GOFFSTOWN, N.H. – Stay Work Play New Hampshire recently released the 2025 edition of its Quality of Life Index, with a panel of local experts unpacking the information uncovered in that survey with a Nov. 6 event at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College.
Stay Work Play commissioned the Saint Anselm College Survey Center to conduct the Quality of Life Index survey in September, seeking to assess the strengths and weaknesses of New Hampshire in the eyes of Granite Staters aged 18-40, specifically looking at their opinions on their decisions on working, living and enjoying their lives throughout the state.
Moderated by Montagne Powers’ Partner E.J. Powers and Stay Work Play Executive Director Corinne Benfield, the survey revealed that New Hampshire’s young adults want to stay in New Hampshire, but are finding challenges in their way when they attempt to achieve that goal.
New Hampshire’s natural beauty, safety, restaurants and tax structure are seen as strengths while weaknesses include things like education, healthcare, affordable housing, childcare, public transportation and a lack of acceptance toward diversity and community
Respondents with families, higher incomes, more education or homes in more rural areas were found to be unhappier than other Granite Staters and there was also dip in happiness for respondents in their late 20s and early 30s seeking to establish their adult lives. Powers and Benfield referred to this as the “bridge to happiness” and voiced concern that bridge was showing cracks as the state’s infrastructure continues to struggle meeting the needs of its younger workforce.
“Young people aren’t asking for a different state, they’re asking for a more accessible version of the one they love,” said Benfield. “We can create a New Hampshire that is accessible for everyone, not just a lucky few.”
In addition to the overview of the survey provided by Powers and Benfield, the event also included audience questions as well as insights from a panel that included Benfield, Manchester Economic Development Office Director Jodie Nazaka, Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire Vice President of Public Policy Natch Grayes, Saint Anselm Initiative for Housing Policy and Practice Director Elissa Margolin and Saint Anselm Public Policy Professor Max Latona.
During the panel and question portion of the program, there was deeper insight into the survey such the respondents’ desire for single-family homes along with more traditionally urban amenities such as better nightlife entertainment as well as property taxes being seen as a weakness even though taxes overall are seen as a strength for the state.
Grayes talked about the need for update zoning regulations across the state so communities can facilitate the type of housing being sought by young professionals as well as the need to provide tax credits for businesses that provide childcare. He noted that most childcare facilities currently have very long waitlists and childcare providers are struggling to attract employees. Grayes also noted that New Hampshire is in constant competition with other states for talented workers for businesses and states that provide childcare could grab those workers from New Hampshire.
Margolin said that more needs to be done to facilitate “starter homes” for younger workers and that infrastructural improvements like more water and sewer accessibility would help provide greater opportunities for 18-40-year-olds seeking to stay in the Granite State.
The preference toward single-family homes was also interpreted as a desire to access New Hampshire’s natural beauty, even though a desire for mixed-use development was also high.
Nazaka stated that Manchester is attempting to address those diverse needs with the city’s zoning ordinance update, which if passed will allow mixed-use development in more places as well as more single-family housing due to smaller minimum lot sizes.
She added that the city is also aiming to address these needs by expanding the focus from beyond just explaining why Manchester is a good place to start a business into emphasizing the city’s feeling of community and accentuating its positive attributes.
“I’m really proud to say that Manchester is taking a strong step forward in addressing these challenges, especially with maintaining our young professionals. We definitely don’t want young professionals priced out of our city,” said Nazaka.
Nazaka also noted discussions she has been a part of with more rural New Hampshire residents in the town of Temple where any additional rural housing development was seen as coming at the expense of existing local residents. This sentiment built upon other comments urging more young people to run for local public office and provide their viewpoints within municipal policy discussions.
A full copy of the survey can be found at the Stay Work Play website.
