Here’s New Hampshire’s Best Town To Live In

The best town to live in New Hampshire is apparently Hanover, the Grafton County home of Dartmouth College. That’s according to a new report from the financial news and opinion site 24/7 Wall St., which determined the best city to live in every state.

The authors acknowledged that while many things factor into what makes a place “home,” some specific attributes are commonly shared and “universally desirable.” These include essentials like safe streets, a strong local economy, affordability and diverse entertainment options.

Here’s a breakdown of Hanover:

• Population: 8,482
• 5 year population change: 0 percent
• Median home value: $469,300
• Median household income: $96,406

Here’s what the authors had to say:

“Hanover has numerous advantages over other places in New Hampshire cities. Its median household income of $96,406 is more than $26,000 higher than the next closest city and well ahead of the statewide median, which is $68,485. Hanover is also the best educated place in the state, as 83.1% of adults hold at least a bachelor’s degree. No other city in New Hampshire comes close to that share. For comparison, the state’s bachelor’s degree attainment rate is 35.5%.

With a population of 8,482, Hanover is a smaller city. As such, many residents are able to walk to and from work. Walking not only provides numerous health benefits, but also helps decrease road traffic and reduce pollution. Some 40% of Hanover residents commute by walking — by far the highest rate in New Hampshire and the second highest rate of any U.S. city.”

Most of the best cities to live in were relatively affluent. That includes Paradise Valley, dubbed the best place to live in Arizona, where the median home value is north of $1.3 million — more than seven times the national median. The median household in the town earns an income of $173,487.

But several cities and towns were much more modest.

Batesville, Arkansas, was highlighted because it’s so affordable and has various attractions and amenities. The median household in the city earns $42,143 a year, while the median home is worth $120,400.

Patch national staffer Dan Hampton contributed to this report.

Photo credit: Dartmouth College