36 Pros and Cons of Living in New Hampshire in 2024: By a Born & Bred Granite Stater

When I first meet someone and they ask where I’m from, I always make it a point to emphasize that, first and foremost, I’m from New Hampshire, and an American second. I’m an impassioned flannel and Columbia fleece wearer, a reformed Hampton Beach “beach bum” who would poach his Powerade to mix with gin from the now-closed down McDonald’s on Ocean Boulevard, a Las Olas die-hard (extra guac and still trying to figure out why the lines are so inefficient), and someone who has been thrown out of the now desolate, anachronistic Fox Run Mall for loitering more than I’d care to admit.

I may be considered “simple folk” by the (self-anointed) big city socialites of New York, Los Angeles, and Miami (I’m the proud owner of the ‘White Trash Cookbook”) but I rest easy at the end of the day knowing where I’m from and who I am because of it. Also, if I’m talking to a Brit, I always place a heavy emphasis on the term ‘New’ and inevitably throw in a barb or two about our defection to the New World to establish the ‘New’ England. It never lands as well as I think it will. 

As you can tell, I’m proud to be from New Hampshire and I couldn’t imagine having grown up anywhere else. 

I was inspired to write this post as I came across several pros and cons lists about living in New Hampshire written by those who had clearly never stepped foot in the Granite State. I understand the hustle and why they are writing it (so I can’t knock them too much) but I think it’s time a born and bred New Hampshirite sheds some light on what it’s like to live and grow up in New Hampshire. 

A bare minimum qualification to write this post should be that you (a) have existed in perpetual nothingness at the 101/I-95 interchange for over an hour, (b) remember when Epping was nothing more than two gas stations, a McDonald’s, and a cloud of dust, (c) have eaten a fluffernutter sandwich more than once, and (d) have considered a crispy March 50-degree day with snow still on the ground ‘t-shirt weather’.

So, without further ado, here are 36 pros and cons of living in New Hampshire – aka The Granite State – from a New Hampshire native. You’ll also get some nuggets of New Hampshire lore that will either make you love this state more (or hate it). 

Pros of Living in New Hampshire	Cons of Living in New Hampshire
Gorgeous and diverse landscapes that will make you say “Wow” like Owen Wilson	Rising housing costs
No income or sales tax	High property taxes and energy costs
Low unemployment rate	Extremely homogenous society
One of the safest states for violent and non-violent crime	Lack of efficient public transportation infrastructure
Thriving and creative craft beer scene with an underrated restaurant scene	Poor cell and internet connectivity

Pro: Fall Foliage That Will Make Your Jaw Drop

I’m not sure how I couldn’t lead without this one as from everywhere I’ve been or lived in the world, nothing quite hits like a New Hampshire (or New England fall). 

Imagine driving up the Kancamagus, windows down (feeling the burn of the increasingly frigid late-September, early-October air), and looking out over a never-ending sea and canvas of vibrant, technicolor, deciduous trees sporting a methodical kaleidoscope deep reds, browns, oranges, golds, and every type of green imaginable – a view so beautiful and complex that even Bob Ross wouldn’t know where to start. But then again, we don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents. 

It’s like driving through a Star Wars hyper-speed time warp of leafage and other vegetation. With a picturesque transition to Autumn comes an unparalleled mindset – one full of late-night bonfires with friends and family (with more light beer than you can shake a stick at), flannel tuxedos for yours truly, pumpkin spice in every other thing you eat or drink, and apple cider (both in liquid and donut form). 

Some of my best memories growing up in New Hampshire involve gathering all the fallen leaves in my front yard, raking them into a giant pile, and jumping in, haunted hayrides and apple picking with my brother, watching horse pulls and petting goats at the Deerfield Fair, and sipping scalding glasses of apple cider after riding bikes down to the “Old school” to toss the baseball around before we retired it to the barn for the winter. 

As an adult, it involved trips up to the White Mountains to hike, eat BBQ (at Yankee Smokehouse), and spend the occasional weekend with my then girlfriend, baseball trips up to Keene to play in wooden bat tournaments (and get my first taste of chewing tobacco – which made me immediately throw up everywhere), and day drinking in friends’ backyards. All of it was made that much more beautiful by the millions of deep-colored trees, ablaze with foliage, flanking winding roads, coating narrow valleys, and illuminating everyday life. 

It’s not just the visual beauty of the foliage and that time of year that sticks with me but the sensory experiences and nostalgia associated with it. 

Pale Ale Travel Note: If you grew up in New Hampshire, you definitely had a romantic partner steal your favorite flannel at some point during the relationship – never to return it. I define my life by before that flannel and after that flannel (B.F. and A.F.) and have been on a fruitless quest to find something even half as “lumberjack regal“ ever since.

Con: Everything Always Feels Like It’s At Least Half Hour Away

One of the subtle challenges of living in the Granite State is learning to live with the reality that almost everything is at least thirty minutes away (unless you live in a major city like Concord, Portsmouth, or Manchester). 

While its sprawling, picturesque valleys, rivers, and landscapes are at the heart of its charm, they are also a driving factor behind the inconvenience of extended and circumlocutory travel. New Hampshire is the definition of a rural state, with an estimated 50% of the population living in “rural areas” (west and north of Concord), and around 85% of the state’s landmass being open countryside, thick forests, winding river valleys, and sporting a population densities significantly under 500 people per square mile (a metric established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture). This is further exacerbated by the lack of formidable transportation options, such as a public metro or reliable bus lines (to be discussed in greater detail below).   

Do you need to go to the grocery store? That’s 20 minutes there, 20 minutes back. Want to snag a quick burger from Wendy’s or McDonald’s? About the same. A spontaneous trip to your friend’s house? It ain’t going to be that quick. All of this can translate into a slower pace of life than you may be used to. Simply put, you just end up having to factor in extra effort and time for everyday tasks. You learn to live with it though.

On the flip side of the coin, nothing in the state is ever more than 2 to 3 hours away, meaning that you can access either the ocean or mountains (or both) within an hour or two of wherever you are (and that is me definitely overshooting it). Also, by the time you travel that distance, you’re also probably in a different state (or even Canada) where it’s exponentially more convenient and populated. 

Pale Ale Travel Note: It’s actually funny as now that I live in Hong Kong, I find that friends are far more reluctant to meet up due to something being even 10 to 15 minutes away. For me, that’s a blessing. As someone who would commute, on average, more than an hour to and from high school every day, “it ain’t no thing but a chicken wing.”

Pro: A Thriving & Creative Craft Beer Scene

As a teenager who grew up on a heavy diet of Bud Light, Coors Light, Keystone Light, and if we were lucky, Miller Lite, craft beer was something that never crossed my mind until I returned home from university one summer. 

The closest we ever came to drinking fancy beer was when we could find someone’s older brother to buy us a six-pack of Stella Artois (which we would be duped into paying a premium of $30 for). To be honest, I didn’t really know that anything other than light beer existed. I also never envisioned a life where I wouldn’t be relegated to drinking beer out of a can. Occasionally, I’d witness our “town drunk” (don’t side-eye me for that – every town has one) toss a bottle of Rolling Rock or Amstel Light out the window of her hatchback on the way home from work and wonder just how much better beer would taste out of the bottle. 

New Hampshire’s craft beer scene has always been there (so to speak) but has seen a meteoric rise, especially in the last decade-plus. It’s as robust and creative a scene as anywhere in the world – even compared to our neighbors who officially “took the top spot” for craft beer capital of the United States – Vermont. Us Granite Staters boast the most storied beer and liquor consumption credentials in the entire country, as we officially consume the most amount of booze per capita of any state. We don’t just sip beer, we demolish it. 

Now, on top of our light beer classics and wine coolers, we have a selection of over 90 in-state breweries to choose from. From balanced, not overly sugary apple pie sours over at Branch and Blade in Keene (one of my favorite breweries in the world), to classic full-bodied Old Brown Dog Ales at Hampton’s Smuttynose (a true institution for Seacoasters) and citrusy, tart, triple IPAs at Deciduous Brewing Company in Newmarket (my second stomping grounds), all the way to easily drinkable and sessionable pilsners at Tuckerman Brewing up in Conway (I’ve made love once in Conway) and roasted caramel porters at 603 Brewery in Londonderry (I have no connection to Londonderry other than driving on 93) – the beer world is your oyster when you’re in New Hampshire.

I would be remiss not to shout out how local beer shops and stores in New Hampshire carry some of the most diverse selections of beers out there. Greg & Jane’s in Epping, New Hampshire was a weekly constitutional before our men’s league soccer games over at the Seacoast United fields, where we’d load up on everything from German Einbeckers to Thai Singha’s and of course, my favorite, Dale’s Pale Ale (Oskar Blues) – for parking lot beeaahs, kid.

Pale Ale Travel Note: I know it’s terrible to write about this but when you grow up in New Hampshire and you have nothing to do, you inevitably try and round up whatever booze you can and have a good time. To acquire this liquid gold, we would draw straws and stand outside of the most happening gas station in Dover, New Hampshire (Smiley’s or Store 24) and “Hey Mr.” people – where you approach an adult walking into the convenience store and not-so-subtly ask them if they’ll grab you a thirty-rack of literally anything. It surprisingly worked well and really was just a numbers game.

Con: Winters That Will Have You Questioning Your Existence

There’s only one place I’ve ever been that was colder than I had ever been in New Hampshire – and that was in the dead of February in a Northeastern Chinese province bordering Siberia. Nyet. Picture the most serene summer’s eve you can imagine – a breezy 78 degrees, a fried clam basket and a Stoneface IPA (or multiple) in front of you, watching the tugboats gracefully glide into the Old Harbor down by the Portsmouth docks. That’s how life should be, right?

Now, picture the movie Snowpiercer (I’m referencing the movie in this example – shout out to Bong Joon Ho), a post-apocalyptic arctic tundra cascading a never-ending supply of snow and sleet, where what’s left of humanity hangs on by a single thread of hope that life may exist outside of their perpetually moving train. Also, imagine it with less (or no) Chris Evans and more Tilda Swinton – a monstrous, maniacal, volatile, unyielding mistress of authority and fate. That’s a New Hampshire winter right there. 

Both freezing temperatures and snow are just part of everyday life that you learn to live with. Average winter temperatures in the north range between 2°F to 7°F, while southern and noncoastal areas clock in between 12°F to 15°F and coastal areas settle somewhere between a “near-tropical” 15°F to 18°F. The state, on average, sees north of 89” of snowfall each year – with some areas like Pittsburg (20 minutes from the Canada border) and Jackson seeing 100”-plus per year. While climate change has seen an increase in average annual temperatures and a reduction in annual snowfall, it’s projected that precipitation will increase in coming winters (however, taking on the form of rain rather than snow).

One moment, you’re stepping outside and remarking to yourself how you’re actually looking forward to some hot chocolate and candy canes, weekly trips with the kids to Wagon Hill for sledding, and cozying up in a little cabin in Franconia Notch for a romantic getaway. The next, you’re angrily cursing to yourself as you run outside in just your boxers, a t-shirt, flip-flops, and a Russian fur cap to scrape off ice blocks cemented to your car to start it and crank the heat (and the heated seats) – all so that you can actually physically grip the steering wheel by the time you finish getting ready inside.

This ain’t no Charlie Brown Christmas. 

Pale Ale Travel Note: Maybe I got a little carried away there but a redeeming quality of New Hampshire’s overly harsh winters is that while you’ll be buried in more snow than you know where to put it, the skies are clear and the days are sunny. This is far more palatable than when I lived in Ohio and experienced milder winters temperature-wise but they felt exponentially more dreary and colder than New Hampshire’s due to their gray skies and soul-piercing winds.  

Pro: No Income Tax

The Granite State is one of nine states in the U.S. that does not levy an income tax on your hard-earned salary (including retirement income as well). This may be one of the key reasons I ultimately decided to settle in Hong Kong – a global tax haven – as I’m someone who isn’t too jazzed up on having most of my salary sapped by Uncle Sam. 

But what exactly does no income tax mean for you? For starters, a larger portion of your paycheck is yours to decide what to do with at the end of the day, greater control over your financial portfolios and investments, and the ability to tuck away an extra bit of change for emergencies and other personal priorities.

But don’t forget that you still have to pony up and face the reality of federal income tax, so just remember that no one is exempt from that. Even this guy over in Hong Kong. Besides federal tax, tax really only comes into play in two scenarios: (1) property tax and (2) tax on dividends and interest. There’s a 5% tax on earned dividends and interest exceeding $2,400 for individuals and $4,800 for joint filers. However, this is being slowly reduced, with 2023 seeing a reduction to 4% – dropping all the way down by 1% each year until 2026 when it will bottom out at 1% per year.

Major proponents of no-income-tax states emphasize increased retention of educated workers (specifically of the younger generation), the creation of more jobs and professional opportunities (unemployment is roughly 2% – which is far under the national average), and greater potential for economic growth and industry “ballooning.” Four of the top ten states with the strongest economic outlook for the upcoming ten years (as assessed by the American Legislative Exchange Council) are states with an absence of state income tax.

Pale Ale Travel Note: An interesting thing to keep in mind is that if you think you are going to take advantage of no income tax in New Hampshire and commute to your job in Massachusetts – think again. You will still be taxed on income earned while working in the Bay State. 

Finally, it’s worth mentioning the “cons of this pro.” No state is perfect and there are plenty of critics of no income tax states. Common arguments note that ultimately, the state needs to obtain funding from other taxation streams and methods and that both spending on education and infrastructure can often take a back seat and/or be severely underfunded. 

In both the education and infrastructural context, as a New Hampshirite, I would acknowledge this is very much a reality in the Granite State – especially in terms of lack of public transport options, unkempt and dangerous roads and highways, and the fact that it sports some of the highest four-year in-state tuition fees (which translates to exorbitant student debts) in the nation.

Con: Poor Public Transportation (or Complete Lack Thereof)

Owning a car in New Hampshire is just part and parcel of what it means to be a Granite Stater. It’s inevitable when you’re “a top ten most rural state” and when there is a glaring lack of comprehensive or efficient public transportation options. The public transportation options that do exist (just 12 official public bus lines in the state) are heavily concentrated in the major cities – Portsmouth, Manchester, and Concord – leaving the rest of the state heavily reliant on finding their own way to work. 

Because of this, having to fill your tank up frequently does really add up. As someone who would commute 30-plus minutes to school every single day, I was spending several hundred dollars per month on gas alone. 

According to a comprehensive survey on state funding of public transportation, New Hampshire spent, on average, a measly $1.37 per capita in 2017. I really do want to emphasize that this number was already considered a paltry sum at the time. Since then, it has decreased even further to a pittance of just $0.33 per capita in 2021 and $0.42 per capita in 2022 – making it unsurprisingly the lowest of all New England states. What’s more appalling is that roughly half of that amount was spent on turnpike construction rather than the development of accessible public transportation routes or options for state residents.

Compared to somewhere like North Dakota (the 4th least inhabited state), which spends, on average over $5.00 per capita on public transportation, we aren’t looking too great.

Tack on the fact that New Hampshire is overwhelmingly a retiree state with a relatively immobile senior population – one that’s expected to nearly double by 2040 – we really aren’t doing residents any public transportation favors. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: I gotta tell you, if you are taking the Amtrak down to Boston, you better hope that you don’t have to be there at any particular time, as it is notorious for delays.

Pro: No Sales Tax

A notable perk of living in the Granite State is the absence of a statewide sales tax on goods, necessities, and…liquor and other booze (woohoo!). As one of the five states (including Alaska, Delaware, Montana, and Oregon) that doesn’t levy sales tax on goods purchased in-state, whatever price tag you see on a good or item is exactly what you’ll pay. This is one consumer-friendly state.

No sales tax on liquor, wine, and other booze is a massive draw for both in-staters and out-of-staters, so expect heavy traffic and long lines (with a lot of Massachusetts plates) at all state-run liquor stores in the lead-up to the weekend and major holidays. This may also be a driving factor behind why New Hampshire ranks first for most booze consumed per capita in the United States. 

Keep in mind that New Hampshire still does impose a meals and rooms tax for hotel stayers and restaurant goers, along with vehicle rentals. 

Having attended university in Ohio, where sales tax clocks in just under 6%, I can truly say that it’s a blessing that I don’t need to apply my rudimentary mental math skills (or lack thereof) on a daily basis just to figure out how much I need to pay for an item. 

However, the grass isn’t always greener when it comes to saving those Hamiltons (I’m all about the Hamiltons, baby) as the lack of state sales tax (and aforementioned income tax) is somewhat offset by New Hampshire boasting one of the top three highest property taxes in the nation. 

Con: Extremely High Property Taxes

There’s always a debt to pay for a good time and that, my friends, comes in the form of one of the highest property taxes in the nation. Only surpassed by New Jersey, which sees a median annual property tax hovering around $8,700), and Connecticut (just north of $6,000), Granite State homeowners can expect, on average, to pay roughly $6,000 in property taxes per year. 

Compare this figure to somewhere like Alabama or Colorado, where the median property tax levied per year ranges from $600 to $1,000, and this can be a substantial sum (and deterrent) for prospective residents considering purchasing property over renting. But then again, Hawaii has one of the lowest property tax rates in the country but has some of the highest average home purchase prices.

An important note is that high property taxes aren’t as futile as they may seem, as New Hampshire does have a tax relief scheme in place to rebate a portion of the property tax for low and moderate-income homeowners (under $37,000 for singles and $47,000 for joint homes)

With an absence of state income and sales tax, the state needs to generate money (from somewhere) to fund services such as schools, police and fire departments, emergency healthcare and medical services, and public roads. As of 2021, the Queen State (a lesser-known nickname of New Hampshire) brings in roughly 2/3rds of its revenue from property tax collections – the highest percentage of any state in the country. 

High property taxes are relatively popular in states that prioritize and emphasize local governance at the county or municipal level – something which is at the heart of New Hampshire’s ethos (and state motto – to be addressed below). For example, Granite State towns and cities provide the bulk of all key services for their residences, including public infrastructure and education, all the way to the registration of deeds, management of correctional facilities, and waste management. 

The state, on the other hand, provides (or is meant to) more generalized services to ensure public health and order, environmental protection, safety, and adequate transportation (the last one makes me chuckle a bit).

Pro: Landscapes That Will Make You Say “Wow” Like Owen Wilson

If I could sum New Hampshire up in several words – it’s a state of stark contrasts (we’ll get more into this below as well). As Walt Whitman so poetically penned, it ‘contains multitudes’. In geographic contrast, this means a set of diverse landscapes that not only make this an aesthetically beautiful state but one with ample opportunity for recreational activities. 

From New Hampshire’s short but charming 18 miles of coastline (which we make sure to use every inch of) along the Atlantic to the rugged mountain desert range of the White Mountains (one of the largest and highest in the U.S.), all the way to the tranquil lakes of Winnepesauke, Pawtuckaway, and Sunapee, and pastoral, rolling fields and farmland (shout out to the alpaca farm I grew up near), other than a jungle, there’s really not too many landscapes missing from this 9,304 square mile state.

Of course, it would be negligent not to mention the countless granite formations (the ‘Old Man of the Mountain’ being its most famous) and quarries that ultimately gave New Hampshire its nickname, “The Granite State.”

The beauty of it all is that because of its manageable size, you’re never more than a 30 to 45-minute drive away from an ocean, lake, mountain, or all three (I’m about 90% sure you can actually get from Catamount Hill to Portsmouth in under 45 minutes if you hustle).

I’ll get into exactly what you can do activity-wise in New Hampshire below but just know it’s endless. 

Pale Ale Travel Note: Some of my best memories as a high schooler are of driving to the beach at night with my then girlfriend, spreading a blanket on the sand, turning up the radio on my car so that we could listen to Loveline by Dr. Drew, and spending the night looking out at the waves and laughing at the absurdity of the calls. 

As noted above, these contrasts don’t just extend to landscapes and the environment, they permeate countless facets of everyday life, including politics, state identity, and more (tackled more below).

Con: Lack of a Major (or International) Airport

One noticeable drawback is the absence of a major airport in the state. Based on my seething condemnation of the transportation landscape in New Hampshire, you probably saw this coming. While you could theoretically consider Manchester-Boston Regional Airport to be a major airport (it’s actually New England’s fifth busiest by passenger volume), there are no international flights and it’s primarily used as a feeder airport to Florida, the Washington metropolitan area, and Chicago.  

Pease Air Force Base (PSD) is also in the mix as another option for trips 30,000 feet above Earth (which is still the craziest thing to me). However, only one airline (Allegiant Air) flies out of Pease. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever actually met anyone who wasn’t part of the Air Force that has ever flown out of there and the closest I’ve been to flying out of Pease was when my ex-girlfriend and I would lay on the hood of her car and watch the planes take off and land at night.

While it’s not the end of the world to commute to Boston to fly to wherever it is you need to go, the lack of a major airport can be a dealbreaker for those whose jobs require frequent international travel or travel to other states. I also think there is somewhat of an unspoken pernicious effect and deterrent on residents due to it being that extra bit of a hassle just to travel. For example, leaving the state or returning home is always somewhat of a chore – especially since I’m somewhat from the boondocks. My mother or brother drive me to the C&J bus (30 minutes), where I take the one-hour-plus ride down to Logan Airport (Boston), and then either fly to JFK (New York) or Pearson (Toronto), to fly to Hong Kong (my current base).

However, a lack of a major airport may be a contributing factor to New Hampshire having retained its charm, untouched diverse landscapes, lower pollution levels (including noise pollution, and distinct identity over the years. 

Pro: Within Striking Distance of Boston, Portland, & Even New York City

New Hampshire is unique in the way that it has carved out its own little slice of earth that is relatively secluded and unperturbed but is close enough to major cities such as Boston, Portland (Maine), Burlington (Vermont), and even New York City that you can still enjoy the benefits and big city life (if that’s your thing). 

From the Manchester area to Boston (by car or bus), you can be there within an hour (pending traffic being reasonable), Portland Maine within an hour and a half, Burlington within two hours, and New York City in around four and one-half hours. You can even be in Quebec (by car) within five hours (or less), depending on where you start your journey. Because of its proximity to these major cities, it’s not unheard of for residents to commute to Boston or even New York City several times per week. How do I know this? Because my father used to do it.  

While I have mentioned excoriated my beloved state’s public transportation infrastructure and options, private bus lines like C&J and Greyhound are formidable (and reliable) options for travel. They really are the only major form of transportation, other than my own vehicle that I would actually trust to get me somewhere within a reasonable time.

Pale Ale Travel Note: Back in the day, I would occasionally scrounge up enough money for a bus ticket, polish off my fake ID, and head into New York City to meet up with several university buddies for a weekend of debauchery. 

Con: Housing Costs on the Rise

A pressing and burgeoning reality for New Hampshirites is the stark increase in rental and homeownership costs over the years – an expense that already accounted for a healthy portion of living costs to begin for Granite Staters. There are more than a handful of reasons driving such exorbitant ownership and rental costs, including proximity to Boston, demand for secluded, serene, and picturesque properties, and an appalling shortage of available housing units. 

According to a 2023 assessment on statewide housing needs, New Hampshire “falls short” of housing needs for residents by an estimated 23,500 units and may require up to 90,000 available units to meet state housing demands by 2040. A 2023 residential rental cost survey report found the rent for an average two-bedroom apartment (including utilities) to be $1,764 per month (a 10%-plus increase from the previous year). Further, single-family home prices have increased upwards of 50% since mid-2020, with the median sale price coming in just shy of $500,000 – or $70,000 over the national average.

A 2023 poll by Manchester-based WMUR identified increased housing costs as the highest priority of living concerns for Granite Staters – with participants emphasizing that housing rental and ownership costs (including property taxes) were beginning to substantially exceed earned income.

Simply put, housing costs in New Hampshire are the highest they’ve been in the last twenty years and are pricing out residents from settling down long-term and being able to afford basic and household necessities. There has also been a stark increase in applications for welfare assistance. For a state with a 2.1% unemployment rate (significantly below the national average), this is definitely paradigmatic of an issue that is fundamentally wrong with the housing market.

Pro: An Outdoor Lover’s Dream 

This pro goes hand-in-hand with the previous pro of ‘diverse landscapes’. I wanted to separate the two as you may be someone like me who errs more on the side of posting up with an Aperol Spritz and fried clam basket to enjoy the fine scenery, or you may be an aspiring X-Games athlete looking to chart every area of this rugged, diverse, and beautiful state on foot, by boat, or by ski (or snowboard). Or, maybe you’re just a normal, healthy person looking to get your 10,000 steps in for the day. Either way, New Hampshire has you covered.

There’s everything from strenuous and picturesque hikes up in the Franconia Notch (make sure you check out the Presidential Range of four-thousand footers), to the first-class ski resorts and slopes at Bretton Woods, Gunstock, Loon, and Wildcat, to leisurely strolls up Mount Monadnock (the second most hiked mountain the world) and Mount Major, to the pristine and vibrant lakes of Winnipesaukee, Sunapee, and Pawtuckaway for jet-skiing and other watersports, to the frigid Atlantic for surfing, open water swimming, and boating. You can also find more than a fair share of beautifully kept parks for camping, kayaking, picnics, fishing, biking, foraging, and birding (my mother is an amateur forager and bird watcher). 

If you’re an active person (or semi-active) who enjoys taking advantage of outdoor sports or leisure activities during all seasons, then this is your state. Simply put, you know you’re in New Hampshire when you see not only a ski rock on top of the nearest Subaru Outback but a surfboard hanging off the rear as well. 

Pale Ale Travel Note: I fully acknowledge that one of my biggest disappointments as a born and bred New Hampshirite is that I don’t (a) hunt, (b) ski or snowboard, or (c) surf. I’m more of a drive up to the mountains, drink a few beers, take a few trips down on a tube, and spend the rest of the day eating overpriced cheeseburgers and french fries in the lodge type of guy.

One of the best days of my life (which was incredibly unexpected) was when I agreed to hike Mount Washington with several friends one weekend – all 6,288 feet of it. We stayed up partying until 4 AM, sleeping until 5:30 before making our way up to the mountain. As we were in the car, one of my friends pointed up at a mountain and said, “You know, we’re going to be up there in a few hours.” I laughed, genuinely having no idea that he was being serious. After roughly five hours of strenuous hiking and what felt like a never-ending summit, we made it. 

To this day, it is the most physically demanding thing I’ve ever done. We cracked a celebratory Dale’s Pale Ale atop the mountain, took a picture, laughed as a man who had driven up complained about needing to climb a set of stairs to the summit lodge, and made our way back down (via Tuckerman Ravine).

Con: Growing Drug & Pill Epidemic

New Hampshire, like many states, is grappling with the severe consequences of a growing drug (especially pill and other opioid) epidemic. I’m no public health expert but I do imagine when there is a sizable middle class with extra money to spend, it’s not uncommon for that to translate into increased experimentation and reliance on prescription drugs. 

Couple this with the Granite State’s proximity to Massachusetts (a popular distribution center for drugs across New England), lack of available rehab and addiction programs (one of the lowest in the nation), lack of addiction-specific medical doctors and healthcare professionals (also substantially below the national average), and lack of needle exchange programs, and it’s no surprise that overdose deaths have seen a sharp uptick over the years.

The worrying part is that the synthetic opioid fentanyl accounts for a majority of fatalities and health-related issues in the state. Since 2011, New Hampshire has seen an increase of roughly 11.5 overdose deaths per 100,000 to 28.4 per 100,000 (2021). 2022 saw the state’s worst year for overdose deaths since 2017, with an estimated 500 confirmed overdoses (over 350 of those caused by fentanyl or a combination of fentanyl and other substances). 

Pale Ale Travel Note: Me mentioning Massachusetts is not blaming them for the overdoses and cause of rampant drug access and abuse in New Hampshire. Rather, it’s just an acknowledgment that it is a factor that shapes the overall accessibility and prevalence of drugs in the Granite State. 

Pro: Low Crime Rate

New Hampshire consistently ranks as one of the safest states in the country for both violent and non-violent crime – with its crime rate even on the decline over the years. This is especially attractive for families looking to settle down and raise children. 

Online analytics neighborhood database, Neighborhood Scout, puts the average number of violent crimes per 1,000 people in New Hampshire at 1.3 (as of 2023) and property crimes at just over 10 per 1,000 people. U.S. News also ranks New Hampshire in the number two spot (only second to Maine) in terms of public safety thanks to its low violent and property crime rates.

Some of the safest cities in New Hampshire (ranked by Safewise) include Atkinson, Strafford, Litchfield, Hollis, and Stratham. My hometown is also listed here but I’ll omit that for the purposes of not fully doxxing myself (yet) – because that doesn’t seem like a very “safe” thing to do.

Frankly, with New Hampshire being the definition of a “rural state” to a T, the bulk of crimes perpetrated involve minor property crimes (ex. trespass) or bears and raccoons rummaging through your garbage at night. Finally, I would caution anyone driving late at night to be careful. With it being a rural state and utter lack of public transportation, it’s not uncommon for those who have tossed back a few too many alcoholic beverages to recklessly drive home.

Pale Ale Travel Note: The closest I’ve ever come to being a victim of a crime in New Hampshire is when I was in third grade and my mother took us to Pawtuckaway for the day. Some teenagers broke into her unlocked car and stole a handful of Joni Mitchell and Dixie Chicks cassette tapes. That’s not written to diminish or discount the crime that does exist. However, this may be more representative of the average New Hampshire resident than some fear-mongering news articles and reports you may occasionally find online. 

Con: A State With One of the Highest Energy Costs

This is one of those cons that I experienced firsthand but didn’t fully understand until I became an adult. New Hampshire consistently ranks as one of the top ten most expensive states in the nation when it comes to total energy costs (electricity, natural gas, vehicle fuel, and oil), with average monthly household costs exceeding $550. 

At the heart of this number is the Granite State’s 26.15¢ per kWh electricity rate for residents and 18.82¢ per kWh electricity rate for businesses. Inevitably, this can eat away at incomes and leave residents out of pocket a significant amount of change at the end of the month. Tack on increasing housing prices and a merciless property tax, and it’s understandable that this can be a major con for some.

One facet of the above that I feel is often overlooked is high electricity and energy costs in the context of small businesses. Small businesses, in particular, which already fail 1 in 5 times within the first year, are fighting an uphill battle from the beginning. Trying to absorb these costs can be devastating and ultimately hinder their ability to grow and scale. Further, seeing these burdensome costs can also result in diminishing foreign investment and business owners from other states hesitating to set up shop.

Harsh and long winters only exacerbate this issue as it’s either freeze your motherloving self off, sleep in snow pants and a winter jacket or crank up the heat and pay for it financially at the end of the month. A wood stove, small space heaters, and various handheld heating devices (including hot water bottles) can go a long way in easing the frigid and below-zero temperatures and got us through the President’s Day storm of 2003.

Pale Ale Travel Note: If you grew up in New Hampshire, you’ve inevitably been told by your mother or father to “suck it up” before going to bed on a chilly winter’s eve and simply toss an extra blanket on or put on an extra pair of pants or a sweatshirt. As a grown adult who is constantly befuddled at how my monthly electricity bill requires me to pony up the equivalent of several nice steak dinners (with drinks), I can’t say I blame my parents for this at all. 

Pro: Low Unemployment Rate

As of October 2023, New Hampshire’s unemployment rate sits at just over 2%, falling as low as 1.9% in the early half of 2023 – a historic low for the Granite State and nearly 1.5% under the national average (also clocking in at 50-year historic lows). This is a stark decrease from the 16% unemployment rate the state saw (like many other countries across the U.S.) in 2020.  

It’s worth noting that while New Hampshire’s unemployment rate currently sits at a historic low, one study found that roughly 250,000 Granite Staters still live within twice the federal income poverty threshold. Further, the total labor force has yet to completely “recover” from the pandemic, due to voluntary or involuntary retirement by New Hampshire’s aging population and the increase in remote, online gig workers.

The state’s labor force is primarily dominated by healthcare, retail and trade, manufacturing, food and beverage, local government, and technical services. Proximity to the Massachusetts and Maine job markets has also contributed to the Granite State keeping unemployment to a minimum.

Understand that major financial institutions, tech and telecommunications, and other innovative sectors are substantially lacking in New Hampshire, so if you’re a Goldman Sachs prodigy or aspiring FAANG developer, you might be sorely disappointed in employment opportunities.

Con: Traffic Can Be Hectic & Even Dangerous

While New Hampshire is known for its serene landscapes, somewhat secluded positioning in New England, and “ruralness,” there are certain pockets that experience anxiety-inducing and mind-boggling traffic – especially off of 95 and on the way up to the White Mountains. 

Traffic congestion in the Granite State may be attributed to the lack of sales tax (which draws countless Mass and Maine booze and tobacco enthusiasts each weekend), heavy commuting culture, limited transportation options (as I said, everyone drives a car), and seasonal nature of tourism in the state (ex. I can’t blame people for flocking to the state in droves to experience a New Hampshire summer or fall).

Further, traffic fatalities have significantly increased over the last several years as well, surging nearly 50% between 2019 and 2022. If you live near 101, you definitely have a horror story about almost being sideswiped by a truck or even seeing a car go the wrong way. 101 is a death trap that seems to attract the most careless drivers and is always somewhere I make sure I steer clear of – opting to take back roads to get to wherever I need to be (even if it takes me significantly longer). 

Pale Ale Travel Note: While a lot of people associate Adam Sandler with being from New Hampshire, he was actually born in New York. However, he did grow up in Manchester from age 6 until the end of high school (Manchester Central). 

Pro: A Rich & Distinctive History

The purple lilac is the state flower of New Hampshire – taken from my mother’s garden.

Inhabited for thousands of years by the Algonquin-speaking indigenous Abenaki people, New Hampshire’s rich and distinctive history didn’t just begin when it was established (in 1629) as one of the original thirteen colonies that took on the Redcoats during the American Revolution. 

From Fort William and Mary, which saw the first shots of the Revolutionary War fired by the British and New Hampshire’s ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1788, to its significant role at the center of abolitionism in the late 1700s and its provision of tens of thousands of Union soldiers to fight in the Civil War and industrialization and textile manufacturing boom shortly after, all the way to the boy from Hillsborough ‘Young Hickory of the Granite Hills’ (aka Franklin Pierce) being elected president of the United States and its placement as the earliest Presidential primary (and testing ground), New Hampshire has been through the ringer countless times over and served as a crucial state in the country’s history and present-day formation.

This is just one of those pros that I can’t do justice to in several paragraphs. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: A fun and somewhat morbid/macabre fact about New Hampshire is that we were actually persecuting “witches” far before the infamous, church-sanctioned, hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials. There’s a fantastic book by Emerson W. Baker ‘The Devil of Great Island’ – present-day New Castle – which examines the mysterious act of ‘lithobolia’ (stone-throwing devils) that plagued one New Hampshire town in the 1680s and how witch hysteria and politics consumed them. 

Con: Extremely Homogenous Society

New Hampshire is an extremely homogenous society and a place I wouldn’t exactly call a ‘multicultural epicenter’. When I first attended university in Ohio, it blew my mind at how diverse the state was – and by that, I mean “not nearly 100% white.” 

New Hampshire is a predominantly Caucasian state, with just under 93% of the population identifying as such in the state census. Hispanic and Latino residents are the second largest minority demographic in the Granite State, accounting for 5% (as of 2022) of the population. African American or Black New Hampshirites clock in at just 2% while 3.2% identify as Asian. This is significantly under the 42% national minority average.

A 2018 New York Times article noted (a) a lack of major urban areas with more professional opportunities, (b) fewer housing options (as previously discussed), and (c) an aging population (where people are coming to spend their later years rather than start new families) as major drivers behind New Hampshire’s primarily Caucasian population. Further, it’s also the tenth least populated state, so inevitably that is going to mean smaller minority demographics just based on the sheer number of people living here.

However, New Hampshire is (somewhat) shedding its homogenous skin, with The University of New Hampshire Carsey School of Public Policy finding that the Granite State is increasing in ethnic diversity year after year. Since 2020, New Hampshire’s minority demographics have increased by just under 75%.

For those seeking a rich tapestry of cultural or communal experiences, New Hampshire might not tick that box. 

Pale Ale Travel Note: One interesting fact is that nearly 20% of Somersworth’s population is Indonesian, something that has attracted global attention over the years. It’s one of the largest Indonesian populations in the United States, even being officially dubbed ‘Little Indonesia.” Having been to “Indofest” for several years, I can attest to the vibrancy, excitement, and refreshing addition the Indonesian community and culture has brought to the state.

Pro: An Awesome State Motto

Emphatically declared by Londonderry native and one of New Hampshire’s most storied generals John Stark “Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils,” New Hampshire’s state motto (shortened to just “Live free or die”) sums up the state and its many faces, stark contrasts, and the unique characters that inhabit it. 

It’s not just a state motto but an ethos. It’s a mentality that drives Granite Staters – one that has become a point of pride, sometimes to a fault – such as having an underlying hand in some of the self-destruction and liberties that we practice to a reckless degree (ex. rampant opioid abuse and lack of motorcycle helmet usage).

It’s at the very heart of the amalgam that is New Hampshire, touching upon a commitment to a decentralized state (not to the degree of Free Staters), emphasis on personal and individual freedoms (and broad interpretations of them), government incentives rather than mandates, self-reliance, and personal accountability.  

Con: You Can Only Buy Liquor at State Owned Liquor Stores

This isn’t even a major con in the grand scheme of things due to the absence of sales tax on liquor, wine, and other spirits in the state but you can only purchase your booze (other than beer and wine) at a state-owned liquor store. This may sometimes be a pain in cases where you want to pick up weekly supplies and necessities (booze is an absolute necessity for Granite Staters) in one fell swoop.

Every New Hampshire resident will end up with a Portsmouth Traffic Circle horror story at some point when they try to merge into the correct lane to turn off into the state liquor store there.

So, if you’re a boozehound who doesn’t want to have to make their way to a state-run liquor store (even though it’s incredibly affordable) every time you’re looking for a fifth of Jack, then this may not be the booze utopia for you. But then again, with the amount of alcohol consumed per capita in this state (remember, it’s the highest in the nation), I’m not really sure this is a deterrent for anyone.

Pro: High-Quality & Accessible Healthcare

The Granite State provides residents with access to high-quality, reputable healthcare providers and institutions. New Hampshire is consistently cited as one of the healthiest states in the U.S., which is thanks to its strong commitment to public health, affordability, and lower-than-average obesity rates.

New Hampshire earned top marks (and a top three spot) in the 2023 Scorecard on State Health System Performance, which cited access and affordability, reproductive and maternal health, preventative care, health outcomes, and racial equity as driving factors. What’s worth noting is that New Hampshire ranked in the top spot for avoidable deaths from preventable diseases, which is very much in line with why it is one of the top spots for life expectancy at birth in the nation (clocking in at 79).

Further, it’s home to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, one of the best hospitals not only in New England but the nation. 

However, healthcare quality and offerings in New Hampshire still have a ways to go when it comes to long-term care for elderly residents and those with disabilities, with costs exceeding the national average when it comes to in-home care and nursing services.

Con: Free Staters

Buckle up because you’re in for a bumpy ride. This one requires some explaining first. The Free State Project (FSP) is a libertarian political migration movement where members have pledged to move to a low-population state (lucky us, New Hampshire) to establish a libertarian utopia of sorts. Imagine if Peter Pan earned a liberal arts degree, read a lot of John Locke while sitting at a local Starbucks, and decided he was going to set up an autonomous Neverland stronghold somewhere. That’s kind of what I see the Free State project as.

As of mid-2022, an estimated 6,000-plus ‘Free Staters’ have moved to New Hampshire, primarily Keene, Manchester, Concord, and Nashua, with upwards of 14,000 more pledging to move to the Granite State at a subsequent date.

While endorsed by the likes of Ron Paul and Gary Johnson, and fervent advocates of decentralized, democratic decision-making processes, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and further expansion of individual rights and free market activity, there’s just something slightly off about the ragtag crew of “future” secessionists. 

Maybe it’s that their goal is to curb taxation and regulation to the nth degree, overthrow small-town governance (when they have zero connection or understanding of its respective politics, dynamics, or needs), and carve out a sizable legislative voting bloc that inevitably leads to state-wide stagnation (to yield minor concessions in favor of their movement). Maybe it’s not. I really don’t know. 

All I know is that they are functionally irrelevant and offer no credible threat towards disrupting New Hampshire’s political status quo (and harmony) but do stand to ultimately make lives more difficult for small towns and communities that successfully govern at the local level. They are more of a nuisance than anything.

One of my favorites is the libertarian activist and Bitcoin evangelical Ian Freeman, who was recently sentenced to eight years in prison for a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme (I’m a big proponent of Bitcoin as well so don’t take this as me being anti-crypto). Another favorite is a former school board president in Croydon (and her husband) who unlawfully attempted to cut the school’s funding in half on the day of voting. 

Pro: Dunkin’, Kid

You might currently be saying to yourself, “But Big Body, there’s Dunkin’ on every street corner of America. To that I say, it just hits differently when you’re in New England – the home of this breakfast institution (Massachusetts actually). It’s not a gimmick or novelty in New Hampshire, it’s religion. 

A pack of Parliaments, two crawlers, an extra large iced Hazelnut with two sugars, and a box of munchkins for the boyz, you really can’t start your morning out better than that. I don’t actually smoke cigarettes but when you see the dawgz out front pregaming their Dunkin’ orders with several heaters, you know that’s gotta be the ultimate order.

My personal favorites include Dunkin’s blueberry cake donuts, chocolate crawlers (pronounced cr-UH-ler), and a strawberry Coolatta. While I’m a huge Dunkin’ guy (trust me, kid), I do pledge allegiance to Aroma Joe’s for their coffee and find myself on the regular for double espressos, iced lattes, or if I’m feeling crazy, their signature Red Bull concoctions. Aroma Joes’ Red Bull drinks were a high school staple and something you would see 30% of your graduating class drinking every single morning in homeroom. 

Con: No Home State Professional Sports Team

If you are a sports fanatic who (a) needs a hometown professional sports team to root for, and (b) wants an easily accessible professional sporting venue, then New Hampshire may not be the state for you. New Hampshire does not have a professional sports team. Semi-professional? Yes, several of those actually. But nothing in “the big time.” 

Because of our proximity to Boston, most New Hampshirites are ardent supporters of the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots (even though they play out of Worcester), Boston Celtics, and Boston Bruins.

Growing up, if the trip to Boston was too much of a hassle, it wasn’t unheard of to head over to Manchester to see the Monarchs (semi-pro hockey) or Fisher Cats (AA baseball). We also do oddly enough sport a sizable roller derby circuit and various motor speedways for NASCAR and other racing events.

One interesting note – If you’re like me, a kid who grew up in the 1990s and 2000s, then you may also bizarrely be an Atlanta Braves fan since Turner Broadcasting Station (TBS) was the only other sports channel I had access to (I’ve been told that Utahans are similar in this regard too). It was either NESN (New England Sports Network) to watch the Sox or TBS for the Braves. Those were the only two choices. So, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and the Bobby Cox-era Atlanta Braves will always have a soft spot in my heart. 

Pro: Historic & Quaint Little Towns

Old New England charm is real. Sprawling with ornate artisan shops and grocers, intimate taverns and inns, and quirky attractions, New Hampshire towns just hit differently with their historic, charming, and naturally stunning backdrops. 

I’m from one of them. In fact, if you’re from New Hampshire and reading this, you probably are as well. They are almost puritanical. A small town center or square, never more than a stone’s throw away from some mid-1800s Victorian houses with carriage houses and formerly detached kitchens, farm-to-table restaurants, watering holes where everybody knows your name (you can’t read that without singing it), covered bridges, a single main street where “all the action is,” and of course the signature white steeple church.

There’s a calm but palpable energy to these towns – a ‘rustic’ energy that makes you take a step back, reflect, and see that the ‘glitz and glam’ of the big city isn’t always the answer.

Some of my favorites include Wolfeboro, Littleton, Hancock, Bartlett, and Exeter. It also goes without saying that checking any of them out in the fall would be my recommended time of year!

Con: Some Laws Are Contradictory to the Live Free or Die Motto

“The more people smoke herb, the more Babylon fall.” – Bob Marley

“Live free or die” isn’t always followed to the letter and there’s a surprising number of laws that are, in nature, contradictory to this motto. You know how I mentioned that New Hampshire is a state of stark contrasts? Well, this is it right here. We hold individual freedoms and lack of government interference as paramount yet still approach some very progressive (and widely accepted) concepts in an archaic manner. 

For example, New Hampshire is the only New England state where marijuana (aka the “jazz lettuce”) isn’t legal. While it’s decriminalized and will only land you a small fine for less than three-quarters of an ounce of that “sticky icky icky,” anything over that can carry harsh penalties and prison/jail time. I find that interesting considering we don’t have mandatory seat belt or helmet laws on the books but we have severe, codified consequences for burning one down with the boyz in the back of a Ford Fiesta outside of Chipotle. Assault weapons are also perfectly fine to purchase, own, and horde in the Granite State, and there’s a lack of physician-assisted suicide (currently, 11 states have laws in place allowing it).

A little ganj has to be better than people dying in staggering numbers at the hands of pills, right? This is coming from someone who doesn’t even enjoy smoking that “purp.” I understand there are financial motives at play with the legalization of any drug but this feels very much the antithesis of a state motto that we so proudly exclaim for all others to hear.

Finally, the number one law that really grinds my gears (this one is all jokes) and is contrary to this frondeur ethos is that you can’t hunt with the assistance of a ferret in the Granite State (this is primarily in the context of rabbit hunting – as I imagine you aren’t bringing a ferret to help you bag a five-point buck).

P.S. I tried to fit in as many variations for “the green” as I could possibly think of.

Pro: Surprisingly Great Food Scene

This one may be controversial as I know it seems to be universally echoed online that New Hampshire’s gastronomic and restaurant scene is lacking (especially lacking a distinct cuisine of its own) but as someone born and raised in New Hampshire, I have nothing but great things to say about it. Sure, it’s not Michelin star dining or whatever you may be used to in your fancy SoHo apartment (I kid, I kid) but it gets the job done – and I genuinely believe that it is increasing in quality, creativity, and depth.

Every single time I return to New Hampshire, I’m amazed at the sheer number of restaurants that have popped up. I’m also always in awe (with pride as well) at the accolades that some of them are receiving nationally. From eclectic Mexican fare over at Vida Cantina in Portsmouth (by a James Beard Award-nominated chef) to high-end steakhouses like Hanover Street Chophouse in Manchester (with a banging lobster mac n’ cheese) and Buckley’s Great steaks in Merrimack, all the way to classic fried seafood and lobster haunts like Petey’s in Rye and Al’s in North Hampton, I genuinely look forward to dining out in this state.

If you don’t like fried clams, clam chowder, affordable lobster tails, and a great time, then I don’t know what to tell you. Or, if you aren’t a fan of apple cider (including apple cider donuts), apple crisp, pumpkin pie, and butternut squash (butternut squash soup is the G.O.A.T. soup) then this might not be the spot for you. 

Some of my favorite spots to eat in New Hampshire include:

1. The Railpenny Tavern in Epping,
2. Barrio in Portsmouth,
3. Nikki’s Banh Mi Shop in Portsmouth,
4. The Ice House in Rye,
5. Cooper Hill Pizza in Northwoods,
6. KC’s Rib Shack in Manchester (my brother actually used to work there),
7. The Big Bean in Newmarket,
8. Black Trumpet in Portsmouth, and 
9. The Common Man (all locations). 

P.S. The Shell gas station on the Newfields/Newmarket border makes the best subs in Southern New Hampshire.

Make sure to check out my article breaking down three cafes in Portsmouth, New Hampshire that you need to check out. 

Pale Ale Travel Note: I grew up right near Epping, New Hampshire, which was essentially a barren wasteland at one point, sporting two restaurants in the whole town (this is an exaggeration): McDonald’s and Telly’s. I remember when I moved back to New Hampshire in 2018, Epping was a bustling, built-out city with several large plazas, packed to the gills with restaurants, movie theaters, and shopping outlets. 

Con: Federal Minimum Wage

“When the average minimum wage is $5.15, you best believe you gotta find a new grind to get C.R.E.A.M.” – Mos Def

New Hampshire’s minimum wage clocks in at $7.25 an hour (the federal minimum) – this is tied for the lowest in the United States. This is because we actually do not have a state-specific provision for minimum wage so the federal minimum is applied across the board.

I would emphasize that most employers in New Hampshire know that they aren’t going to attract or retain employees for this paltry sum, so I would actually note that seeing $7.25 on a window sign is actually quite rare. On paper, it’s $7.25, yes. But the reality is a different story. That’s not to say that there aren’t situations out there where the federal minimum is offered but I would confidently state that it’s the exception rather than the rule.

The worrying part though is that an estimated quarter of a million residents exist within twice the federal income poverty threshold. While unemployment is at a historic low that doesn’t exactly mean that Granite Staters are earning more per se.

I’ve definitely felt the brunt of it at points in my life as I was a recipient of the federal minimum, even working for as low as $5.85 in my late teens. One of my very first jobs was working at a call center that did political polling. I was paid peanuts and had 10 to 15-minute breaks (maximum). When my buddy and I found out that smokers could take as many breaks as they wanted, we each purchased a pack and told our floor manager that we were now smokers.

Pro: Efficient & Kind But Not Overly Friendly

Attending university in Ohio was a culture shock for me as it was unheard of to show up to a fast food restaurant or store and make casual chit-chat with the cashier or server up until then. New Hampshire was never the “smile at strangers” on the street type of vibe growing up. 

I think it’s a byproduct of it being a highly spread out, rural state, where residents have fended for themselves from day one.

That’s not to say that New Hampshirites aren’t friendly. We are but in our own way. It’s just not “southern hospitality.” We prioritize efficiency, respect, helpfulness, and practicality rather than greeting someone with open arms and an ear-to-ear smile. There’s a sincerity to our actions. We’ll plow you out in the dead of winter or jumpstart your car should the battery die but we’ll make sure that you know you should have been more prepared. 

“Kind but not friendly” sums us up best.

Con: Greenhead Horse Fly Season

Picture yourself in your happy place – experiencing a classic New Hampshire summer where you sit overlooking a picturesque sunset by the beach (still able to catch faint glimpses of the Isles of Shoals), an ice-cold frozen mango margarita in your hand, a loved one by your side. This is how life should be, right? Suddenly, you feel an acute, piercing sting in your calf. It’s greenhead horse fly season and you’re their inaugural meal.

Spanning from June to September, if you’re in New Hampshire, you’ll inevitably run into (and be bitten by) these beady green-eyed, hungry nuisances. While this isn’t a major con of living in New Hampshire, it is still a literal and metaphorical pain in the rump. 

So, if you do move to this glorious state, consider wearing dark-colored clothing and long-sleeved shirts and pants (if it’s not one of those sweltering summers we’ve been seeing), inserting screens for all doors, pools, and patios, and avoid using strong perfumes, colognes or other sprays that may attract them during the summer month. Seriously, strong perfumes and sprays are like catnip for these mothertruckers.

Pro: A Music Scene That’s Not to Be Slept On

This is another take that may be controversial but New Hampshire’s music scene is far better than you would expect for a state of just under 1.4 million. It’s home to an eclectic, year-round music scene that sees nationally touring acts come through regularly and local bands that could (and should) receive more recognition on the national stage (some have – such as ‘Our Last Night’, ‘And Then There Were None’, ‘The Brave Little Abacus’, Tommy Makem, and Steven Tyler of ‘Aerosmith’).

New Hampshire is home to a formidable metal scene, a ska and punk scene (that I was part of) that saw some fantastic years, local folk legends and fiddlers, and a latent rock scene (waiting to re-emerge) that has taken somewhat of a hit but is resilient.

And there’s no shortage of fantastic music venues. From summer concerts in Prescott Park and community bands blasting ‘Star and Stripes Forever’ at waterfront gazebos to grimey (in the best way possible) dive bars and taverns, multi-purpose community centers and Legion halls, and renovated churches (the Stone Church is one of my favorite spots), all the way to gargantuan arenas (SNHU Arena), outdoor pavilions (Bank of NH Pavilion), and one-of-a-kind opera houses (seriously, the Rochester Opera House and its fully moveable floor is an absolute gem), New Hampshire isn’t the desolate music wasteland the online music gurus of Reddit make it out to be.

I would be remiss not to mention my favorite music venue in all of New Hampshire – Hampton Ballroom and Casino. Some of my best memories include gathering up the members of my high school ska band, chipping in to try and afford several bottles of gin or vodka, pregaming out the back of someone’s old Chrysler, and showing up to the open-air venue to skank (a form of dancing to ska/punk music) and belt out third-way ska anthems all night. It was the definition of Less Than Jake’s ‘The Science of Selling Yourself Short’ (one of my favorite acts to see at the Ballroom).

New Hampshire is also a gem when it comes to independent music stores and record stores. Some of my best high school memories involve rounding up several friends, heading over to Bull Moose in Portsmouth, browsing the new CDs and vinyls (remarking to one another how you’ll own a record player someday), not buying anything, and then heading over to the Whale Wall to shoot the breeze and line up which Taco Bell you’re all going to meet at next.

Con: Presidential Primary & Campaign Season

As New Hampshire holds the first presidential primary in the nation and is a key testing ground for political candidates on both sides of the affiliation coin, the Granite State can be a bit hectic, heated, and exhausting come party nominee time. We even have a law in place that cements New Hampshire’s status as the first in the series of nationwide elections.

It’s everywhere. On your neighbor’s lawn. On the television. On the radio. On the back of the bag of Cheetos you buy from your nearest convenience store (I’m kidding about this one).

One of the low-key irritations that I don’t enjoy about my time living in America or when I return home is just how politically charged everything is (find me a state where this isn’t the case though). Every single microtransaction or micro interaction carries the potential to be made political. I’m just trying to buy a Gatorade and put $10 on Pump 2. I don’t need to hear your unsolicited thoughts on why whoever is acting president is running the country into the ground. Now fire up those taquitos and let me blow this popsicle stand. 

Come primary and campaign season – everyone’s a self-anointed political pundit. I think everyone deep down thinks they are James Carville but are ultimately Will Ferrell in Old School sans the coherent rant that James Carville actually is unable to respond to. 

I do have to give credit to the living legend (and nuisance) back in the day who would dress in a chicken suit and follow Jean Shaheen (former governor thrice over and present senior senator) around with a sign that she was “too chicken for town halls,” refusing to stop flapping his wings even after being approached and apprehended by police officers. This was in reference to the accusation that Shaheen purposefully avoided town hall events due to their unscripted nature. 

Pro: Great Education (Public & Private)

From pre-kindergarten to high school to higher education and everything in between, the Granite State generally receives high marks in regard to both public and private education. This all begins with one of the highest preschool enrollment rates in the nation to lay the groundwork for secondary education and professional readiness.

Most notably, among the New England States, New Hampshire public schools rank 3rd (just behind Massachusetts and Connecticut) in terms of academic achievement, safety, funding, and educator credentials. New Hampshire saw 25 public schools take home a place on education platform Niche.com’s ‘2024 Best Schools and Districts Rankings’ – based not only on test scores but also parental and alumni feedback and quantitative data provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

Further, New Hampshirites boast a strikingly high level of formal education, with an estimated 95% of Granite Staters over 25 years old having completed (at least) high school and 40% having earned a Bachelor’s degree (both figures significantly above the national average).

New Hampshire is home to more than a handful of higher education institutions and universities such as Dartmouth College (where my friend’s alumni father claims beer pong was invented), University of New Hampshire (where I attended graduate school), Southern New Hampshire University, Keene State College, Plymouth State University, and a sizable number of community colleges (which, in hindsight, I should have attended for the first two years before transferring to a four-year university).

There is an important caveat with New Hampshire’s higher education institutions and both the local and state funding that fuels them. It’s actually one of the smallest amounts in the nation which results in exceptionally high college and education debts for students (with several figures placing post-higher education debt as the highest in the nation).

Having said all that (I can’t believe I’m one of those people), a recent Superior Court ruling found that New Hampshire’s public school funding model per student was so abysmally low ($4,100 sent to a public school per enrolled student) that it actually violates(d) the state constitutional requirement to provide “adequate education.” The ruling found that in order to meet educational adequacy requirements, the state legislature should strive to meet an adequacy base (codified in law) of no less than $7,356.01 per student – an order that would require a $550 million-plus increase in annual state spending.

A second ruling found that the statewide education property tax (SWEPT) collected by towns to provide funding for local school districts was unconstitutional in cases where towns retained excess funds (not spent on their local school district). The order found that the excess funds should instead be distributed to poorer towns. Both rulings will likely be appealed before the Supreme Court.

Pale Ale Travel Note: I think I would have attended university in New Hampshire, as my mother is a professor at one of the more popular universities. However, I had such poor grades that I was rejected. So, I am a perfect case study that proves even having your foot in the door by blood doesn’t always entitle you to a free ride – especially when you’re as poor a student as I was.

Con: Poor Cell & Internet Reception

A significant challenge and inconvenience, for myself included, is New Hampshire’s abysmal, monopolistic cell phone and internet coverage (and prohibitive costs). It really is a hit or miss when it comes to staying connected in the Granite State. Not only is this a professional and personal nuisance but it can also pose safety concerns for residents needing to respond effectively to emergency situations.

While most urban areas of the state are “adequately served,” a Federal Communications Commission investigation found that cell phone carriers are “likely” overstating their actual coverage – especially in rural areas. Further, the rollout of 5G coverage in the state has been hampered due to “health concerns” by the state’s ‘5G Commission’, even though countless federal agencies have already deemed it safe.

In the context of internet connection and providers, while nearly 90% of New Hampshirites reside in a home with broadband internet access, it’s not particularly affordable – with just over 30% of residents paying under $60 per month for internet. Prices may be so exorbitant considering only 38% of Granite Staters live in a location with more than one internet service provider.

As a boy from the New Hampshire boondocks, I have almost never had what I would consider “good” (or even reasonable) internet or cell reception. So, if you are considering moving to a small town in New Hampshire, know that you may not be particularly close to a cell tower and run into connectivity issues regularly. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: If you’re curious about mobile coverage in the Granite State, I recommend checking out this national broadband map by the Federal Communications Commission. If you take a look, you’ll see that coverage is exponentially higher in southern/southeastern New Hampshire and pretty damn poor the further north you get (filter in the context of T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T). 

Should You Live in New Hampshire?

Ultimately, this comes down to what works for you and your family. If you prioritize and value a community that leads the charge when it comes to addressing local issues (rather than the state), enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities and landscapes, and don’t want the state dipping into your hard-earned salary at the end of the day, then New Hampshire might be for you. If you loathe long, brutal winters, require efficient public transportation, and want to live in a culturally diverse area, then New Hampshire might not be your cup of tea. 

This is a complete oversimplification of things.

The above pros and cons list is by no means a set of absolutes. There are always exceptions to the rule and I believe for most, if the positives outweigh the negatives, then it should very well be a state you at least consider. For me, it’s comfortable. It’s familiar. It’s home. It’s seen my best days, it’s seen some of my worst, and it’s made me the person I am today. 

As one of my favorite rappers, ‘Atmosphere’ says, “No matter where I am, no matter what I do, I’m always coming back home to you.” Granted, that was about a woman who cheated on him. But New Hampshire is as close as I have to a significant other these days. I’m always coming back home to you, New Hampshire. And I’ll see you soon.

If you think I missed a pro or con (or several) of living in New Hampshire, I’d love to hear from you in the comments or via email (info@palealetravel.com). If you have any questions about moving to New Hampshire, please don’t hesitate to reach out either and I’ll do my best to help you!

Live free everyone,

Big Body