I went to school in New Hampshire (New Hampsha). I lived in Manchester, which is about the closest thing to a city in the state. There is Concord and Nashua, but both are really a collection of strip malls. I thought it was really easy to live there, not a lot of stress, decent people. I was about 40 minutes from Boston so I spent a lot of time there. What I really liked about it was the seasons, Fall is amazing. There are a lot of lakes and summers there are really cool, and winters obviously kind of suck but there is no lack of skiing.

I LOVE New Hampshire. I've lived in Massachusetts for all my 21 years and I CAN NOT WAIT TO LEAVE. Unfortunately my company is going out of business so my moving plans have been pushed back a bit. I'm sick of the tax loving gun grabbing let-the-government-take-care-of-me lazy irresponsible liberalism this blue state can't seem to get along without. We voted NOT to get rid of the income tax! If it's so necessary, how do states like New Hampshire get along so well with ALMOST NO TAXES! I enjoy personal responsibility, taking care of and protecting myself, and the feeling of my WHOLE paycheck going right to my pocket so I can use it as I wish. Being charitable by choice is much more honorable than having your money TAKEN at the point of a gun to give to people on welfare who are purposely not looking for jobs so they can keep collecting! And I'm not stereotyping, I KNOW PEOPLE who do it!

I simply cannot believe it when I hear Mass people talk about how great New Hampshire is because of their conservative tax system, yet in MA they continue to support laws and legislators that continue to stack on the pages to our tax code.

New Hampshire is the last hope for us freedom loving Americans who have actually read the United States Constitution and believe in what it states. Blue staters who dream of a government controlled standard of living need to go some place else.

New Hampshire is just a beautiful, peaceful state. I vacation there every year and as I said I cannot wait to move there.

A pretty good state, although getting worse all the time.

As others have said, the state, especially the southern part, has become an extension of Massholeachussetts and has gone from being a solid red state to a blue state, due in large part to the flood of newcomers moving in with their warped city values & city ways.

NH natives especially dislike MA and its government, politics, and people.  Especially with the advent of the Interstate Highways, CT, NY, NJ aren't far behind on our dislike list.  Most other states, we have nothing against.

Dear jaynesmithers, aside from the hilarity of your comments, yes, please do hurry back to the left coast where the liberal government has made life "safe" for everyone (no crime at all in CA) by being one of the more anti-gun states in the country. People like you moving here is exactly what has screwed up NH. You and your values won't be missed.

People who move here, then want to change the state into the image of the nasty craphole they just left, is a major reason people here are not friendly to newcomers.   If you want "progressive", then why don't you just move to a "progressive" state, rather than coming here & screwing up our state?  Natives here like NH just the way it is (or was).

If you're into snow sports, you won't mind the winter; otherwise, it gets VERY long and dreary, even more so in the northern half. The heavy doses of road salt will eat up your car, although today's cars withstand it much better than older cars.

The cost of heating is a significant factor of life in NH. If you're saving money by burning wood, then you get to learn about the many times wood will warm you before you burn it; it's a lot of work.

Winter is kind of a big deal here.  The other seasons aren't too bad. It can get very hot and humid during the summer, but it rarely lasts more than a few days. Mostly, the summers are pretty nice.  Late spring and all fall are super. The explosion of green in late May is wonderful.  The fall foliage and weather are spectacular.  The 6 month winters make you really appreciate all the other seasons, including Mud Season, Recuperating From Winter Season, Bug Season, and Getting Ready For Winter Season.

There are many lakes & rivers for water-based sports.

It's scenic, but not as scenic as Vermont. I think it's mainly because less of Vermont has become reforested, leaving more scenic views. NH was once 80-90% cleared, now it's back to 80-90% forest, as the farmers have been forced out of business.   It's an old story, but it IS hard to see the forest, or much in the way of views, when all you can see are trees.  Not that trees are bad - you just don't get all the roadside views that you do in more cleared Vermont.

It's nice not having to dip into your pocket to pay sales tax every time you buy something.  Property taxes are very high, so it sucks having to pay thousands every year just to hold onto what you already own.  But look at a state like Vermont, which has both sales and income tax, plus the property taxes are nearly as high as NH.  Gotta pay for all them liberal programs, ya know!

The natives don't want to change ANYTHING and the newcomers want to change EVERYTHING.  Sometimes a little change is good.  The liberals did finally ban smoking in restaurants here, so that's good.  We still have no can or bottle deposit law, so the roads are quite littered with the low-lifes' discards.   Other than that, we don't need no steenkin' changes!

It's one of the more gun-friendly states, although the liberal newcomers keep trying to chip away at that. It's a low crime state, due in large part to the fact that many people are armed.   Southern NH, Manchester in particular, has its share of crime, but it's also the destination of choice for what I'll simply term as "undesirables" and leave it at that.  Relatively very little serious crime north of Concord, which BTW, is where the "real" NH now begins.

Drivers here are just "OK", worse as you get near the southern part and get closer to the miserable pricks of Massachussetts. The worst driving thing here is that people love to drive even slower when they look in their mirror and see you behind them on a winding road where you can't pass them.

The southern part is a lot more crowded. I don't understand the attraction there, although I guess it is certainly a great improvement over Mass and similar crapholes.   If you're going to live where you can hit your neighbor's house with a rock, then why not go where the weather is better?

One thing I like to remind myself about the weather is that, compared to other states, at least your house is likely to be there when you come home; no hurricanes, tornados, massive fires, earthquakes, etc.

People here, at least the natives, are definitely not as friendly or socially adept as in the west. I'm not sure why, but that's just how it is. For one thing, I guess we just warm up to new people slowly.  And there's the suspicion of "new" people who want to CHANGE things.  Did I mention we don't like change?

There are lots of very nice small towns.       See more local info here  

I do plan to move to a warmer and much redder state eventually.

  A few years ago I visited New Hampshire to buy some hand made dining chairs.

While there, we stopped at Harts Turkey Farm Restaurant in Merideth and I struck up a conversation with the owner. The Hart family moved to Merideth from New Jersey  three generations ago, but Mr. Hart told me his family was still considered 'foreign' by the natives.

So, while it's a nice place to visit, I wouldn't suggest moving there and subjecting your kids to the inevitable discrimination and abuse they would face as 'foreigners'.

New Hampshire is wonderful. There are mountains, lakes , the seacoast , and lots of backroads to wander. Politically, it is turning into North Massachusetts, so the joys of visiting seem to be doomed. Get there now , before it's too late.

This is my state.  It is cold, rainy and also gets lots of snow.  All those obnoxious people from warmer climates die around Washington's Birthday because of winter-kill.  Winter also kills the bugs.

My family and I moved here from Southern California and we can't wait to get the hell out! Where do I even begin with this crappy state?

Okay, let's talk about the weather first. We are in the Milford area in southern NH and the winter here is hell! I can't even tell you how many feet of snow we got last winter. At first you might think it would be charming but by April we were going stir crazy from being stuck in the house.

And if you think shoveling this crap is fun, forget it! After 800th snowfall we all had sore backs and were simply tired of digging our car out of this white mess. And if the snow isn't enough then the sub-zero temperatures and icy roads of death made it even worse.

And we're in southern NH! Not northern NH!

On top of that the people are cold and distant. They don't like newcomers and there's quite a lot of quiet backstabbing that goes on. Even if they are polite face to face, they will stab you in the back when talking to other natives.

And - as if that wasn't enough - these people are all gun nuts! You see people with pistols strapped to their hips walking around! And it's legal here. Yes, they can do it and the police can't stop them. The entire state is filled with gun toting lunatics.

One of the worst things we saw was a guy in a pickup truck drive by with a dead deer on the hood! The poor thing had blood on it and this vicious monster drove right by my kids. I could not believe it! And the freaks in this icy hellhole seem to think it's just fine and normal!

And don't get me started about the property taxes either! They are OUT OF SIGHT!!! I could not believe how much more we paid in taxes here than in southern california. Of course they don't have an income or sales tax...they don't need one! They simply make enough by gouging property owners.

And please don't tell me how "progressive" NH is becoming. I have found it to be the complete opposite. A lot of the so-called Democrats here can be classified as republicans. Some of the democrats are gun nuts too! This whole place is absolutely insane and I can't wait to get my husband and kids the hell out of here.

Live Free or Die? Ha! Leave, freeze or die is more like it! Screw this icy wasteland! We are headed back to southern california and we're leaving the deer killers, snotty natives and idiotic gun nuts behind!

Oh and for those of you who think that NH has a low crime rate, you're crazy! There are all kinds of shootings (a cop even got killed) in Manchester, along with home invasions, drug dealers and a very high rate of drug overdose deaths. Maybe there was a time when NH had a low crime rate but not now. I felt safer in southern california than I do in this backward, desolate  mess of a state.

On top of all that there are pedophiles galore all over the place. For some reason this state has a higher rate of pedophiles than other states. If you've got kids NH is one of the worst states to bring them to! You better keep an eye on them 24 x 7. And they are also having big trouble with gangs here too. I thought we'd left that behind in california but now it's happening here. MS-13 and other gangs are building their numbers here and crime is on a huge upswing!

And what are these backward hick cops doing about it? Not much. They just seem to be letting it happen. Thanks but no thanks. We are headed out of here and back to California. At least they have semi-effective police there who know how to deal with gangs.

This republican-infested little backwater of a state is filled with cops that don't know their ass from their elbow. So watch out if you decide to come here. 

New Hampshire brings together all the best that New England has to offer, and serves it without any sales or income tax.

It is surprising that one hears more about the Green Mountains of Vermont, when the White Mountains of New Hampshire are not only much more impressive - actual mountains as compared with foothills - but also contain the Presidental Range which includes Mt. Washington.
The small cities are none-the-less vibrant, and the towns are quaint and charming.

The climate produces four very distinct seasons, and while the winter is quite cold, it helps one appriciate the summer.
While New Hampshire does have a small seacoast, the Lakes Region is truley unrivaled in New England.

From the rocky shores of Portsmouth, through the small cities of Manchester and Concord, past the shimmering lakes, and up into the awe-insipring mountains (a three-hour drive) New Hampshire has it all.

A good state- but taxes are not as low as the previous poster said. Sure there is no state income tax or sales tax- but real estate taxes are astronomical. The state is pleasant nonetheless, with nice summers and rather harsh winters in the up country.

New Hampshire is a good state- politics are a wee conservative for New England, but it is changing and becoming more open and liberal. Nice towns and small cities that offer a high quality of life. Winters upstate are a wee harsh, however. People tend to be a wee cold and reserved, but genuine and 'up front' with you, which is generally what you find in most of New England. Lots of 'outdoor' things to do. Great food and resorts. Some decent beaches on the short shore of the Atlantic.

boring, short state. full of backwards politics.

A nice state, with much to offer. Winters are a bit long away from the coast- too many hangups on taxes, and a rather confused attitude on the states political attitude. But becoming slightly more progressive in time.

One of the best states to live. Low crime rate and high quality of life with suberb services for the young and the old. Quaint towns and villages. Manchester is a nice urban center. Weather in the north a bit servere, but this does little to degrade the state.

New Hampshire is a very pretty state with many charming towns. The people are generally friendly with a New England reserve.

I dont do New England.

Very nice, best fall foliage in the country. Also, has close proximity to Boston, with lower taxes.

This is a fun state with lots to do.

I've never had the privlege of visiting this beautiful state, but after reading the comments would like to pack up and go there now. Out of 30-40 comments -only a couple rated lower than a three. Moreover, the fact that the ocean and mountains are within a two hour drive combined with four seasons and beautiful scenery...with NICE people...yes...I could do this.

Beautiful, clean, safe and an overall cheap place to live (taxes are low, especially when compared to surrounding states). My experiences here have been enjoyable overall.

As in all of the New England states I have visited- a high quality of life- wonderful scenary, great towns and villages- and an intelligent populace.

Like most states in New England- New Hampshire offers a decent quality of life- and in my visits have been impressed by the states abundance of natural beauty and the friendly and down to earth people.

New Hampshire is a very good state- with low crime, charming towns and small cities that offer a superlative quality of life. The climate is a bit toward the harsh side- winters can be daunting. Best months are from May through early November.

NH is beautiful, has the coast, mountains, good quality of life and low taxes.

The granite state does rise above the genre of strip mall hell- sure the southern part of the state is becoming A Boston suburb- but is that a bad thing? I can think of hundreds of areas in the country that would love to be in such a position- try driving throughout most of California- like Orange county- San Diego- or the drive from San Jose to San Francisco up the El Camino Real-talk about strip mall hell- it makes New Hampshire look like peace in paradise. The state is moderating its politcal views as well- becoming part of all blue New England. Charming towns with a long and distinquished history and real people that are open minded and fair- and not overly materialitic- sounds like a damn solid place to live.

New Hampshire is nice. The White Mountains are very pretty and the state is full of charming little towns. Portsmouth is a cool little city. It's very historic and has a number of houses dating back to the 1700's and 1800's. Lots of scenic waterfront and postcard New England scenery with rocky shore and lighthouses. On the downside southern NH is turning suburban very fast (could be coined northern Mass'). Cross the state line from Mass into NH on any major road and you will enter strip mall hell. Politics seem to sway back and forth between conservative and liberal here. If you want to see the best of New England I'd reccommend Vermont or Maine however NH does claim Mount Washington (very impressive) and good skiing.

A state with a high quality of life. Many services that help the general populace- no sales tax, but high real estate taxes. Great schools and colleges. A small shore line on the Atlantic at Portsmouth. Nice towns and small cities. A state with countless reasons to live and visit. If you are seeking a high quality of life- low crime rate and friendly real people- choose NH.

I don't have anything to add to Spacewolf's excellent comment except to say I think these folks have cute accents. So quaint.

The least progressive of all the New England states- NH is the antithesis of Vermont-Portsmouth, Dover and Concord are very pretty New England towns- its just that Vermont is better, as is Maine- if you like Northern New England. Good thing is the state is becoming more moderate in its views- getting closer idealogically to the rest of New Englands growing progressive idealogy- as opposed to the south, southwest, plains and mountains states backwardness and right wing religous zealot idealogy.

I know this show got cancelled over a year ago, and it only had a few episodes, but i would live in Poland, New Hampshire, or a town like it. I don't know why, but i would.

I spent 2 years of college in New Hampshire at New England College (Henniker). Beautiful scenery and the stress level is so low you may be comotose. Lake Winapasaukee (spelling?) is breathtaking and the Connotook River (sp) in Henniker was equally as good. Live Free or Die is an appropriate motto. You have to like the outdoors and be agrarian to like the state. I have not been back since the early 90's, but will be back some fall.

New Hampshire is my favorite upepr New England state. Not quite as desolate as Maine, a bit less sophisticated than Vermont, but a pleasant state overall. It's probably a bit overstated, but I once had a conversation with a New Hampshire resident (who worked across the river in Vermont), and his comments on the differences between Vermonters (too liberal, all Democrats) and New Hampshireites (conservatives, trustworthy, relatively speaking) were amusing to say the least. His advice to me was If you ever shake hands with someone from Vermont, after the handshake check to see that all of your fingers are still there. They'll steal anything they can!). Anyway, when I lived in Connecticut, I often took day trips to NH, just for the scenery and to try new spots to eat (Peter Christian's in New London, and the New London Inn were favorites. Best French toast I ever had was at New London Inn).

Simply the Best!!!

Could not have asked for a better place to live in the entire world.

I haven't been to New Hampshire since I was 5 I think. It was such a beautiful place, and everyone there is so welcoming. They have the most beautiful beaches and the restuarants are to die for. It's a pretty small state, but well worth going to.

NH is a most wonderful place- you have the ocean, mountains, close to Boston- and no sales or income tax! You can hike, ski, bike, swim, boat, anything. Granted, the southern part of the state has been hit with Mass. people moving up and has very much become a suburb of Boston, but go to the North Country or the Seacoast- you can't be disappointed!

I spent 2 summers in NH and hated every minute of it.

Coolest state ever.