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New Hampshire / Massachusetts Comparison
Only 45 miles from downtown Boston, Southern New Hampshire and the Greater Nashua region is often compared to Greater Boston. For all that the two states share, New Hampshire and Massachusetts are different. Individuals and families considering moving to New England may find the following statistical comparison useful in making a decision about buying a home and raising a family. The following information has been compiled from a variety of sources. Source material is available through the chamber.
| Education |
NH |
MA |
| Verbal SAT Score, 2004 |
522 |
518 |
| Math SAT Score, 2004 |
521 |
523 |
| Reading NAEP Score, 2003, Grade 4 |
228 |
228 |
| Reading NAEP Score, 2003, Grade 8 |
271 |
273 |
| Math NAEP Score, 2003, Grade 4 |
243 |
242 |
| Math NAEP Score, 2003, Grade 8 |
286 |
287 |
| Population with HS Diploma, 2003 |
34.0% |
37.6% |
| Population with Bachelor’s Degree, 2003 |
30.0% |
34.3% |
| Pupil-Teacher Ratio, 2004 |
14.0% |
13.3% |
| Average Teacher Salary, 2004 |
$42,881 |
$52,150 |
| Crime |
NH |
MA |
| Murders in 2003 |
18 |
142 |
| Violent Crimes/100,000 Population, 2003 |
148.8 |
469.4 |
| Property Crimes, 2003 |
26,448 |
164,018 |
| Motor Vehicle Thefts/100,000 Population, 2003 |
1,917.0 |
25,506.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate per 100,000 in 2003 |
77.1 |
315.1 |
| COST OF LIVING, (LARGEST METRO AREA IN
EACH STATE 3 RD QTR ’04) |
NH |
MA |
| Average Apartment Rent |
$976 |
$1,411 |
| Average Home Price |
$287,500 |
$461,732 |
| Average Total Energy Cost/Monthly |
$138 |
$203.41 |
| Average Phone Bill |
$28 |
$29.78 |
| Gasoline/Gallon |
$2 |
$2.06 |
| Doctor Visit |
$58 |
$129.00 |
| Average Auto Insurance Premium, 2000 |
$778.64 |
$910.05 |
| QUALITY OF LIFE: CHILD WELL – BEING – 1998 |
NH |
MA |
| Overall State Ranking (04) |
2 |
9 |
| % Low Birth-Weight Babies |
6.5% |
7.2% |
| Child Death Rates (deaths per 100,000 children ages 1-14) |
3.8 |
5 |
Rate of Teen Deaths Rate by Accident, Homicide, and Suicide
(deaths
per 100,000 teens ages 15-19)
|
40 |
32 |
| Teen Birth Rate (births per 1,000 females ages 15-17) |
10.0 |
14.0 |
| % of Teens Who Are High School Dropouts (ages 16-19) |
9.0% |
8.0% |
| % of Teens Not Attending School and Not Working (ages 16-19) |
5.0% |
7.0% |
% of Children Living With Parents Who Do Not Have Full-Time,
Year Round Employment
|
20.0% |
25.0% |
| % of Children in Poverty (date reflect poverty in previous
year) |
7.0% |
12.0% |
| % of Families with Children Headed by Single Parent |
25.0% |
27.0% |
| SOCIAL CAPITAL
|
NH |
MA |
| Life Styles: Times Volunteered Last Year |
8.0 |
6.7 |
| Belief: “Most People are Honest” (6-level agree/disagree) |
48% |
39% |
| Attended Meetings on Town or School Affairs (percent) |
33% |
24% |
| Belief: “Most People Can be Trusted” |
62% |
46% |
Civic and Social Organizations per 1000 pop, 1977-1992
(from FICA)
|
0.25 |
0.18 |
| Mean President Turnout 1988 & 1992 |
59% |
59% |
| Av. Charitable Giving per IRS Tax Filters, 02 |
$759 |
$1,219 |
| Social Capital State Ranking, 2000 |
8 |
18 |
| TAXES |
NH |
MA |
| Corporate Income Tax |
8.50% |
9.50% |
| Personal Income Tax |
0.00 |
5.3% |
| Sales Tax & Use Tax |
0.00 |
5.00% |
| Professional Services Tax |
N/A |
N/A |
| Capital Gains Tax |
0.00 |
5.3% |
| Motor Fuel Tax per Gallon |
0.18% |
0.235% |
Property Tax
Lands & Buildings
|
5.01% |
3.47% |
Telecommunications Tax
State Tax Rate
|
7.0% |
5.1% |
Telecommunications Tax
Local Tax Rate
|
N/A |
0.0% |
| Workers’ Compensation as % of Covered Wages |
2.85 |
1.98 |
| Unemployment Insurance Tax/ Per Employee |
$176 |
$354 |
| NEW ECONOMY INDEX (1=HIGHEST, 50=LOWEST),
02 |
NH |
MA |
| Overall State Ranking |
1st |
16th |
| Knowledge Jobs |
8th |
3rd |
| Globalization |
17th |
12th |
| Economic Dynamism |
25th |
3rd |
| Digital Economy |
19th |
1st |
| Innovation Capacity |
11th |
1st |
| High Tech Jobs |
3rd |
1st |
| Venture Capital |
4th |
1st |
| Internet Access-2001 |
57.2% |
51.2% |
| FINANCIAL & GOVERNMENT COMPARISONS |
NH |
MA |
| Per Capita State Tax Revenue, 2003 |
$1,520 |
$2,431 |
| Per Capita State Government Debt Outstanding, 2002 |
$4,231 |
$7,051 |
| Cost of Living Index, Selected Metro, 3 rd Quarter, 2003 |
104.5% |
135.4% |
Information Courtesy of Greater Nashua Chamber of CommerceLast
updated April 2005.
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