New AC or Heat Pump in Derry, NH: 2027 Installed Cost
Adjust your home size & electric cost in Derry, NH
Homeowners in Derry, NH replacing central air with a 14 SEER unit should budget $8,050 to $9,700 installed. We sized it at 3 tons, about 36,000 BTU, for a home of 1,930 sq. ft. Lower overhead in a city of around 34,000 residents trims about 1% off the New Hampshire baseline for Derry.
A clean replacement is what we priced: outdoor unit, indoor coil or air handler, refrigerant lines, wiring and removal of the old equipment. Duct repairs and electrical upgrades are separate line items on most bids.
Four Ratings, Four Prices: Derry
At the base of the ladder, 14 SEER runs $8,050 to $9,700 in Derry. Two-stage 16 SEER costs $10,220 to $12,320, 18 SEER $15,570 to $18,760, and the 20 SEER top tier $21,580 to $26,020.
3-Ton Central AC: Derry Price vs New Hampshire Average
| System (3 ton) | Derry | New Hampshire average | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 SEER | $8,050 - $9,700 | $7,990 - $9,630 | $5,060 |
| 16 SEER | $10,220 - $12,320 | $10,150 - $12,230 | $6,360 |
| 18 SEER | $15,570 - $18,760 | $15,460 - $18,630 | $9,550 |
| 20 SEER | $21,580 - $26,020 | $21,430 - $25,830 | $13,130 |
Most of what you pay is not the box: equipment runs about $6,360 on a 16 SEER install, and labor plus overhead carry the balance.
Why a Derry Quote Reads Differently
Demand moves prices too. When local crews are booked solid, bids stay firm; where installers compete for work, there is room to negotiate. In numbers: a 16 SEER install averaging $10,150 to $12,230 statewide comes to $10,220 to $12,320 in Derry, about 1% less.
1 ZIP codes in our database carry a Derry address, all in Rockingham County; each one gets this estimate. Ask each Derry bidder for model numbers, warranty terms and a clear yes or no on permit, disposal and thermostat.
The Running-Cost Side of the Derry Decision
Residential power in New Hampshire averages $0.380 per kWh, about 75% above the national average of $0.217. That rate decides what every SEER point is worth. New Hampshire electricity has climbed about 6.51% a year over the past decade, and the ten-year figures below assume that trend continues.
Hover or tap any year to see what each rating costs to run that season. Rates rise 6.51% a year, the NH ten-year trend.
Starting point: this summer at NH's current rate. From there the rate grows 6.51% per year, compounded, and each season cost is rounded up to $10.
A 9 SEER unit costs about $1,650 a year to run here; 16 SEER cuts that to about $930 on roughly 2,443 kWh.
Upgrade Payback Finder: Your Old AC vs a New One
Set the two menus: the system in your house now and the one you are weighing. The math uses a 3-ton unit at New Hampshire electric rates, $0.380/kWh and climbing 6.51% yearly.
| Installed price of the new system | $8,750 |
| Electricity saved, first year | $600 |
| Saved over 10 summers (rates rising) | $8,060 |
| Payback | 10.6 years |
| Net after 10 summers | -$700 |
Savings alone fall short: 9 to 14 SEER is still $700 behind after 10 summers in NH.
These figures treat the whole install as the price of switching from a unit that still runs. For a dead unit, only the step up from a basic 14 SEER bid has to pay back.
Leaving a 9 SEER Unit Behind in Derry
| 9 SEER | 14 SEER | 16 SEER | 18 SEER | 20 SEER | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installation Cost | - | $8,750 | $11,110 | $16,920 | $23,460 |
| Electric Usage / Yr | 4,320 kWh | 2,751 kWh | 2,443 kWh | 2,203 kWh | 2,012 kWh |
| Electric Cost / Yr | $1,650 | $1,050 | $930 | $840 | $770 |
| Energy Savings / Yr | - | $600 | $720 | $810 | $880 |
| Payback (Rates Rising) | - | 10.6 years | 11.1 years | 13.7 years | 16.0 years |
| 10-Year Net (Rates Rising) | - | -$700 | -$1,470 | -$6,050 | -$11,610 |
In Derry, 14 SEER gives the best mix of price and savings: about 10.6 years to recover its cost against an old 9 SEER unit.
Buy Price vs Ten Years of Power in Derry
Buy Price vs 10-Year Running Cost: Total Cost of Ownership in NH
Three bars per rating: what it costs to install, what it costs to cool the house for 10 summers at New Hampshire rates with the rate climbing 6.51% a year, and the sum. The rating with the shortest third bar costs the least to own. Tap or hover any bar to see the addition.
After 10 years, 14 SEER is the cheapest system to own in New Hampshire: $22,870 all-in ($8,750 installed + $14,120 of electricity).
How the electricity bar is built: this season at today's NH rate, then nine more seasons, each raised by the 6.51% yearly increase NH has averaged. Install is the typical price shown on this page. Every figure is rounded up to the next $10 separately, which can leave the parts $10 over the total.
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Heat, Cold and Equipment Choices in Derry
Climate region 1 is where our map puts New Hampshire. Across the state, summer days average near 81°F and winter nights near 10°F; Derry sits at about 42.9° N. In Derry, the heating bill is the big one. Pick the cooling side for reliability and right sizing rather than maximum SEER.
Climate zones run from 1 (cool) to 5 (hot); New Hampshire is in Zone 1.
In humid Derry weather, the AC is also a dehumidifier, and it only works as one when it runs long enough.
Manchester is the nearest guide city to Derry, roughly 10 miles to the northwest.
Modern cold-climate heat pumps keep heating well below freezing, yet many Derry homes still keep a furnace or boiler for the deepest cold. Treat 36,000 BTU as the starting estimate. Insulation, window area, shade and air leaks can move the right size either way, which is what a Manual J load calculation measures.
The House Decides the Install: Derry
A lot of New Hampshire housing predates central air, so cooling it can mean new ducts, a high-velocity system or ductless heads, at very different prices. Fewer contractors work Derry, so start collecting bids before the old system fails.
Each ductless head hangs high on an inside wall and connects through one narrow wall opening, so older houses avoid torn-up plaster.
When Derry Installers Have Room
Furnace calls fill Derry schedules all winter, so late spring and early fall suit cooling work best. Ask whether the bid includes the permit fee and the inspection visit; installers commonly arrange both.
Other New Hampshire Cities on the Same Model
Other New Hampshire cities in this guide, with distance from Derry and the 16 SEER range:
- Manchester, NH, 10 mi northwest: $10,290 to $12,400
- Nashua, NH, 13 mi southwest: $10,260 to $12,360
- Concord, NH, 30 mi northwest: $10,250 to $12,360
The Derry estimate also gives a fair first number for East Derry, Londonderry, Windham, North Salem and Hampton.
For the statewide view, including efficiency comparisons and ten-year totals, read the New Hampshire HVAC cost guide. For an estimate built on your home, try the AC size calculator, then the heat pump calculator.
These figures start from statewide data, then adjust for the size of Derry. Collect written bids from licensed local firms before you choose.
Quick Answers
Figures below use New Hampshire averages; energy prices as of October 2026.
Does a heat pump heat for less than natural gas in New Hampshire?
Not in New Hampshire at today's prices. Natural gas delivers 45,630 BTUs per dollar and a COP-3 heat pump 26,924. Power would need to fall under about 22.4¢ per kWh for the heat pump to win (the New Hampshire average is 38.0¢), or the unit would need a higher COP.
Is electricity in New Hampshire expensive compared with other states?
At 38.0¢ per kWh, New Hampshire runs 75% over the national figure of 21.7¢, the 6th most expensive among the 50 states and DC. Every AC and heat pump cost on this page moves with that rate.
Is a cold-climate heat pump needed in New Hampshire?
Yes, plan on one. Winter lows in New Hampshire average about 10°F statewide, where a standard heat pump loses much of its output. Cold-climate models keep heating below zero; size for the coldest nights.
What does a heat pump save over electric baseboard in New Hampshire?
About two-thirds. At 38.0¢ per kWh (the New Hampshire average), a million BTU of heat costs about $111.43 from baseboards and about $37.14 from a heat pump running at COP 3.
What is the best season to replace an AC or furnace in New Hampshire?
Spring or fall, while the old system still runs. Winter lows near 10°F statewide mean heating work should wrap up by early fall. Crews are busiest in the first hot week and the first freeze, and a forced emergency swap leaves no time to compare bids.
Is it smart to replace the furnace and AC together?
When both are aging, generally yes: one visit, one labor charge, and a matched coil and condenser, which the efficiency rating assumes. If one is fairly new, price each job on its own.
Check it for your own home: Central AC cost estimator or Heat pump cost calculator.
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New Hampshire HVAC costs (statewide) · HVAC costs in every state
