I lived in NH for 15 years, and trust me, the taxes on my modest home were quite high compared to a comparable town in MA. But since I wasn’t paying income tax it was well worth it.
The biggest thing with the taxes in NH vs MA is that it varies a lot from town to town. There are towns that are next door to each other where the taxes are nearly double in NH. I think the main reason for this is businesses as a tax base in the town.
If you’ve got a small town with no businesses and just residential homes then there’s no one to help with the tax burden. While a town nearby might have a few industrial parks or a vibrant downtown area or something which can take a huge bite out of it. Plus obviously, spending matters a lot and the choices that the towns make.
In MA, at least in my experience, it’s a much more level playing field since the property tax is only a small portion of the overall percentage. A “bedroom community” that commutes into Boston doesn’t need to have businesses, since all those salaries are being taxed which generates revenue.
In NH, local politics matters a lot for this reason. I looked at a town the other day that had free summer camp for all the kids, great schools, lavish services for things like trash pick up and parks. But you paid for it. The taxes were 50% higher than the surrounding towns.
The majority of the population in every single county in Vermont voted for a self-described socialist for the US senate in 2012. The only difference was that in Chittenden county (Burlington) he got north of 70% while in the less populous counties he had to settle for 60%+.
So while the rural counties might be conservative relative to Burlington, its a pretty big stretch to say they’re conservative
Vermont is upside down. Explains it completely.
No, it’s your statement that’s untrue. NH’s property taxes are the second highest in the US. MA, in contrast, comes in #20.
OP, NH has more in common with Maine than VT, or at least the southern portion of Maine. Despite NH having only a wee tiny coast, we have a lot of the same ocean-related industry as Maine, which of course VT does not. And, of course, decades and decades of fighting over those very industries gives us a common history we lack with VT.
It’s worth pointing out that N.H. is not that conservative. More so than VT, sure, but it’s still more like Florida than Utah. You’re almost as likely to meet a militant paranoid lefty as a militant paranoid conservative. Heck, Dartmouth College (the real-life Animal House) is in N.H.
As someone that has never been to either, I tend to lump them together and I have no idea which one is which.
However, a simple glance at a map should be enough to tell they are diametrically opposed to each another.
Four words: Don’t Tread On Me.
Actually, as Elvis noted, NH is becoming much more liberal over time. When I was in school in Boston (mid 70s), NH was very, very conservative. It’s pretty much a “purple” state now (as much as I hate that designation). Much of southern NH (where most people live) is basically an extension of the Boston metro area.
Actually: Live Free or Die
[Morbo] That is not how jobs work [/Morbo]
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You can’t “take a layoff” - your boss decides who gets laid off and when, not you.
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If you mean “quit” instead of “take a layoff” - then you don’t get unemployment benefits if you quit.
:smack: I’ve been away too long… how could I mix those up!!
Another aspect to compare the differences between VT and NH is with regards to their respective laws regarding concealed carry of a handgun.
VT:
NH:
VT: http://www.nraila.org/gun-laws/state-laws/vermont.aspx
NH: http://www.nraila.org/gun-laws/state-laws/new-hampshire.aspx
Basic summary: in Vermont, if you can legally own a handgun then if you’re over 21 you can carry concealed without any permit of any kind. In New Hampshire you have to apply and pay for, and receive, a permit before you can carry concealed - much more strict.
I distinctly remember learning (many years ago) that the ‘Don’t Tread on Me’ motto was associated with Vermont, back in the day (‘the day’ being about the time VT became a state, mind you). I can’t find any evidence for this with a quick Google search, but I’m confident someone said it.
“Don’t tread on me” predated Vermont statehood in 1791.
My wife’s from Vermont and I’ve read a lot of its history; I know of no particular connection that the phrase has to the state.
In the real world that’s not how it works. I’ve got friends and family that work in unions in MA. The management walks around and asks who wants to get a layoff.
It’s the only state slogan that should have “motherfucker” after it.
It doesn’t work with any of the others.
“The Constitution State, Motherfucker!”
“The Garden State, Motherfucker!”
I’m sure your cite is correct. But my experience with towns on the border is that there are plenty of MA towns with higher rates than NH towns a few miles away.
I bet looking at the state as a whole there is more of a discrepancy. There’s a lot of small towns up north that have high taxes as a % of value.
I’m sure there are plenty of people here who supervise/hire employees - let’s see if they believe that’s how the world works. I’d rather have firsthand evidence than “my brother told me this happens.”
In the tech industry it’s common to have early retirement packages and employees can decide if they want to take it or not. It’s pretty much the first order of business when a head count reduction is needed.
NH is “The Granite State”, those others aren’t the state slogans, they’re nicknames.
Looking at the list of state slogans, a few of them would sound cool with “Motherfucker” after them.