America’s public health report card is in, and New Hampshire has retained its crown as the country’s healthiest state.
Homicides and deaths from drugs and firearms declined nationally in 2025, two of the key findings in a state-by-state summary of public health outcomes published Thursday by the United Health Foundation, the non-profit philanthropic arm of medical insurance giant UnitedHealth Group.
New Hampshire emerged as the undisputed heavyweight in state-level health and wellness for the fourth consecutive year. Factors that contributed to New Hampshire’s appeal include low non-medical drug use, high secondary school completion rates, and a nearly 10% drop in homelessness. Granite Staters are also more likely to live close together, with nearly two-thirds of the population clustered in three metropolitan counties that include mid-sized cities such as Manchester and Dover.
While New Hampshirites gave in to some vices, such as heavy drinking, they were also less likely to engage in other unhealthy habits, such as smoking or staying physically inactive. The state also ranked highly in air and water quality, reading proficiency, and community safety.
The results nationally, however, are middling. While the U.S. as a whole has taken important steps in reducing premature deaths and addressing mental health issues, progress is uneven, and highlights some of the country’s most persistent divides.
