New Hampshire — 30 Reasons to Move Here!

Mount Washington, New Hampshire
  1. With lakes, beaches, mountains, forests, rivers, and the ocean for people who enjoy the outdoors, New Hampshire is a paradise. New Hampshire is home to nearly 1,000 lakes, and 19,000 miles of rivers and streams flow throughout the state. The seacoast includes 18.5 miles of coastline with beautiful beaches. New Hampshire is home to 48 mountains over 4,000′ in elevation, and New Hampshire forests occupy 87% of the state’s land, the second most forested state in the nation.
  2. Four seasons — New Hampshire produces four breathtaking seasons. The Seacoast, Lakes Region, and the White Mountains explode with activities during each season. Orange, red, and yellow leaves draw tourists from far away during the fall season, skiing is New Hampshire’s sport, and New Hampshire’s summers are idyllic.
  3. Quality of life — for seven years in a row, New Hampshire was named “Most Livable State in the Nation” by Morgan Quitno Corporation.
  4. Lowest poverty level — New Hampshire has the nation’s lowest poverty and food insecurity level.
  5. Low unemployment — New Hampshire is known for its low unemployment rate, which was 2.8% in January 2023.
  6. Median household income — New Hampshire has the 3rd highest median household income in the nation in 2023, according to the World Population Review, at $88,235. New Hampshire also has the highest economic security of any state.
  7. Statistics matter — In 2019, New Hampshire was the second overall best state in the USA according to US News &  World Report based on 8 metrics and in January 2020, Home Snacks picked New Hampshire as the #1 best state to live in America.
  8. Safety — According to US News & World Report, New Hampshire is the second safest state in America.
  9. Health care — New Hampshire is ranked seventh in the nation for health care, according to moneygeek.com.
  10. Hiking — New Hampshire is a hiker’s paradise. There are 48 peaks over 4,000′, and access to the Appalachian Trail is contained within New Hampshire’s 800,000 acres of the White Mountain National Forrest.
  11. The highest peak in the Northeast — Mount Washington at 6,288′, is home to the worst weather in the USA, as recorded at the Mount Washington Observatory. The mountain is legendary and it is a huge attraction for the state.
  12. Fishing — New Hampshire has endless river, lake, ocean, and ice fishing opportunities with numerous fishing tournaments.
  13. Conservation and preservation — Societies are plentiful in New Hampshire to ensure the preservation of the environment. The state has 39 land conservation organizations, such as the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. NHLakes.org, Squam Lakes Conservation, Lake Winnipesaukee Association, Newfound Lake Region Association, and many others protect New Hampshire lakes.
  14. Best air quality — No smog, forest fires, or chemicals in the air. Air quality is pristine.
  15. Environmental safety — New Hampshire is considered a very low risk for earthquakes, tornadoes, forest fires, and hurricanes.
  16. Lots of fruit — Blueberries, strawberries, apples, blackberries, raspberries, pears, plums, cherries, apricots, and yes, pumpkins —are all here. You can pretty much pick your own fruit anywhere in the state, and wild blueberries & raspberries are all over the hiking trails.
  17. New Hampshire has no state income tax or sales tax. Alaska is the only other state offering both these incentives.
  18. Shopping — In New Hampshire, shopping is tax-free with no sales tax. There are many factory outlets stores, national chains, boutiques, and New Hampshire’s tax-free Liquor and Wine Outlets with 67 locations.
  19. Access — Boston and Portland International Airports are less than two hours away. Manchester Airport is even more convenient.
  20. Urban to wilderness in a day — New Hampshire is the 5th smallest state in the nation and the 10th least populous. However, you can explore many different terrains in a short time frame. From Boston to New Hampshire’s Seacoast to the Lakes Region and the White Mountains, everything is so easily accessible.
  21. Schools — A new report dated 1/24/2023 by Changing America and thehill.com ranked the New Hampshire public school system as the second best in the nation. New Hampshire also has renowned private schools, including Phillips Exeter Academy, St. Paul’s School, Holderness, Brewster Academy, New Hampton, Proctor, Tilton Prep School, and others. Dartmouth College is a top Ivy League school.
  22. Tons of attractions — So many year-round attractions are found in New Hampshire. The majority of them are natural attractions, and many others like the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, SNHU Arena, Canobie Lake Park, Storyland, Santa’s Village, Hobo Railroad, The Cog Railroad, Ice Castles, Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway, The Flume, Mount. Washington Auto Road, Funspot, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Conway Scenic Railroad, Hampton Beach, Currier Museum of Art, and hundreds of other landmark attractions.
  23. Festivals & fairs — New Hampshire residents and guests can enjoy 12 country fairs and a multitude of craft fairs, chowder fests, antique shows, car shows, bluegrass festivals, Christmas fairs, pond hockey tournaments, and fishing tournaments. The possibilities abound.
  24. Culture & activities — Never-ending activities from biking, boating, hiking, golfing, camping, horseback riding, skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, water skiing, surfing, and hunting. It never ends. Fine cultural opportunities at local theaters and opera houses, summer theatre, music venues, and music amphitheaters to satisfy one’s soul.
  25. Heritage — New Hampshire is rich in history founded as a colony (one of the original 13 colonies) in 1623, and it became a state in 1788. Each town has a colorful history ready to be explored.
  26. “Live Free or Die” — New Hampshire’s official motto has been around since 1945. Granite Staters are fiercely proud of this motto, and you can see it displayed on our license plates and our state borders.
  27. Quaint towns — The Granite State has numerous quintessential New England towns with cobblestone walkways, covered bridges, and antique shops. North Conway, Rye, New Castle, Meredith, Wolfeboro, Hanover, Exeter, Portsmouth, Sugar Hill, Lincoln, Sandwich, Jackson, and Littleton are just a few examples.
  28. Rural relaxation — People are always attracted to New Hampshire who are overwhelmed by the big city and want to spend time surrounded by nature as a means of escape. Mood disorders, anxiety, and depression are common in urban settings. Contact with nature increases our feelings of happiness and decreases mental anguish and stress.
  29. Wonderful people and a slower pace of life — New Hampshire residents are genuinely nice and polite. The rural feel of the state is a huge draw. A soothing, relaxed feeling becomes the norm as soon as you cross the border of Massachusetts. “I’m going to the countryside over the weekend to disconnect” is a common phrase.
  30. Hot real estate market — during 2022, Realtor.com ranked Manchester and Concord as two of the hottest real estate markets in the country and according to the US Census Bureau, New Hampshire was one of the fastest-growing states in the Northeast.

This article was written by Frank Roche. Frank is president of Roche Realty Group with offices in Meredith and Laconia, NH, and can be reached at (603) 279-7046. Sales data was compiled by a NEREN search on and is subject to change. Please feel free to visit www.rocherealty.com to learn more about the Lakes Region and its real estate market.

For more on why people are moving to here, check out this video!

Empowering your offer

Empower Your Offer in a Sizzling Real Estate Market!

As a seasoned real estate professional, I often consider the market conditions to keep myself, …

Read More →
Reviews of New Hampshire's Lakes Region

Reviews of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region

We’ve had a great summer in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, and we’re approaching the brilliant …

Read More →
Waterfont Sales Activity Wolfeboro, New Hampshire

Waterfront Sales Activity in the Lakes Region

As we head into September, I have compiled data and insight into what is happening …

Read More →
Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day Weekend in The Lakes Region

Labor Day Weekend has arrived, and the weather forecast for the Lakes Region looks fantastic, …

Read More →
Interest Rates

The Mortgage Interest Rate Dilemma

This past week, we saw an increase in mortgage rates following a rise in bond …

Read More →
Best State To Live In — New Hampshire at #3

New Hampshire 3rd Best State To Live In!

WalletHub just released its rankings of the best state to live in for 2023. It’s …

Read More →
City/Town Comparison can make the research process easier

City/Town Comparison For Your Move

Some studies place moving to a new location as one of the top ten most …

Read More →
New Hampshire Real Estate Lacks Inventory

New Hampshire Real Estate Inventory Crisis

A Multifaceted Analysis of Rising Interest Rates and Beyond New Hampshire is currently facing a …

Read More →
Peaks of New England

Exploring the Peaks of New England

In my younger years in school, I always loved geography. Living in New Hampshire, there …

Read More →
Climate Exodus: Insurance Companies Seeking Refuge from High-Risk Sates

Climate Exodus: Insurers’ Fleeing High-Risk States

Flooding, Forest Fires, Heat Waves, Tornados, oh my! The recent stretch of weather has certainly …

Read More →
Real Estate News Headlines - Lakes Region NH

Real Estate Tidbits to Consider

Here are a few real estate tidbits I’ve pulled to keep you up to speed …

Read More →
Roche Realty Group Sells out Lakeside at Paugus Bay

Roche Realty Group — 6 Months in Review

Closed sales for the first 6 months of 2023 have been impressive at Roche Realty …

Read More →
Newfound Lake

Lakes Region Waterfront Sales Activity 6 Month Comparison

Below you will find data and insight into what is happening in sales activity on …

Read More →
Buying Land

Buying Land in New Hampshire — Comprehensive Guide

New Hampshire, also known as the Granite State, offers a diverse landscape that includes picturesque …

Read More →
Weirs Beach: A Tale of History, Community, and Natural Beauty

Weirs Beach: A Tale of History, Community, and Natural Beauty

As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the oldest bike week in the country, let’s …

Read More →
First Five Months of Lakes Region Real Estate

Five Months of Lakes Region Real Estate Activity

The month of May’s real estate statistics just came out for New Hampshire, and it …

Read More →
A bird's eye view of Long Bay on Lake Winnipesaukee

South Down Shores and Long Bay on Lake Winnipesaukee — Its History

When construction started in 1981, Laconia’s South Down Farm offered a picturesque setting for condominium …

Read More →
Memorial Day — rows of gravestones with flags in military cemetery

Memorial Day Weekend Arrives in the Lakes Region!

The long-anticipated Memorial Day weekend has arrived after a long winter, and the Lakes Region …

Read More →
Unlike the dandelions new listings aren't popping up in the Lakes Region

Will Listings Start Bloom Like Dandelions?

Will Real Estate Listings Bloom Like Dandelions? During my rides around the Lakes Region, I’ve …

Read More →
boat launch

Public Boat Launches in the Lakes Region

New Hampshire’s Lakes Region is a paradise for boating enthusiasts and we are now entering …

Read More →
Real Estate Scams

Real Estate Scams to Be Aware of

One of my Realtors® received a call today from a gentleman purporting to be the …

Read More →
Brant Point Lighthouse, Nantucket overlooking the ocean

From the Lakes Region to Nantucket

I spent a few days on Nantucket Island this past week for a quick getaway. …

Read More →
Lakes Region Real Estate Is Still Hot

Lakes Region Real Estate Market is Sizzling

The real estate market in the Lakes Region and the state of New Hampshire is …

Read More →
Lake Winnipesaukee Kayak

Buying a Lake House — Where to Start?

Owning a waterfront home in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region is a treasured experience. For many …

Read More →
Home improvements

Home Improvements Before You Sell

One question I commonly get asked is, “What type of projects or improvements should I …

Read More →
Single-Family units are down

How’s the Lakes Region Market Looking?

We’ve already passed the first quarter of 2023 for real estate sales in New Hampshire’s …

Read More →
Moving into new home young happy couple celebrating toast Champagne

Buying a Home? Follow These Tips & Tricks

Spring has officially arrived and launches the beginning of our spring selling season for real …

Read More →
Marketing

How Marketing Real Estate Has Evolved

Back in the year 2000, the world was at the beginning stages of a major …

Read More →
Mount Washington, New Hampshire

New Hampshire — 30 Reasons to Move Here!

With lakes, beaches, mountains, forests, rivers, and the ocean for people who enjoy the outdoors, …

Read More →
New Hampshire Ski Resort

Ski Resorts in New Hampshire Are Ready for Spring Skiing!

It’s been a good week, and mother nature hit our region with a blanket of …

Read More →
Market Trends

Real Estate Market Trends to Follow

I’ve been pulling up some current research on the real estate market on a national, …

Read More →
Carol Mattice

Roche Realty Group Welcomes Carol Mattice

Meredith — Frank Roche, President of Roche Realty Group, Inc, with offices in Meredith and …

Read More →
Kevin Shaw - Roche Realty Group

Kevin Shaw of Roche Realty Group is Top Producer for 2022

Laconia— Frank Roche, president of Roche Realty Group with offices in Meredith and Laconia, recently announced …

Read More →
Lisa Lewis

Lisa Lewis Joins Roche Realty Group

Meredith — Frank Roche, President of Roche Realty Group, Inc, with offices in Meredith and …

Read More →
Wanda Keenan

Wanda Keenan Joins Roche Realty Group

Meredith— Frank Roche, President of Roche Realty Group, Inc. with offices in Meredith and Laconia, …

Read More →
Land for sale

Buy Land in New Hampshire — They’re Not Making it Anymore

The science is in and the more trees a state has, the happier and less …

Read More →
The Price of Real Estate

Did The Price of Real Estate Increase in Your Town?

Everyone’s always interested to see how their real estate values have performed over the past …

Read More →
Laid off employee in recession

Are We Headed into a Recession?

It’s pretty big news lately; Microsoft, Amazon, and other tech companies have laid off more …

Read More →
Price Reduced

2022 vs. 2021 — Is The Lakes Region’s Frenzied Market Over?

It’s that time of year to provide all of you with an update on real …

Read More →
Roche Realty Meredith

Roche Realty Group Reports a Record of $181 Million in Sales

               Meredith- Frank Roche, President of Roche Realty Group, Inc, …

Read More →
Hillside Inn Winter

12 Things To Get You Through The Winter Months

On December 21st, the winter solstice marked the start of when days will begin to …

Read More →
Housing Inventory Lacking - Lake Winnisquam, NH

Lake Winnisquam, NH’s 4th Largest Lake is in Strong Demand

There are literally 273 lakes, ponds and rivers to enjoy in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. …

Read More →
Interest Rates

Will We Ever See 1980s Interest Rates?

I was with a Realtor® friend of mine this past week, and we discussed what …

Read More →
Hikers overlooking the lake in New Hampshire, voted "Best State to Live in America" in 2020.

Squam Lake — a Lakes Region Treasure

This past summer, I was invited for lunch and a nice boat ride around Squam …

Read More →
Shop Local New Hampshire

Small Business Saturday in New Hampshire!

We have many things to be thankful for here in New Hampshire, plenty of natural …

Read More →
Couple downsizing to smaller home

Does Downsizing Your Home in Lakes Region Make Sense?

There are many things to consider when planning to sell your home to downsize into …

Read More →
Newfound Lake, New Hampshire

Newfound Lake is the 8th clearest lake in US

Newfound Lake is the 8th clearest lake in the United States New Hampshire has a …

Read More →
Echo Lake New Hampshire

New Hampshire Rankings are Impressive!

New Hampshire has always been fortunate to land in many of the country’s top 10 …

Read More →
Roche Realty Group Sells out Lakeside at Paugus Bay

Impressive New Construction in the Lakes Region

For new construction sales in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, 2022 has shown very impressive results. …

Read More →
Inflation and housing prices

How Inflation Impacts Lakes Region Housing Prices

I was out with a friend this week on Squam Lake, and we were talking …

Read More →

Leave a Comment