Granite State Times

A college-based ranking placed New Hampshire in the top five for COVID-19 recovery.

In a report for Wallethub.com, experts from Yale University, Howard University, Towson University, Drexel University and SUNY Buffalo conducted a study ranking every U.S. state according to how quickly they recovered from the Covid-19 crisis. They used three key metrics: Covid-19 health, economy and labor market and leisure and travel.

New Hampshire ranked fifth out of 50 states overall and ranks eighth in Covid-19 health, 31st in economy and labor market, and 17th in leisure and travel, respectively.

"We expect consumer confidence to grow in coming weeks as the state continues recovering from the ill effects of the COVID-19 pandemic," Jim Roche, president of BIA New Hampshire told The Center Square. "The worst, we hope, is over."

Gov. Chris Sununu worked with a Republican-led Legislature throughout the pandemic, causing the state to now have the lowest unemployment rate in the country at 2.8%. A recent poll shows New Hampshire residents are increasingly optimistic about the state’s recovery, according to an article by The Center Square.

New Hampshire has one of the highest per-capita rates of the COVID-19 vaccine throughout the nation, with 46.1% of the state vaccinated at the end of May, The Center Square article said. 

New Hampshire also ranked 4th in the lowest unemployment rate compared to pre-covid levels, according to the same report.

Serving as the 82nd governor of New Hampshire, Sununu was elected into office in 2017 and is currently in his second term. During his first term, he balanced the state budget without creating new taxes and provided a $65 million tax relief for roads, bridges and school safety. 

Additionally, Sununu invested $275 million to allocate toward clean-water projects, growing educational opportunities and more. Before being elected as New Hampshire's governor, he served three terms on the New Hampshire Executive Council.