New Hampshire #1

Biggd · 07-15-2026, 08:54 AM

New Hampshire was just ranked the #1 State to move to.
Get ready for an influx of new residents!

Descant · 07-15-2026, 09:30 AM

Shhh. We already have too many here who want to make it like the place they left. Close the border. Unfettered growth is for Florida and Texas. NH was the fastest growing state in the 70's, and in my mind that was not a good thing.

TomC · 07-15-2026, 09:40 AM

Criteria? If it is economics and/or political, it leaves out the climate. The winters here drive a lot of people to choose somewhere else to go. Snow arrives by late Nov and April storms are common also. Five months of winter/cold is too long for many to overlook..

thinkxingu · 07-15-2026, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Descant

Shhh. We already have too many here who want to make it like the place they left. Close the border. Unfettered growth is for Florida and Texas. NH was the fastest growing state in the 70's, and in my mind that was not a good thing.

I just saw data yesterday showing that 1 in 7 homes for sale in America is in Florida, which only has 8% of the US's homes.

The question is whether it's development catching up to demand or demand falling.

Merrimack's growth, as you know, has been out of control for a while now.

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John Mercier · 07-15-2026, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomC

Criteria? If it is economics and/or political, it leaves out the climate. The winters here drive a lot of people to choose somewhere else to go. Snow arrives by late Nov and April storms are common also. Five months of winter/cold is too long for many to overlook..

26th in affordability
2nd in Safety
7th in Economic Strength
3rd in Health/Education
2nd in Quality of Life

Not so much high ranking in any one category, but close to the top in two out of three.

Ayotte has it on her official site with a link to the Consumer Report page.

I think you may be over estimating snow. Heck, even the cold with the ice in/ice out dates is a bit less than it was in the past.

TomC · 07-15-2026, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Mercier

I think you may be over estimating snow. Heck, even the cold with the ice in/ice out dates is a bit less than it was in the past.

If it is overestimated, it is only slightly... I log it all in a weather diary. also:

John Mercier · 07-15-2026, 11:11 AM

Variance exists.

But in general people will pay attention to winter activities not associated with snowmaking.

So a younger family/individual (what they are focused on getting to move here); would maybe see four seasons as a positive. But depending on their preferred activity, may find the need to either take up alpine skiing to get consistent snow or an ice arena to get consistent ice.

TomC · 07-15-2026, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Mercier

Variance exists.

But in general people will pay attention to winter activities not associated with snowmaking.

So a younger family/individual (what they are focused on getting to move here); would maybe see four seasons as a positive. But depending on their preferred activity, may find the need to either take up alpine skiing to get consistent snow or an ice arena to get consistent ice.

you can have the last word

Biggd · 07-15-2026, 01:46 PM

Always!

DEJ · 07-15-2026, 02:00 PM

Last word John, lol.

John Mercier · 07-15-2026, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomC

you can have the last word

Ask the snowmobilers how long a season they have had in the area in the last few years.

Check the history of the sled dog race and when it had to be cancelled or shortened.

Read the countless forum entries on when the lake ices over...

Winters are not that long; and the younger workforce they are looking for are not in opposition to them.

DEJ · 07-15-2026, 02:51 PM

I rest my case!

ishoot308 · 07-15-2026, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggd

New Hampshire was just ranked the #1 State to move to.
Get ready for an influx of new residents!

Congrats NH!! Well deserved!!!

Dan

The Real BigGuy · 07-17-2026, 12:12 PM

My question is who is moving to NH? Is it the young families or the older retirees/retirees to be. If it is the latter, then climate matters. That is the group that moves to NH for what I suspect is financial reasons (unfortunately, they soon find out that “no income tax” isn’t the panacea they expected) so they can winter in FL.

Biggd · 07-17-2026, 01:46 PM

NH real estate sales just had a record month in June, over one billion dollars in sales for the first time ever!

Over 1500 sales, the most since 2019.

retired · 07-17-2026, 04:08 PM

I saw that on WMUR too. They didn't say what type of homes sold. New luxury homes, or existing homes?

Biggd · 07-17-2026, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retired

I saw that on WMUR too. They didn't say what type of homes sold. New luxury homes, or existing homes?

Well, it was over 1500 sales so I would imagine it was a mix. They did say the mid sales price rose to 570K, not cheap anymore!

07-15-2026, 08:54 AM	#1
Biggd Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Waltham Ma./Meredith NH Posts: 4,537 Thanks: 2,506 Thanked 1,296 Times in 833 Posts	New Hampshire #1 New Hampshire was just ranked the #1 State to move to. Get ready for an influx of new residents!

07-15-2026, 09:30 AM	#2
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,656 Thanks: 1,449 Thanked 1,733 Times in 1,127 Posts	Shhh. We already have too many here who want to make it like the place they left. Close the border. Unfettered growth is for Florida and Texas. NH was the fastest growing state in the 70's, and in my mind that was not a good thing.

The Following User Says Thank You to Descant For This Useful Post:
ishoot308 (07-15-2026)

07-15-2026, 09:40 AM	#3
TomC Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Lakes Region Posts: 859 Thanks: 48 Thanked 197 Times in 124 Posts	Criteria? If it is economics and/or political, it leaves out the climate. The winters here drive a lot of people to choose somewhere else to go. Snow arrives by late Nov and April storms are common also. Five months of winter/cold is too long for many to overlook..

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Worm (07-16-2026)

07-15-2026, 11:11 AM	#7
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 4,157 Thanks: 3 Thanked 701 Times in 580 Posts	Variance exists. But in general people will pay attention to winter activities not associated with snowmaking. So a younger family/individual (what they are focused on getting to move here); would maybe see four seasons as a positive. But depending on their preferred activity, may find the need to either take up alpine skiing to get consistent snow or an ice arena to get consistent ice.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to TomC For This Useful Post:
Biggd (07-15-2026), Worm (07-16-2026)

07-15-2026, 01:46 PM	#9
Biggd Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Waltham Ma./Meredith NH Posts: 4,537 Thanks: 2,506 Thanked 1,296 Times in 833 Posts	Always!

07-15-2026, 02:00 PM	#10
DEJ Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 566 Thanks: 528 Thanked 338 Times in 162 Posts	Last word John, lol.

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Biggd (07-15-2026)

07-15-2026, 02:51 PM	#12
DEJ Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 566 Thanks: 528 Thanked 338 Times in 162 Posts	I rest my case!

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Biggd (07-15-2026), BroadHopper (07-17-2026), CTYankee (07-16-2026), Little Bear (07-15-2026), longislander (07-16-2026), TiltonBB (07-15-2026), TomC (07-15-2026), Worm (07-16-2026)

07-17-2026, 12:12 PM	#14
The Real BigGuy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,370 Thanks: 130 Thanked 501 Times in 306 Posts	My question is who is moving to NH? Is it the young families or the older retirees/retirees to be. If it is the latter, then climate matters. That is the group that moves to NH for what I suspect is financial reasons (unfortunately, they soon find out that “no income tax” isn’t the panacea they expected) so they can winter in FL.

The Following User Says Thank You to The Real BigGuy For This Useful Post:
Tofu (07-17-2026)

07-17-2026, 01:46 PM	#15
Biggd Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Waltham Ma./Meredith NH Posts: 4,537 Thanks: 2,506 Thanked 1,296 Times in 833 Posts	NH real estate sales just had a record month in June, over one billion dollars in sales for the first time ever! Over 1500 sales, the most since 2019.

07-17-2026, 04:08 PM	#16
retired Senior Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: Belmont, NH Posts: 248 Thanks: 3 Thanked 94 Times in 57 Posts	I saw that on WMUR too. They didn't say what type of homes sold. New luxury homes, or existing homes?