The Granite State: Top spot for relocation in 2024

New Hampshire just garnered major recognition as the best state to relocate to in 2024 in one study and was ranked the second-best state in the nation in another prominent study for 2024.

New Hampshire keeps racking up accolades as a place to live. In a study conducted by U.S. Immigration Law Experts, Shoreline Immigration, as reported by Kiplinger, New Hampshire was named The Best State to Relocate to in 2024 in the entire country. The company analyzed data on the quality of healthcare, job openings per 100,000 people, the quality of schools, average house prices, average salaries, and the rate of violent crime.

The Granite State took the top spot in 2024 with a final index score of 73.53 out of 100. The average salary in New Hampshire is 18.9% higher than the national average, and New Hampshire also had the lowest violent crime rate in the country. According to Lindsey Harris, managing attorney at Shoreline Immigration, this study suggests that New Hampshire should expect high levels of migration in 2024.

On Tuesday, in another wide-reaching report, the U.S. News and World Report released its best states ranking for 2024. And guess what? New Hampshire was ranked no. 2 on the nationwide list of the best states in the U.S. More than 71 metrics in eight categories and tens of thousands of data points were considered, including things like employment, internet access, affordability, education, public safety, healthcare, state economics, crime, infrastructure, opportunity, and lifestyle. Some categories were assigned more values than others based on three years of surveys. Healthcare and education were weighted most heavily.

Despite its size of only 9,350 square miles, New Hampshire packed a punch in this year's U.S. News and World Report ranking. The Granite State moved up from no. 6 out of 50 in 2023 to no. 2 in 2024.

In the eight categories, New Hampshire ranked as follows:

#1 Crime & Corrections

#7 Economy

#8 Natural Environment

#9 Education

#10 Opportunity

#13 Healthcare

#22 Infrastructure

#38 Fiscal Stability

For some of the metrics, the Granite State came as follows: For pre-K-12 education, New Hampshire came in at no. 4. For internet access, New Hampshire came in at no. 1. For pollution, New Hampshire came in at no. 2. For healthcare access, New Hampshire came in at no. 6. For economic opportunity, New Hampshire came in at the top at no. 1.

The report showed New Hampshire’s GDP at $111 billion, college-educated at 50.6%, and a population of 1.4 million. This well-circulated 2024 report stated, “The state's natural beauty stands out more for its valleys, rivers, lakes, and mountains than its mere 13 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline. Its highest peak, Mount Washington, stands at 6,288’ in the White Mountains, and Lake Winnipesaukee is its best-known inland resort. Today, the old mills and warehouses lining the Merrimack River in Manchester have gone high-tech. Smart manufacturing and high-tech industries account for much of the state's economy today.”

The top 10 states ranked were:

1. Utah

2. New Hampshire

3. Nebraska

4. Minnesota

5. Idaho

6. Iowa

7. Vermont

8. Washington

9. Florida

10. Massachusetts

Ranking 50th overall, Louisiana is considered the worst state in the nation according to the report, followed by New Mexico, Mississippi, Alabama, and West Virginia as the bottom five states.

New Hampshire has always come up with high rankings in many studies and these two new reports for 2024 certainly show the Granite State’s popularity. So, if you’re thinking of relocating this year, consider New Hampshire and especially the Lakes Region with our beautiful lakes and mountains. At Roche Realty Group, our slogan has always been “We Sell the Lakes Region.” All of us who live in the Lakes Region consider it a special place, and it’s a nice feeling to be ranked no. 1 and no. 2.