Raymond was originally called Freetown — a name it earned because settlers here were exempt from reserving their tallest white pines as ship masts for the Royal Navy. Incorporated in 1764, it stayed rural and small until Route 101 was upgraded to a four-lane freeway, cutting commute times to Manchester and the Seacoast and turning Raymond into one of Rockingham County's more affordable alternatives. The Walmart Distribution Center on Freetown Road is the town's largest employer and a round-the-clock operation that keeps truck traffic steady on the local roads. An abandoned railroad bed cuts through the town center and now serves as a recreational trail for hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders. The northern edge of town borders Pawtuckaway State Park, a 5,500-acre preserve with a fire tower summit, a boulder field left by glaciers, and a lake with a public beach. The Lamprey River, a federally designated Wild and Scenic River, runs through Raymond on its way to the coast, giving the town a natural corridor that belies its reputation as a highway town.

Why Raymond?

Strategic Route 101 location between Manchester and Portsmouth
Lower home prices than surrounding Seacoast towns
Walmart Distribution Center and light-industrial job base
Own school district (SAU 33) serving K-12

Quick Facts

Population

10,605

County

Rockingham

Region

Merrimack Valley

School District

SAU 33

Weather in Raymond

81°F

Partly Cloudy

Today

90 / 72

Fri

90 / 65

Sat

86 / 61

Map

Living in Raymond

What you need to know about making Raymond your home.

Major Employers

Walmart Distribution CenterJackson Lumber & MillworkPalmer Gas & OilHannaford Supermarket

Schools & Education

Raymond operates its own school district (SAU 33) with three schools serving grades K-12.

Cost of Living

Home values around $430K are below the Rockingham County median, but the property tax rate of $22.96 per $1,000 is above the state average.

Real Estate

$430,000 median home price

$22.96 per $1,000 property tax rate

No state income or sales tax in NH

View listings in Raymond

Commute Times

66 min

Boston

21 min

Manchester

36 min

Portsmouth

School District

School district

Raymond School District(SAU 33)

Grades served: PreK-12

Website

Lamprey River Elementary School

K-3Elementary

Iber Holmes Gove Middle School

4-8Middle School

Raymond High SchoolRams

9-12High School

Hidden Gems in Raymond

Beyond the well-known attractions, Raymond has spots that locals love and visitors rarely find.

Incredible Pond at Pawtuckaway State Park

year-round

A hidden backcountry pond tucked away in the lesser-traveled areas of Pawtuckaway State Park. Staff members and rock climbers whisper about this magical place, but it takes local knowledge or serious bushwhacking to find. The northern end offers fantastic boulders perfect for scrambling, and the best views come from climbing on top of these natural rock formations. Even park staff get lost trying to find it on their first attempt.

Dudley-Tucker Library

One of New Hampshire's Carnegie libraries, this modest brick building at 6 Epping Street represents early 20th century philanthropy in small-town New England. Built with Andrew Carnegie's funding, it maintains the classic Carnegie library architecture and still serves as Raymond's community hub. The trustees still follow Carnegie Foundation guidelines, making it a living piece of library history rather than just another municipal building.

Ham Cemetery

year-round

A small historic cemetery on Ham Road containing 19 graves, representing one of Raymond's older burial grounds. This quiet spot, catalogued by the New Hampshire Old Graveyard Association, offers a glimpse into the town's early settlement patterns. The weathered stones tell stories of Raymond's founding families, and the peaceful setting provides a contemplative break from modern life.