchester, Nashua, and Concord offer confidential testing, and many accept insurance or offer low-cost options for the uninsured.
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