| Geography
(2000 -
Source: US Census Bureau) |
NH |
(rank) |
CA |
(rank) |
US avg |
| Land area |
8,968
(sq miles) |
|
155,959
(sq miles) |
|
3,537,438
(sq miles) |
| Persons per square mile |
137.8 |
|
217.2 |
|
79.6 |
| |
| Weather -
(Compares Nashua, NH vs La Canada, CA -
Sources: Weather.com
and Sperling's BestPlaces.net) |
NH |
(rank) |
CA |
(rank) |
US avg |
| Avg Temp (Jan) |
33°F Hi
23°F Mean
12°F Low |
|
68°F Hi
56°F Mean
44°F Lo |
|
41°F Hi
23°F Low |
| Avg Temp (Jul) |
83°F Hi
71°F Mean
59°F Lo |
|
89°F Hi
75°F Mean
61°F Lo
|
|
|
Heating Degree Days
[One degree accumulates for each day the temp. is below 65°F. A high number means it will require more energy to heat the house.] |
7,110 |
|
1,453 |
|
|
Cooling Degree Days
[One degree accumulates for each day the temp. is above 65°F. A high number means it will require more energy to cool the house.] |
382 |
|
1,394 |
|
|
| Rainfall (annual) |
45.2 in
(inches) |
|
19.6 in
(inches) |
|
38.8 in
(inches) |
| Snowfall (annual) |
55.9 in
(inches) |
|
0.0
(inches) |
|
24.4 in
(inches) |
| Number of days mostly sunny per year |
199 |
|
291 |
|
205 |
| Number of days of precipitation per year |
127 |
|
35 |
|
112 |
Air Quality Index
Average Air Quality Index, based on annual EPA reports. Takes into account
the number of ozone alert days along with the amounts of seven pollutants in the air. Higher number are better. |
28 |
|
1 |
|
48 |
| |
| Demographics
(2003
- Source: US Census Bureau)
|
NH |
(rank) |
CA |
(rank) |
US avg |
| Population |
1,287,687 |
41 |
35,484,453 |
1 |
290,809,777 |
| % White |
95.4% |
3 |
66.2% |
37 |
79.9% |
| % Black |
0.9% |
42 |
6.2% |
25 |
12.7% |
| % Asian |
1.7% |
29 |
11.9% |
2 |
4.0% |
| % Hispanic |
1.8% |
|
34.6% |
|
13.9% |
| % Mixed |
0.7% |
39 |
2.3% |
5 |
1.4% |
| % Other |
1.0% |
|
16.8% |
|
5.5% |
| |
| Economy
( sources vary) |
NH |
(rank) |
CA |
(rank) |
US avg |
Cost of living
Based on 2004 data that include the following categories weighted as shown
housing (30%), food and groceries (15%), transportation (10%), utilities (6%), health care (7%),
and miscellaneous expenses such as clothing, services and entertainment (32%). State and local
taxes not included. [ Source: Sperling's Best Places ] |
108.3 |
|
162.8 |
|
100 |
Livability Ranking
From 2004 Morgan Quitno Most Livable State Awards. Ranking is calculated based on
44 factors such as crime rate, cost of living, state & local taxes, gross state product, and weather. Scale is
from 1 to 50. Higher numbers are better.
[ Source: MorganQuitno.com ] |
34.50 |
1 |
21.82 |
36 |
25.00 |
Home ownership rate (2002)
[ Source: US Census Bureau ] |
69.5% |
31 |
58.0% |
48 |
67.9% |
Median sale price of single-family home (Jan-Jun 2004)
Median sale price of existing single-family homes in New Hampshire
and California. For period January through June 30, 2004.
[ Sources: New Hampshire data from New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority,
California data from National Association of Realtors. ]
|
$229,900 |
|
$468,620 |
|
$183,300 |
% Increase in median sale price of single-family home (2003-2004)
[ Source: Office Federal Housing Oversight ]
|
10.4% |
15 |
18.4% |
3 |
9.4% |
Avg Yearly Increase in median sale price of single-family home (1999-2004)
[ Source: Office Federal Housing Oversight ]
|
14.2% |
5 |
16.8% |
3 |
8.7% |
Households (2003 est.)
[ Source: US Census Bureau - American Community Survey 2003:
CA,
NH ]
|
492,948 |
|
11,856,538 |
|
108,419,506 |
Avg persons per household (2003 est.)
[ Source: US Census Bureau - American Community Survey 2003:
CA,
NH ]
|
2.54 |
|
2.92 |
|
2.61 |
Total Housing Units (2003 est.)
[ Source: US Census Bureau - American Community Survey 2003:
CA,
NH ]
|
569,016 |
|
12,656,882 |
|
120,879,390 |
Renter Occupied Housing (2003 est.)
[ Source: US Census Bureau - American Community Survey 2003:
CA,
NH ]
|
27.1% |
|
41.9% |
|
33.2% |
Median household income (3-yr avg 2001-2003)
[ Source: US Census Bureau ] |
$ 55,166 |
3 |
$ 48,979 |
13 |
$ 43,527 |
Per capita income (2002)
In constant 1996 dollars.
[ Source: US Census Bureau ] |
$30,912 |
6 |
$29,707 |
10 |
$27,857 |
Poverty rate (3-yr avg 2001-2003)
[ Source: US Census Bureau ] |
6.0% |
1 |
12.9% |
34 |
12.1% |
Unemployment rate (2002)
[ Source: US Census Bureau ] |
4.7% |
15 |
6.7% |
45 |
5.8% |
| |
| Education
(Year and sources vary) |
NH |
(rank) |
CA |
(rank) |
US avg |
Revenue Per Student in Fall Enrollment (Public K-12)
(2001 - Source: National Education Association) |
$8,310 |
24 |
$8,556 |
19 |
$8,110 |
Expenditures Per Student in Fall Enrollment (Public K-12)
(2001 - Source: National Education Association) |
$7,847 |
18 |
$7,055 |
28 |
$7,130 |
Student-Teacher Ratio (Public K-12)
(2001 - Source: National Education Association) |
14.1 |
15 |
20.8 |
49 |
15.9 |
Average Teacher Salary (Public K-12)
(2001 - Source: National Education Association) |
$39,915 |
28 |
$54,348 |
1 |
$44,683 |
NAEP Math and Science Ranking - 4th Grade Reading
(2000 - Source: Education Week) |
2nd |
2 |
36th |
36 |
N/A |
SAT I Mean Verbal Scores
(2001 - Source: College Board) |
520 |
29 |
498 |
43 |
506 |
SAT I Mean Math Scores
(2001 - Source: College Board) |
516 |
29 |
517 |
28 |
514 |
High School Graduation rate
(2000 - Source: Education Week) |
69% |
29 |
66% |
35 |
69% |
High School Freshmen Enrolling in College Within 4 Years
(2000 - Source: Education Week) |
44% |
13 |
34% |
39 |
N/A |
English Language Learners
(2000 - Source: Education Week) |
1.2% |
|
24.9% |
|
|
Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Lunches
(2000 - Source: Education Week) |
15% |
|
46.6% |
|
|
| |
| Health
(Sources vary. See individual links.) |
NH |
(rank) |
CA |
(rank) |
US avg |
Healthiest State Ranking
Calculated based on 21 factors such as Infant Mortality Rate and Beds in Hospitals per 100,000.
The factors reflect "access to health care providers, afforability of health care and
a generally healthy population". The number shown is the state's weighted score for all 21 factors.
[ Source: Morgan Quitno's Healthiest State Award 2004 ] |
19.86 |
1 |
8.45 |
14 |
0 |
Doctors per 100,000 (2001)
[ Source: US Census Bureau ] |
245 |
16 |
190 |
43 |
253 |
Hospital Beds per 100,000 (2002)
[ Source: American Hospital Association ] |
226 |
39 |
212 |
43 |
285 |
Estimated Rate of New Cancer Cases (2004)
New cases per 100,000 population.
[ Source: American Cancer Society ] |
488.5 |
25 |
378.5 |
4 |
470.4 |
Infant mortality rate (2003)
Deaths per 1,000 live births
[ Source: National Center for Health Statistics -
National Vital Statistics Report (Vol. 52 No. 3, 9/18/2003) ] |
3.8 |
1 |
5.4 |
5 |
6.8 |
New AIDS Cases Reported per 100,000 (2003)
[ Source: National Center for Health Statistics ] |
2.8 |
8 |
16.4 |
41 |
14.4 |
Percent of Population Lacking Access to Primary Care (2003)
[ Source: US Department of Health and Human Services ] |
5.9% |
6 |
9.3% |
19 |
11.5% |
Percent of Population Not Covered by Medical Insurance (2002)
[ Source: U.S. Census Bureau ] |
9.2% |
6 |
18.7% |
48 |
14.7% |
| Traffic fatalities per 100 million miles
[ Source: 2000 US Census Bureau Report ] |
1.0 |
3 |
1.2 |
15 |
1.5 |
| |
| Taxes
(Sources vary. See individual links.) |
NH |
(rank) |
CA |
(rank) |
US avg |
Tax Freedom Day (2004)
Tax Freedom Day is "the day when Americans will finally
have earned enough money to pay off their total tax bill for the year. Every dollar
thats officially called income by the government is counted, and every payment
to the government that is officially considered a tax is counted. Taxes at all
levels of government are included, whether levied by Uncle Sam or state and
local governments."
[ Source: Tax Foundation ] |
April 7 |
23 |
April 13 |
40 |
April 11 |
State Income Tax Rate (2004)
CA state income varies from 1.0% on income of $5,834 to 9.3% on income over $38,292.
NH has a 5.0% tax on interest and dividend income over $2,400 per year.
[ Source: Tax Foundation ] |
0.0% |
1 (tied) |
1.0-9.3% |
50 |
5.02% |
State+Local Sales Tax Rate (2004)
CA state income tax rate is 7.25%. County and local taxes vary.
[ Source: Tax Foundation ] |
0.0% |
1 (tied) |
7.25-8.5% |
41 |
5.63% |
State and Local Tax Burden (2004)
The combined state and local taxes as a percentage of income.
[ Source: Tax Foundation ] |
7.5% |
2 |
9.8% |
25 |
10.0% |
State and Local Tax Burden - per capita (2003)
The combined state and local tax burden per capita.
[ Source: RetirementLiving.com ] |
$2,906 |
12 |
$3,676 |
38 |
$3,490 |
Federal Tax Burden (2004)
The federal tax burden as a percentage of income.
[ Source: Tax Foundation ] |
19.2% |
44 |
18.5% |
40 |
17.9% |
State, Local + Federal Tax Burden (2004)
The combined state, local and federal taxes as a percentage of income.
[ Source: Tax Foundation ] |
26.7% |
27 |
28.4% |
40 |
27.8% |
Cigarette Tax (2004)
New Hampshire imposes a tax of $0.52 per pack of 20 cigarettes and $0.62 per pack of 25 cigarettes.
California imposes a tax of $0.87 per pack of 20 cigarettes.
[ Source: Federation of Tax Administrators,
] |
$0.52 |
16 |
$0.87 |
31 |
$0.60 |
Gasoline Tax (2004)
New Hampshire imposes an excise tax of $0.18 per gallon plus $0.015 additional tax for a total of $0.195 per gallon.
California imposes an excise tax of $0.18 per gallon on gaoline, diesel fuel and gasohol, plus local/state sales tax.
In addition there is a Federal gas tax of $0.184 per gallon added to the state tax.
[ Source: Federation of Tax Administrators,
] |
$0.195 |
|
$0.18 |
|
$0.21 |
Local Property Tax Rate (2004)
Varies by municipality.
NH rates include town tax, local education tax, state education tax, and city tax multipled by an equalization ratio.
The Full Value Tax Rate for 2004 range from a low of $5.07 (Millsfield, NH)
to $47.09 (Berlin, NH) per $1,000 of assessed value.
The average Full Value Tax Rate for 2004 was $19.85.
[Source: NH Dept of Revenue Administration]
CA rates include city, county, and special assessments and vary by municipality.
|
2.0%
for Nashua |
49 |
1.1%
for La Canada |
19 |
1.6% |
Avg Annual Prop Tax (on 2,000 sq ft home)
[Nashua vs Pasadena
- source: VirtualRelocation.com] |
$ 3,556.00 |
|
$ 5,373.00 |
|
|
| Max assessment increase per year |
No max |
|
2.0% |
|
|
| Real estate transfer tax |
0.75% |
|
1.10% |
|
|
Corporate Income Tax Rate (2003)
New Hampshire has two business taxes -- the Business Profit Tax
of 8.5% on gross income over $50K, and the Business Enterprise Tax of 0.75% on
gross income over $150K. California has a business tax rate of 10.84% on financial
institutions, and 8.84% on all other businesses. |
8.5-9.25% |
49 |
8.84% |
44 |
|
State Business Tax Climate Index (2004)
Calculated based on measurement of 32 variables within state. Higher numbers
are better. [ Source: Tax Foundation ] |
6.63 |
5 |
4.61 |
38 |
5.00 |
| |
| Crime
(2001
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, US Department of Justice. Compiled from FBI Uniform Crime Reports, except for last category. |
NH |
(rank) |
CA |
(rank) |
US avg |
| Index offense total |
29,233 |
5 |
1,346,557 |
51 |
11,849,006 |
| Offenses per 100,000 |
2,321.6 |
1 |
3,902.9 |
21 |
4,160.5 |
| Violent crimes - total |
2,144 |
5 |
212,855 |
51 |
1,436,611 |
| Violent crimes per 100,000 |
170.3 |
4 |
617.0 |
42 |
504.4 |
| Property crimes - total |
27,089 |
5 |
1,133,702 |
51 |
10,412,395 |
| Property crimes per 100,000 |
2,151.3 |
1 |
3,286.0 |
17 |
3,286.0 |
| Murders - total |
17 |
4 |
2,206 |
51 |
15,980 |
| Murder per 100,000 |
1.4 |
3 |
6.4 |
37 |
5.6 |
| Rapes - total |
458 |
13 |
9,961 |
51 |
90,491 |
| Rape rate per 100,000 |
36.4 |
33 |
28.9 |
20 |
31.8 |
| Robberies - total |
445 |
7 |
64,545 |
51 |
422,921 |
| Robberies per 100,000 |
35.3 |
7 |
177.9 |
44 |
148.5 |
| Motor vehicle thefts - total |
2,140 |
6 |
204,033 |
51 |
1,226,457 |
| Motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 |
170.0 |
4 |
591.4 |
45 |
430.6 |
Safest State Ranking (2004)
Awarded annually by Morgan-Quitno, the Most Dangerous/Safest
State Awards are calculated based on the average of six crime rates:
murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft.
[ Source: Morgan Quitno ] |
4 |
4 |
40 |
40 |
NA |
| |
| Government
(Sources vary) |
NH |
(rank) |
CA |
(rank) |
US avg |
Governor
[As of 11/03/04]
| John Lynch (D)
Takes office: Jan 2005 |
|
Arnold Schwarzenneger (R)
Took office: Nov 2003 |
|
|
U.S. Senators
[As of 11/03/04] |
Judd Gregg (R)
[ 3rd term. Re-elected 11/04. ]
John Sununu (R)
[ 1st term. Elected 11/02. ]
|
|
Barbara Boxer (D)
[ 3rd term. Re-elected 11/04. ]
Dianne Feinstein (D)
[ 2rd term. Re-elected 11/00. ]
|
|
|
U.S. House of Representatives
[As of 11/03/04] |
2 Republicans
0 Democrats
0 Independent
|
|
33 Democrats
20 Republicans
0 Independent
|
|
|
State Legislature
[As of 11/03/04] |
House:
230 Rep (58%)
133 Dem (33%)
23 Rep/Dem (6%)
14 Dem/Rep (3%)
State Senate: 16 Rep (67%)
7 Dem (29%)
1 Rep/Dem (4%) |
|
Assembly:
48 Dem (60%)
32 Rep (40%)
State Senate:
25 Dem (62.5%)
15 Rep (37.5%) |
|
|
State and Local Government Employees
[March 2001 - In full-time equilvalents.
Source: US Census Bureau] |
65,689 |
|
1,735,142 |
|
|
State and Local Government Employees per 10,000 population
[March 2001 - In full-time equilvalents.
Source: US Census Bureau] |
531.56 |
|
512.27 |
|
546.47 |
State Tax Revenue per Capita
[2002 -
Source: US Census Bureau] |
$1,477.52 |
5 |
$2,214.24 |
42 |
$1,853.50 |
State Revenue (All Sources) per Capita
[2001 -
Source: US Census Bureau] |
$3,633.70 |
13 |
$5,089.04 |
38 |
$4,145.14 |
State Expenditures per Capita
[2001 -
Source: US Census Bureau] |
$3,503.77 |
8 |
$4,926.89 |
38 |
$4,158.63 |
State Budget Revenues - All State & Local Sources
FY 2003 - Includes General, Bond, and Other Funds.
[Sources: State of New Hampshire Dept of Administrative Services Budget Office Governor's Executive Budget Summary,
State of California Dept of Finance 2003-2004 Final Budget Summary] |
$3.028 billion |
|
$86.132 billion |
|
|
State Federal Fund Revenues
FY2003 - Federal Funds only.
[Sources: State of New Hampshire Dept of Administrative Services Budget Office Governor's Executive Budget Summary,
State of California Dept of Finance 2003-2004 Final Budget Summary] |
$1.204 billion |
|
$55.039 billion |
|
|
State Budget Revenues - All Sources
FY2003
[Sources: State of New Hampshire Dept of Administrative Services Budget Office Governor's Executive Budget Summary,
State of California Dept of Finance 2003-2004 Final Budget Summary] |
$4.232 billion |
5 |
$141.171 billion |
50 |
|
State Budget Expenditures - All Funds
Includes all State and Federal Funds.
[FY2003 - Sources: State of New Hampshire Dept of Administrative Services Budget Office Governor's Executive Budget Summary,
State of California Dept of Finance 2003-2004 Final Budget Summary] |
$4.232 billion |
|
$166.834 billion |
|
|
State Budget Surplus or Deficit
[FY2003 -
Sources: State of New Hampshire Dept of Administrative Services Budget Office Governor's Executive Budget Summary,
State of California Dept of Finance 2003-2004 Final Budget Summary] |
($37.5 million) |
|
($25,663 million) |
|
|
% of Land Owned by State Government
[1997
- Source: National Wilderness Institute] |
2.9% |
24 |
2.2% |
21 |
8.7% |
% of Land Owned by Federal Government
[1997
- Source: National Wilderness Institute] |
15.1% |
31 |
49.9% |
43 |
31.1% |
% of Land Owned by State and Federal Government
[1997
- Source: National Wilderness Institute] |
18.0% |
31 |
52.1% |
42 |
39.8% |