NH claims best-in-nation award again

By BENJAMIN KEPPLE
Union Leader Staff
Wednesday, Mar. 8, 2006

New Hampshire is once again the nation’s “Most Livable State,” according to a Kansas research firm’s annual study of American living conditions.

It’s the third straight year Morgan Quitno Press has given the designation to the Granite State. Its rankings are based on dozens of factors, from economic performance to infrastructure. Word of the Granite State’s first-place finish had officials talking up the “three-peat.”

“This report affirms what citizens of our state already know: New Hampshire is a great place to live and work,” Gov. John Lynch said in a written statement.

This year, according to Morgan Quitno and state authorities, New Hampshire once again edged Minnesota for the top spot. Minnesota has ranked second the past three years. Iowa, Vermont and New Jersey were the other states in the top five.

Vermont, which ranked fourth, fell from third place last year. Massachusetts ranked seventh, which was the same as in 2005. Connecticut ranked 10th, which was up from 14th. Maine fell two spots to 17th, and Rhode Island fell three spots to 26th. At the other end of the scale, Mississippi ranked 49th, while Louisiana ranked 50th. The company said those rankings don’t reflect the impact of Hurricane Katrina.

“New Hampshire has always done well in this ranking,” said Scott Morgan, president of Lawrence-based Morgan Quitno.

Morgan also said the state, while not perfect, performed well across the board in this year’s survey. That’s similar to how the Granite State has performed in prior years.

In the 2005 ranking, New Hampshire had the third-highest median household income in America, the highest percentage of residents who had graduated from high school, and the lowest teenage birth rate. Those were just three of the 44 factors Morgan Quitno used in its rankings that year.

However, some factors worked against New Hampshire in the 2005 ranking. The state had the 10th-lowest daily average temperature. It also had higher than average costs for electricity.

Sean O’Kane, commissioner of the state Department of Resources and Economic Development, said in a statement that winning the award three years running gives New Hampshire a unique marketing tool to attract both new businesses and vacationers.

“There’s no doubt that our state has a lot to be proud of and that all citizens share in the joy of this honor,” O’Kane said.