By Cyra Master , Staff Writer
Eagle-Tribune

For the fourth year in a row, New Hampshire has come out on top.

A study released earlier this month by Morgan Quitno Press named the Granite State the "Most Livable" based on 44 factors - everything from the percentage of sunny days to the percentage of deficient bridges.

While some local residents interviewed yesterday are skeptical of the study, they agreed with the final result.

"I'm very fond of New Hampshire," said Chad Henry of Hampstead. Henry, 35, was born in Korea and grew up in the Midwest and Texas.

"I missed the seasons changing when I was in Texas," Henry said. "I like the location. It's close to the mountains; it's close to the coast. Boston's not too far away."

From Midwest-born to Massachusetts-raised, local transplants take as much pride in their adopted home as born-and-bred natives.

"What makes New Hampshire so unique is the variety," said Karen Gerdts, who moved to East Hampstead from the Midwest a year ago.

"I love it. I love the ocean, I love the mountains. You don't have to go far to get anywhere," said Gerdts, 54.

The Midwest once reigned supreme: Minnesota was the "Most Livable" state from 1997 to 2003 and has been the runner-up for four straight years. Iowa, this year's third-place finisher, took home the title in 1996.

The state's natural resources didn't factor into this ranking, but low crime and poverty rates, and a high number of people with college degrees, all helped push New Hampshire to the top of the list. Morgan Quitno Press is a private research and publishing company based in Lawrence, Kan.

"I feel safe here," said Gerri St. Louis, 37, a Derry resident originally from Salem. Her husband has been suggesting a move to a warmer climate, but St. Louis said she's happy in the area where she grew up.

"New Hampshire's been good to me," she said. "The one thing I don't like is the taxes."

Bill Hurley, 78, of Salem said the taxes are a trade-off.

"What I like about living in New Hampshire is that there's no sales tax, but there are high real estate taxes," he said.

Hurley was upfront about his opinion of the Granite State and his border bias.

"I don't know if it's the best, but I don't think it's the worst," said Hurley, who grew up in Boston. "My heart will always be in Boston. I can't really get excited about anything happening in New Hampshire."

For Henry, it is Massachusetts transplants who are making New Hampshire less exciting.

"I like the political climate here, but as more people move up from Massachusetts, that's changing," he said.

For Tom Croswell, 54, of Houston, it's the state's natural beauty that is the main attraction.

"It's a pretty good state for recreation, skiing or camping," he said.

Croswell, who grew up in North Reading, Mass., said he is thinking of settling either in Southern New Hampshire or in Massachusetts. He, too, pondered the balance between high property taxes and no income or sales tax.

"The report reaffirms what the citizens of our state already know - New Hampshire is a great place to live and work," Gov. John Lynch said. "We must continue to work to make sure New Hampshire continues to lead the nation by focusing on what's important to our families and businesses - improving the quality of education, strengthening our economy, making health care more accessible and affordable, protecting our natural resources, and ensuring the safety of all our citizens and visitors."

The "Live Free or Die" state has been home to 18-year-old Samantha Haas all her life. The Fremont teen is thinking about going to college in Philadelphia, which will be a big change from living on a farm.

"I want to get away" Haas said. "But New Hampshire's not a bad place to come back to."

Most Livable States

1. New Hampshire
2. Minnesota
3. Iowa
4. Vermont
5. New Jersey

Source: Morgan Quitno Press