Report: New Hampshire No. 1 for taxpayer returns

(The Center Square) —  New Hampshire leaders are touting a new report showing the state has retained its top ranking in a new study on which states give residents the biggest bang for their tax bucks.

WalletHub, which released its States with the Best & Worst Taxpayer ROI analysis Wednesday, sought to determine in which states do taxpayers get more for the taxes they pay. The analysis used 29 metrics to compare the quality and efficiency of government services in the 50 states in five categories – education, health, safety, economy, and infrastructure and pollution – noting that state taxes vary widely.

The Granite State was ranked first among the 50 states on taxes paid per capita and on the quality of its government services. The government services rank was based on the overall efficiency of public health, education, safety, economy, and infrastructure and pollution, according to WalletHub's analysis. 

The website also gave New Hampshire a first-place ranking for "safety" and a third-place ranking for the overall strength of its economy. 

"New Hampshire is the state with the best taxpayer return on investment, which is due in large part to the fact that it has no state income tax," the report's authors wrote. "Residents only pay property taxes, sales taxes and excise taxes to the state. 

Wallethub noted that Granite State tax resources have had a positive impact on crime prevention and the environment, as the state has the lowest crime rate and the third-lowest air pollution in the country. It has one of the best public school systems as well, according to the report.

More from this section

Most popular girl names in the 80s in New Hampshire

Movies and TV shows casting in Portsmouth

The report's authors said while New Hampshire’s government services don't "stand out much," residents "are still doing very well for themselves, considering they’re paying out less money in taxes, and the state has some of the lowest unemployment and poverty rates in the country."

For state leaders and tax watchdogs, the report was further evidence of the New Hampshire "advantage" to businesses and residents from a low tax burden and fiscally responsible state spending. 

“The New Hampshire Advantage is worth protecting, and we’re doing exactly that," Gov. Kelly Ayotte, a first-term Republican, said in a statement. "By keeping taxes low, spending responsibly, and staying focused on results, we are making sure New Hampshire remains the best place in America to live, work, and raise a family."

"Our focus is simple: make every taxpayer dollar work harder and ensure New Hampshire continues to deliver the best return on taxpayer investment in the country," she said. 

Americans for Prosperity New Hampshire Deputy State Director Sarah Scott also praised the report, saying it backs the Granite State’s "reputation for delivering strong outcomes at a lower cost to residents." 

"Granite Staters don’t just pay less in taxes, they get more for what they pay," Scott said. "This ranking proves the New Hampshire Advantage is working and reinforces what families and small businesses already know: responsible spending and limited government deliver real results, unlike our neighbors in Massachusetts, where higher taxes and growing government continue to drive up costs for families."