New Hampshire Ranked #2 Best State in the U.S.

Before you brush New Hampshire off as just another dot on the map, we will now kindly remind you that this small, Northern New England gem has been crowned the #2 Best State in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report. 

I'm from NH and there are a lot of great things about it, but #2? Let's see how the heck did they pull that off... U.S. News & World Report broke it down by crunching the numbers across some key categories. 

First up: Crime & Corrections – ranked #1. In New Hampshire, you can accidentally leave your car unlocked with your wallet in the front seat... and someone might just tuck it under the visor for safekeeping. Disclaimer: This is not suggesting that you do this, just suggesting how safe it is around there.

The Economy – #7

Education – #9. 

Health Care – #13, 

Infrastructure – #22

Natural Environment – #8

Fiscal Stability is a bit lower at #38, but hey—no sales tax, no income tax. They like to keep it wild and free, and if that means the state budget is living on ramen noodles, so be it.

Oh, and if skiing is your thing, New Hampshire is a snow-dusted playground. According to skiresort.info, they’ve got 28 ski resorts, and North Conway, you may remember, was named #4 Best Ski Town in USA Today's Reader's Poll. 

And yes, the people? Still wicked nice. Strike up a convo in a diner or wave to someone at a crosswalk in Littleton—they’ll probably wave back… and they love giving directions. 

So there you go—New Hampshire, the little state that could, and absolutely did. Whether you're chasing foliage, skiing slopes, or trying to find a house with decent Wi-Fi in the mountains, this state is more than just maple syrup and flannel.