MAINE VS. NEW HAMPSHIRE: Both States With Cities Ranked Best Place to Live

In a battle between two states that are arguably pretty similar, which one comes out victorious?

Honestly, it probably has more to do with the reader of the article than anything else.

However, at least for now, both states have cities that made a list of the best places to live for 2024.

The Pine Tree State vs. The Granite State. Live Free or Die goes head to head with Vacationland. Story Land and Santa's Village spar with Funtown and Aquaboggan. Governor Janet Mills in the Octagon with Chris Sununu.

Which state takes the cake? Mmmmmm, cake!

Anyway, I digress. Let's dive into the nuts and bolts of how both states managed to make this year's list from U.S. News, shall we?

Each year, U.S. News puts out a list of the best places to live all across the United States, and this year both Maine and New Hampshire had places that made the cut. First, how do they determine places that constitute the best places to live?

Well, according to U.S. News,

"U.S. News analyzed the 150 most populous metro areas to find the best places to live. To make the top of the list, a place had to have good value, be a desirable place to live, have a strong job market and a high quality of life. For more information on how we rank, read the Best Places to Live methodology."

First up is the city of Manchester, New Hampshire. U.S. News gave Manchester a 6.4 overall score with a 7.1 rating for quality of life and a 5.7 score for overall value. Here's just a small snippet of what the news outlet had to say about the city of Manchester.

"Surrounded by rolling mountain ranges and verdant forests, Manchester is the largest metropolitan area in New Hampshire and home to a number of college and university campuses, including the University of New Hampshire at Manchester, Southern New Hampshire University and Manchester Community College. The community feels young and vibrant, thanks to the large number of college students living here, and nearly a third of the area's population over 25 years old holds a bachelor's degree or higher."

Maine checks in on the list of best places to live for 2023-2024 with none other than Portland.

Portland, Maine, ranked a 6.7 with its overall score. Portland received a 7.0 for its quality of life and a 6.1 for its value.

Here is a small portion of what U.S. News had to say about its ranking for the city of Portland, Maine.

"For the people of Maine, there is only one Portland. Maine's largest metro area and economic hub features cobblestone streets and ships sheltered within the island-specked waters of Casco Bay. Artful living and farm-to-table dining are not just trends in Portland – they have been a way of life for years. A "do it yourself" spirit resonates throughout the region, so don't be surprised if a neighbor offers you extra produce from a community garden, home-brewed beer or knitting tips. All around Portland, you'll find dozens of local entrepreneurs offering homegrown or homemade products, from mittens to coffee."

So now, the real question: Which city do you think is the more desirable one to live in? If not Manchester OR Portland, is there a city in Maine or New Hampshire that you think deserves a higher rating than the aforementioned ones?

And, if you think that's the case, what score would you give a different Maine or New Hampshire city or town?

Let us know by sending us a message through our station app!