New Hampshire Again Ranked the Safest State in the Nation

CONCORD, NH - Today, Governor Kelly Ayotte and law enforcement leaders celebrated New Hampshire once again ranking as the safest state in the nation in U.S. News & World Report's 2026 "Best State" rankings.

"New Hampshire is the safest state in the nation thanks to the dedicated first responders who protect and serve our communities each day," said Governor Ayotte. "I'm grateful for their efforts and proud of the work we've done together- we fixed our broken bail system, strengthened protections for victims of crimes like domestic violence and human trafficking, restored retirement benefits for first responders, and more. We'll continue these efforts to ensure New Hampshire remains #1."

"As we celebrate New Hampshire being named the safest state in the nation once again, we also recognize our work is never done," said Hillsborough County Sheriff Brian Newcomb. "The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office will continue to work alongside law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local level to keep dangerous criminals off our streets and protect victims of crimes. I look forward to working alongside Governor Ayotte to ensure we remain #1 for public safety for years to come."

"New Hampshire is the safest state in the nation because we have leaders who understand the importance of backing our first responders," said Brian Ryll, President of the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire. "From restoring retirement benefits that were taken away to expanding access to life-saving cancer screenings, Governor Ayotte and leaders in Concord are taking care of the men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve Granite Staters."

"Our state is #1 in the country for public safety because law enforcement collaborates at every level to protect and serve Granite Staters," said Chief Anne Perriello of the Pelham Police Department. "Thanks to the strong partnership we have with Governor Ayotte and leaders in Concord, we're keeping violent offenders off our streets with a stronger bail law, making our roads safer with stricter penalties for refusing a DUI test, and protecting victims of crime. We won't take New Hampshire's status as the safest state in the nation for granted, and we'll keep working together to ensure it stays that way."

The Granite State was ranked #6 overall for Best State in the Nation and also ranks #1 for economic opportunity. View the full rankings report here.