Concord ranked 7th best state capital to live in nationwide, study finds

Concord, New Hampshire, has the lowest violent-crime rate per 1,000 residents, 1.92, which is 9.6 times lower than in Little Rock, Arkansas, the city with the highest at 18.50. (Courtesy photo)

With 17 state capitals being the most populated cities in their states, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2023's Best State Capitals for Safety and More as well as expert commentary.

To identify the most livable seats of state government, WalletHub compared all 50 state capitals across 49 key metrics, ranging from the cost of living to K-12 school-system quality to the share of residents who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Best vs. Worst

• Concord, New Hampshire, has the lowest violent-crime rate per 1,000 residents, 1.92, which is 9.6 times lower than in Little Rock, Arkansas, the city with the highest at 18.50.
• Raleigh, North Carolina, has the highest median household income (adjusted for cost of living), $75,048, which is 2.3 times higher than in Hartford, Connecticut, the city with the lowest at $33,078.
• Montpelier, Vermont, has the highest share of adults age 25 and older with at least a bachelor's degree, 61.20 percent, which is 4.3 times higher than in Trenton, New Jersey, the city with the lowest at 14.20 percent.

To view the full report and your city's rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-state-capitals/19030

Expert Commentary

What are the benefits and drawbacks of living in a state's capital city?

"The benefits of living in a state's capital city include access to government resources and the ability to be more involved in the political process. On the other hand, drawbacks include a higher cost of living due to higher taxes and an increased demand for housing. Potentially there could be gentrification which can lead to higher housing costs, displacement of lower-income households, and the influx of new businesses and amenities, which can have both positive and negative impacts."
Ivis García, Ph.D., AICP - Associate Professor, Texas A&M University

"Some of the benefits associated with living in a state's capital city are that capital cities in general tend to attract certain amenities. For instance, the City of Des Moines also is the location of the Iowa State Fair. Capital cities have other amenities such as zoos, botanical gardens, parks, entertainment arenas/sports teams, convention centers, and also hospitals and universities. State capitals typically have good transportation systems/infrastructure - such as highways or airports. Capital cities also serve as art and cultural centers, so they often have museums, or host music events or art festivals. Capital cities generally offer more diverse shopping and dining options...Drawbacks to living in a state's capital are that often crime rates are higher, and costs are higher (higher housing, cost of living)."
Susan Bradbury, Ph.D. - Professor, Iowa State University

In evaluating the best state capitals to live in, what are the top five indicators?

"The top five indicators for evaluating the best state capitals to live in are: economic strength, quality of education, cost of living, safety, and quality of life. When evaluating the best state capitals to live in, economic strength is important to consider because it can indicate the strength of the job market and the availability of services and amenities. Quality of education is also important, as it can indicate the quality of schools and the level of educational attainment of the population. The cost of living is an important factor to consider, as it can indicate the affordability of goods and services and the amount of disposable income available to residents. Safety is also important to consider, as it can indicate the overall level of crime and the safety of neighborhoods. Finally, quality of life is an important indicator to consider, as it can indicate the availability of leisure activities and the overall satisfaction of residents."
Ivis García, Ph.D., AICP - Associate Professor, Texas A&M University

"There has been a lot of research on identifying the 'best cities' for all sorts of things (e.g., best cities to retire; best cities for small businesses), however, the indicators used in creating the 'best of' rankings are fairly consistent. The indicators also typically change somewhat based on the current economic situation and what seems to matter the most to people. This applies to evaluating the best state capitals. So, the top five indicators are related to (1) affordability - especially housing (to own or rent a home), and other related costs such as utilities, transportation, etc.; (2) wages and employment opportunities (such as good jobs available and how far do your wages go in terms of cost living expenses); (3) entertainment, arts/recreation, nightlife/restaurants; (4) quality of the schools or educational opportunities and (5) crime rate/safety."
Susan Bradbury, Ph.D. - Professor, Iowa State University

Are residents of capital cities more likely to be politically engaged, all else equal?

"Residents of capital cities may be more likely to be politically engaged, as they have direct access to the government and policy-making process. Residents of capital cities may also be more likely to be politically engaged due to the larger presence of media outlets, political organizations, and advocacy groups. This can create a culture of civic engagement and provide citizens with the tools and resources they need to become informed and active participants in the political process. Additionally, the presence of institutions of higher learning such as universities and community colleges can provide opportunities for students to become involved in the political process, as well as to participate in internships and other educational opportunities. This can lead to an increased level of political awareness among the population, which can ultimately lead to a more politically engaged citizenry."
Ivis García, Ph.D., AICP - Associate Professor, Texas A&M University

"It partly depends on how you define politically engaged. Certainly, proximity to government matters - people tend to be more engaged with issues that impact and affect their lives and their community. Thus, overall, you find that people are more engaged in local government issues, vs. state government matters, vs. federal government matters."
Susan Bradbury, Ph.D. - Professor, Iowa State University