Is New Hampshire or Vermont a better state to live in?

Based on our composite scoring, New Hampshire ranks higher overall. New Hampshire is #1 and Vermont is #4 out of 50 states. New Hampshire wins 7 of 11 categories, while Vermont wins 4.

How does New Hampshire compare to Vermont in cost of living?

New Hampshire has a cost of living index of 105, while Vermont's is 97 (100 = national average). Vermont is more affordable.

Which state is safer, New Hampshire or Vermont?

New Hampshire has 110 violent crimes per 100K residents, vs 208 in Vermont. New Hampshire has the lower crime rate.

What are the median incomes in New Hampshire vs Vermont?

New Hampshire's median household income is $97,880, compared to $74,919 in Vermont.

New Hampshire vs Vermont: Side-by-Side (2026)

A+

New Hampshire

#1·Northeast

86.6Composite Score

VSNew Hampshire leads

A+

Vermont

#4·Northeast

77.5Composite Score

7NH wins

4VT wins

Category Overlay

New HampshireVermont

Category Scores

💰 EconomyNH +21.6

84.5

62.9

🛡️ SafetyNH +13.1

92.0

78.9

🏥 HealthNH +4.1

100.0

95.9

🎓 EducationNH +18.3

91.8

73.5

💼 Fiscal HealthNH +12.0

63.1

51.1

📈 GrowthNH +22.7

52.9

30.2

🏠 AffordabilityVT +10.1

44.3

54.4

🌿 EnvironmentVT +31.1

45.2

76.3

🏞️ Outdoor AccessVT +12.6

43.0

55.6

🚇 TransportationVT +10.2

35.9

46.1

🎭 LivabilityNH +0.3

56.2

55.9

Key Metrics Comparison

Metric	New Hampshire	Vermont	Winner
Population	1,402,054	647,464	NH
Median Income	$97,880	$74,919	NH
Unemployment	2.8%	2.7%	VT
Violent Crime Rate(per 100K)	110	208	NH
Cost of Living(100 = national avg)	105	97	VT
HS Graduation Rate	88%	93%	VT
Life Expectancy	79.2 yr	79.4 yr	VT
Pop Growth	+0.6%	-0.3%	NH

New Hampshire vs Vermont: How Do They Compare?

New Hampshire ranks #1 overall with a composite score of 86.6, earning a A+ grade. Vermont sits at #4 with 77.5 and a A+ grade. New Hampshire has the edge overall, winning 7 of 11 categories.

On the economic front, New Hampshire has 2.8% unemployment and a $97,880 median income, while Vermont reports 2.7% unemployment and $74,919 median income.

For safety, New Hampshire's violent crime rate is 110 per 100K compared to 208 in Vermont. Cost of living favors Vermont with an index of 97 vs 105.

Explore These States

New Hampshire Full Profile86.6 Vermont Full Profile77.5 Compare Other States→

Data Sources

📎Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025)📎U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024📎FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024📎America's Health Rankings, 2025📎WalletHub/NAEP, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024📎Cook Political Report, PVI 2024📎Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025📎ALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025📎WalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025📎BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023📎EPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024📎EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024📎FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024📎FCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025📎National Park Service API, 2024📎USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024📎U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022📎U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting)📎FHWA Highway Statistics, 2023📎U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022📎EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024📎EIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024📎DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023📎BEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023📎NCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24📎EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22📎NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23📎BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023📎NASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023📎Census Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022📎Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023📎Pew Charitable Trusts, FY2022📎S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025📎Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023)📎IRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022