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Head Start and Early Head Start in New Hampshire

33 centers in 27 cities and towns, run by 5 programs. 10 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 33offer Head Start preschool for ages 3 to 5. It's free if you qualify.

Source: Office of Head Start service locations, as of October 2026. Each program reports its own sites, so call before you visit. Closed sites are left out.

Who qualifies in New Hampshire

$27,320a year or less for a family of three, or $33,000 for four. That's the 2026 federal poverty line, Head Start's income limit.

You also qualify at any income if you get TANF or SSI, your child is in foster care, or your family is homeless.

Sources: 45 CFR 1302.12; HHS poverty guidelines

Poverty guidelines for every family size

Head Start by city in New Hampshire

2 cities have 3 or more centers and a page of their own, most centers first.

Where to apply in New Hampshire

You apply to a program, not to one center. Each number here is the program's enrollment line: staff can tell you which of its centers have room and add you to a waiting list.

  • Southern New Hampshire Services, Inc.

    11 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (603) 668-8010 ext. 6034

  • Tri County CAP Head Start

    8 centers · Head Start

    (603) 752-7138

  • Belknap-Merrimack Counties Community Action Program, in

    5 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (603) 225-3295 ext. 1128

  • Southwestern Community Services, Inc.

    5 centers · Head Start

    (603) 352-7512 ext. 4160

  • Community Action Partnership of Strafford County

    4 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (603) 435-2500 ext. 2339

Centers in smaller towns in New Hampshire

26 centers in 25 towns with fewer than 3 centers each, A to Z.

Berlin · 1

Claremont · 1

  • SCS Head Start Claremont Center

    Head Start · 6 Kinney Pl

    (603) 719-4304

Colebrook · 1

Concord · 1

  • Concord Head Start/Early Head Start/Community Child Care

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 67 Old Loudon Rd

    (603) 224-6492

Conway · 1

Derry · 1

Dover · 1

  • Dover Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 577 Central Ave, Ste 50

    (603) 435-2500

Farmington · 1

  • Farmington Children's Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 120 Main St

    (603) 435-2500

Franklin · 1

  • Franklin Head Start/Early Head Start

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 12 Rowell Dr

    (603) 934-2161

Groveton · 1

Jaffrey · 1

Keene · 1

  • SCS Head Start Keene Center

    Head Start · 63 Community Way

    (603) 719-4175

Laconia · 1

  • Lakes Region Family Center/Early Head Start/Head Start

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 121 Belmont Rd

    (603) 528-5334

Littleton · 1

  • Littleton Area Head Start

    Head Start · 646 Union St, Ste 800

    (603) 444-6022

Milford · 1

Newport · 1

  • SCS Head Start Newport Center

    Head Start · 360 Sunapee St, Ice House Plaza

    (603) 719-4360

Pittsfield · 2

  • Pittsfield Early Head Start

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 7 Fayette St

    (603) 435-6611

  • Pittsfield Head Start

    Head Start · 23 Oneida St

    (603) 435-6618

Plymouth · 1

  • Plymouth Area Head Start

    Head Start · 258 Highland St, Ste 9

    (603) 536-1393

Raymond · 1

  • Southern New Hampshire Services Raymond Head Start

    Head Start · 108 Fremont Rd

    (603) 244-2937

Rochester · 1

  • Rochester Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 150 Wakefield St

    (603) 435-2500

Seabrook · 1

  • Southern New Hampshire Services Seabrook Head Start

    Head Start · 146 Lafayette Rd

    (603) 474-3507

Somersworth · 1

  • Somersworth Center

    Head Start · 46 Stackpole Rd, Idlehurst Elementary School

    (603) 817-5458

Swanzey · 1

Tamworth · 1

  • Tamworth Area Head Start

    Head Start · 448B White Mountain Hwy

    (603) 323-9302

Whitefield · 1

Head Start in nearby states

Help paying for child care

Other benefits in New Hampshire

Having a baby in New HampshireBenefits, each with its source, checked October 2026Pregnancy MedicaidUp to 201% FPLWICYesPaid family leaveVoluntaryMedicaid pays for a doulaPendingSee New Hampshire