New Hampshire: The Best State in the Union, According to New Study

In preparation for President Obama’s State of the Union address tonight, Politico Magazine has ranked all 50 states (plus the District of Columbia) in their “State of the States of the Union” report.

The magazine ranked states based on 15 factors including: percent unemployed, percent below poverty level, percent high school graduates, life expectancy and violent crime rate per 100,000.

New Hampshire claimed top spot for the second year, although the state now shares its number one ranking with Minnesota.

New Hampshire had the highest annual income per capita, the lowest unemployment rate and the lowest percentage of residents below the poverty line.

Residents in New Hampshire make an average of $33,134 a year, according to the report. Only 4.1 percent of New Hampshire residents are unemployed and 8.7 percent below poverty level. In comparison, Mississippi’s average income is $20,618 a year, has a 7.3 percent unemployment rate and 22.7 percent of Mississippi residents are below poverty level.

Politico ranked the states for a second year, despite backlash from low-scoring states on last year’s list, including a letter to the editor from Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant. Politico named Mississippi the worst state in the union both last year and this year.

New Hampshire’s neighbors fared much better than Mississippi, with Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine all in the top 10 best states.

Image via Wikimedia

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