The Office of Partnerships at Saint Anselm College hosted and collaborated with Stay Work Play NH on its recent Quality of Life Index release and event at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics in early November.
Stay Work Play released its 2025 Quality of Life Index, the state’s only recurring survey that asks young people directly how it feels to live, work, and build a future here. The third installment of the survey - following editions in 2018 and 2023 conducted by the Saint Anselm College Survey Center - captured responses from 517 young people across the state and reveals a nuanced picture: New Hampshire’s core strengths remain strong, but the life stage when people most want to put down roots is getting harder to navigate.
The survey shows a clear pattern across age groups. Young adults 18–25 report high satisfaction and optimism about living in New Hampshire. But satisfaction drops sharply among 26–35-year-olds - a period Stay Work Play is calling the “Bridge to Happiness” - when people are trying to buy homes, start families, and advance in their careers. Satisfaction then rises again after age 35, suggesting that those who make it across that bridge rediscover what they love about New Hampshire.
“What this data tells us is not that young people don’t love New Hampshire - they do,” said Corinne Benfield, executive director of Stay Work Play. “It tells us the pathway to staying has gotten harder. Housing, childcare, and career growth are weighing heavily on 26- to 35-year-olds. If we want them to build their lives here, we have to lower those barriers. This is actionable - business, government, and community leaders can use this to keep young talent in New Hampshire.”
Key findings presented yesterdayto an audience of nearly 100 attendees at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College include:
- Core strengths endure. Safety, tax environment, and access to nature/outdoor recreation remain top reasons young people choose New Hampshire.
- Pressure points are intensifying. Housing affordability, childcare access, mental health care, public transportation, and perceptions of career opportunity are rated worse or no better than other places.
- Regional experiences differ. Young people in the state’s more populated southeastern counties report stronger quality-of-life scores than those in more rural regions - even as many respondents say they want the option to live in rural or small-town communities.
- Advocacy is cooling. Fewer young people are “promoters” who would enthusiastically recommend New Hampshire to peers; more have shifted into a neutral “it’s fine” category, signaling the state can’t take talent retention for granted.
- Social life is New Hampshire’s Achilles’ heel: Belonging and connection matter when it comes to retaining talent. Without strong ties to the community, opportunities to meet friends or spark relationships, we risk losing the next generation of talent to competing states/markets.
- Yet more plan to stay. Despite growing friction, the number of respondents who say they intend to remain in New Hampshire has increased since 2023 - suggesting both a deep attachment to the state and practical constraints that keep people here.
The 2025 survey also reinforces that quality of life is not just about amenities - it is about affordability plus opportunity plus connection. Respondents rated social life and nightlife as weaker attributes, and many said it can be hard to meet people or feel a strong sense of community, especially during the same years when housing and childcare are most expensive.
“This is a roadmap,” Benfield added. “If employers offer flexible work and clearer career pathways, if communities add housing options young people can actually afford, and if the state continues to invest in childcare and transit, we can strengthen that Bridge to Happiness - and keep the next generation here.”
Following the presentation of the data by Benfield and E.J. Powers, partner at Montagne Powers and past Stay Work Play co-chair, a panel of leaders and experts examined the findings in depth, discussing the forces driving young people’s choices and the implications for workforce, community, and policy.
Panelists included:
- Corinne Benfield, Executive Director, Stay Work Play NH
- Max Latona, Executive Director, Office of Partnerships, Saint Anselm College
- Natch Greyes, Vice President of Public Policy, Business & Industry Association
- Jodie Nazaka, Director of Economic Development, City of Manchester
- Elissa Margolin, Director at Initiative for Housing Policy and Practice, Saint Anselm College
“We were delighted to work with Corinne and Stay Work Play,” said Office of Partnerships Executive Director and Professor Max Latona, Ph.D. “Saint Anselm shares the goal of attracting and retaining young people in New Hampshire. Our own students come from around the country and hope to launch careers and families here. Their happiness and success are central to our mission, so offices across the College, including the Initiative for Housing Policy and Practice, the Career Development Center, Admissions, and the Meelia Center for Community Engagement, will draw on these latest Quality of Life Index results.”
The survey was conducted in partnership with the Saint Anselm College Survey Center and Montagne Powers. The survey was made possible through the generous contributions of Delta Dental, Fidelity Investments, New Hampshire Realtors and the University System of New Hampshire. The full report, including breakouts by age, region, and life stage, is available at www.stayworkplay.org/survey.