Hiking in the White Mountains, the state’s beaches and thousands of acres of state parks – New Hampshire’s vast outdoor recreation attracts young people each year.

But a lack of affordable housing, virtually no public transportation, slim diversity and a non-existent nightlife in the state makes living here a drag, according to a survey from Stay Work Play, a nonprofit in the state that works to attract younger residents.

State-wide, New Hampshire is lacks diversity, with 93 percent of residents identifying as white, according to the U.S. Census.

And in terms of navigation, the state uses bus systems for public transportation with the only commuter rail zipping through the Seacoast as it runs between Boston and Brunswick, Maine. Despite talks to of a commuter rail extension from Manchester to Boston over the last decade, Republicans have repeatedly opposed the proposal due to the price tag, which could now be as much as $782 million. 

Young people praised the state’s outdoors,  with 86 percent of respondents saying it made the Granite State more attractive than others. 

“Where New Hampshire excels with young people, what attracts and keeps them there, is our natural capital,” said Will Stewart, the executive director of Stay Work Play.

But in order to live here to enjoy that landscape, residents need a place to live.

For 70 percent of respondents, affordable housing was an area in which the state was worse off compared to other places. This comes at a time where the state faces a clear shortage of homes – with an estimated 20,000 units needed by 2030 to keep up with demand – alongside a historically low rental vacancy rate. 

And as young families look to build a life in the state, childcare also remains a top concern, with 8 in 10 respondents stating the state was worse off than elsewhere. 

“We can, and should, be very serious about focusing our efforts on improving higher impact factors that we can influence via public policy, things like housing affordability, childcare, and schools," said Stewart. 

Nightlife was another concern with 88% of respondents saying New Hampshire is worse or about the same as other places to live.

In an aging state, retaining young people to live and work in New Hampshire is top of mind for state leaders. With that, Stay Work Play hopes that these findings will drive public policy decisions to encourage young people to remain in state. 

Of their polling sample, 47 percent of respondents were New Hampshire natives. Employment in the state was a common theme, with 80 percent of the group working here. 

Respondents also sited the environment, safety, taxes and community as reasons New Hampshire was a better place to live. 

When asked why they would leave the state, housing and opportunity were top reasons. Family was a prime reason for many staying. 

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