In recent years, the country has faced increasing public safety challenges and severe climate events. Reports from 2023 indicate that incidents affecting community safety have impacted thousands of families, with an average of over 100 people affected daily. Economic analyses show that the associated costs have reached an estimated $557 billion from 2018 to 2023. Additionally, safety incidents on school grounds have increased since 2013, and numerous commercial areas in many cities have experienced vandalism, leading to retail store closures.
According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, the U.S. has faced 400 weather- and climate-related disasters since 1980, with cumulative costs reaching approximately $2.785 trillion by 2024. This year alone, two significant climate events have had notable economic impacts and over 400 lives lost. Recently, Hurricane Helene brought severe flooding to North Carolina and Florida, causing an estimated $53 billion in damages. Many residents on the hurricane’s path lacked flood insurance, and uninsured flood losses from Helene were estimated to be between $20 billion and $30 billion.
Why have I outlined the above?
The personal finance website WalletHub just released a report on the 2024 safest states in America, in which they compared 50 states across 50 metrics, using data ranging from assault per capita to losses from climate disasters per capita to the unemployment rate, etc.
The results: New Hampshire was ranked the second safest state in the country. What’s interesting: our New England neighbors have ranked right at the top, with Vermont at #1, Maine at #3, and Massachusetts at #4, so our neighboring states are also very safe. With so many national headlines about public safety concerns, community violence, crime, and natural disasters, many of us worry about the well-being of our families and loved ones. Financial stability is also a growing concern, as factors like the local economy, unemployment, and inflation impact household budgets and job security.
As a Realtor® who has practiced real estate in the Lakes Region for 48 years, one of the biggest reasons I’ve seen families move to our region is the safety and quality of life.
It’s encouraging to see how New Hampshire protects its residents from harm in many ways. For example, New Hampshire was ranked the number one state for corrections outcomes and public safety. Our state keeps its crime rates low, and look at New Hampshire highways. They are well-maintained, plowed in the winter, and patrolled by great state and local police forces; the fire departments and EMT services also do an outstanding job. New Hampshire also has a strong economy and job market, which helps prevent families from falling into challenging financial situations.
From June 2022 through June 2024, New Hampshire reported some of the lowest rates of major violent incidents and per capita assault in the nation. It also ranked second lowest in overall serious offenses per capita, reflecting its status as one of the safest states.
It was reported that over 78% of the people in New Hampshire feel they live in safe neighborhoods, the country’s highest percentage. It also reported that more than 76% feel their children attend safe schools in New Hampshire. New Hampshire even had the most neighborhood watch groups in the country per capita. Also, residents enjoy financial safety. The state had a 2.5% unemployment rate in September compared with 2.6% last month. The state also has the lowest poverty rate, which has helped New Hampshire residents stay current on their bills and achieve the second-best average credit score in the country at 748.
Finally, New Hampshire has a very low vulnerability to natural disasters. Considering the vast forest fires out West, the hurricanes and tornados along our southern coasts, and the floods and tornados in our Midwest, New Hampshire, fortunately, has dodged a bullet aside from our occasional Northeasters during the winter. The states at the bottom of the report were #46 Florida, #47 Arkansas, #48 Texas, #49 Mississippi, and #50 Louisiana.
When looking for a peaceful place to settle down, weather conditions and climate change are increasingly important factors. States like Florida, Tennessee, and North Carolina have long been popular choices for relocation, but the risk of hurricanes, floods, and landslides now plays a significant role in the decision. Additionally, securing insurance against these risks can be challenging, and it’s also essential to consider local safety and community crime levels.
In summary, no place is entirely immune to danger in any form. However, it’s beautiful to know we live in a state ranked so highly in safety, given the events in the world.
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This article was written by Frank Roche. Frank is president of Roche Realty Group in Meredith, NH, and can be reached at (603) 279-7046. Please feel free to visit www.rocherealty.com to learn more about the Lakes Region and its real estate market
