Why I love New Hampshire and the Lakes Region

Yesterday was a “Blue Sky” day, and Nancy and I needed a day off, so we took a ride to Rye Beach to get out of Dodge. In 1 hour and 15 minutes, we were at the coast, taking a long walk at low tide, taking in the salt air and the sounds of the surf. I remarked that this is why we live in New Hampshire, everything is so close, and there’s so much to take advantage of all within close proximity. Sure, you can live in beautiful states like Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, or Utah, but would a day trip back and forth to the ocean be possible? The answer is no.

The Granite State is a hiker's paradise. According to Google, NH is widely considered to have the best hiking trails on the Eastern Seaboard and the northeast. This area is highlighted by the rugged White Mountain National Forrest with 800,000 acres and 6,288-foot Mount Washington. There are over 4,000 miles of hiking trails and 48 mountains over 4,000 feet in elevation. Plus, 87% of the land in New Hampshire is covered by forest, making our state the second most forested state in the country.

With over 1,000 lakes and ponds, over 1,900 named peaks and summits, 10,874 miles of rivers and streams, vast forests, and 18 miles of coastline with beautiful beaches … New Hampshire has it all, in a nice, condensed package. I’ve always loved our four breathtaking seasons, it's good for the soul. We're in the middle of a vibrant spring with fluorescent leaves budding and colorful flowers blooming, leading into our idyllic summer season, followed by bursts of orange, red, and yellow leaves, and closing with a blanket of snow with unlimited winter sport activities at close to 30 downhill ski resorts and ski touring centers. New Hampshire is often referred to as the “birthplace” of American skiing. Look at how many great ski areas we have surrounding us, including Gunstock Mountain Resort in our backyard. There are 7,000 miles of snowmobiling trails throughout NH, plus hundreds of miles of cross-country skiing trails and lots of trails to snowshoe on. Add ice fishing and sledding, a major winter tradition, and you have the ingredients for a diverse winter experience.

I’ve always felt NH was a great state to raise a family because of its quality of life. All three of my children have ventured out to other states (like Oregon, Colorado, Maryland, Kentucky, Rhode Island and South Carolina) for college and work experience, and have returned to the Lakes Region to work full-time and raise their families. They love the four seasons, the amazing amenities, the natural resources, and the culture our state offers. It’s no surprise that an October 2025 Report from Consumer Affairs ranked New Hampshire as the No. 1 state to raise a family, the top spot in the country. Additionally, everyone values safety, and NH was also picked No. 1 in the country for safety.

It’s interesting to note that NH was also ranked the No. 1 Best State to Retire in 2025 by Bankrate and the No. 2 best state overall for 2025 by U.S. News and World Report. As a native of NH, I cannot think of a state I’d be happier in. It’s been a wonderful feeling raising a family in the Granite State and now watching my grandchildren enjoy the natural beauty of the Lakes Region of New Hampshire.

Here I am talking about how I love living in the Lakes Region of NH, and I’m reading an article in Travel and Leisure dated April 7, "The 8 Best U.S. Lake Towns to Live in Year Round according to Real Estate Experts.” And guess what? Gilford pops up, ranked No. 3 on their list.

According to the report, "Gilford is the best lake town for anyone who wants to find their dream forever home. Gilford is a classic New England town situated on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. For the outdoorsy crowd, it offers four seasons of activities and attractions that work for both locals and tourists." Being right on Lake Winnipesaukee means you have easy access to fishing, boating, or water activities. You can also dine at a range of lakeside restaurants in the area, all of which offer boat docking. “In the fall, the area transforms into a peak leaf-peeping destination, arguably one of the best in the country.” During the winter months, you’ll find nearby Gunstock Mountain Resort, the best place for skiing in the area, plus other events and celebrations during the summer season. The report added that the town is less than two hours from Boston for a Red Sox, Bruins, or Patriots game.

Add to this list in another article. Travel and Leisure ranked Wolfeboro as the No. 2 best small lake town in America. With its wood-clad Chris Craft speedboats bobbing by the town docks, the tiny town is dubbed “The oldest summer resort in the U.S.” Also, Meredith was named one of the top 10 best small towns on the East Coast by Travel and Leisure.

Another thing I’ve always felt strongly about is that New Hampshire has great access to healthcare. In fact, New Hampshire was ranked third in the nation for healthcare in 2025, according to monkeygeek.com. We have some great hospitals and doctors in our state, and look at neighboring Boston for additional medical research and outstanding hospitals.

We are fortunate that NH ranks No. 3 in the country for median household income, according to World Population Review, and we have the lowest poverty rate in the USA. What’s interesting is our state ranks No. 3 in the nation for median net worth according to SmartAsset for 2026. Hawaii ranked No. 1, Washington ranked No. 2, New Hampshire ranked No. 3, and Massachusetts ranked No. 4. New Hampshire also has the highest economic security of any state in the country and one of the lowest unemployment rates among the states. Educational attainment in New Hampshire is also high, with 94.1% of residents having a high school diploma and 40.2% having a bachelor's degree or higher.

Living in New Hampshire, our air quality is pristine; in fact, our state is ranked No. 4 in the country with no smog, forest fires, or chemicals in the air compared to California, which is noted as the worst state. Also in New Hampshire, we usually escape severe weather events, like tornadoes, earthquakes, major hurricanes, and major forest fires.

Our family has always been pleased with the public school system in New Hampshire.

One of my daughters and son-in-law teach in New Hampshire schools. According to WalletHub, the New Hampshire Public School System was ranked fifth best in the U.S. for 2025 and had the second highest median ACT score of 25.1. The sports programs have always been excellent. If you’re interested in taking in a fall football game at Dartmouth or UNH, there’s lots to cheer on.

For overall taxes, New Hampshire is a pretty good place. Yes, our local property taxes are high, however New Hampshire has no state income tax, sales tax, interest and dividends tax, capital gains tax, or inheritance tax/estate tax.

Our family has found lots of recreation and attractions to keep us busy over the years.

Just the lakes, rivers, mountains, and ocean alone are natural attractions. That can fill anybody’s day with fond memories. Also, there is the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, Southern New Hampshire University Arena, Canobie Lake Park, Santa's Village, Story Land, Holo Railroad, Cog Railroad, Mount Washington Auto Road, New Hampshire Speedway, Conway Scenic Railroad, Hampton Beach, scenic ski areas, and hundreds of other attractions, plus numerous fall festivals, country fairs, fishing derbies, and pond hockey tournaments.

Just driving around town to town, enjoying the scenery, is captivating. Towns like Portsmouth, Concord, Hanover, Peterborough, North Conway, Sugar Hill, Meredith, Wolfeboro, Littleton, Lincoln, and Jackson are just a few to explore, plus the rural towns in the great North Woods of NH present a refreshing rural feel with beautiful natural resources, plus hunting, fishing and snowmobiling.

Yes, it’s a slow pace of life with wonderful people. Where the state's official motto, “Live Free or Die,” has been around since 1945, New Hampshire Heritage goes back to 1623 as one of the original 13 colonies.

After the long walk on Rye Beach that day, we enjoyed a fabulous lobster roll at the Beach Plum. Another reason why I love New Hampshire and neighboring state Maine … we have the best lobster in the country.

•••

This article was written by Frank Roche. Frank is president of Roche Realty Group in Meredith and can be reached at 603-279-7046. Visit rocherealty.com to learn more about the Lakes Region and its real estate market.