For the 4th consecutive year, New Hampshire was named the Nation’s Most Livable State by Morgan Quitno Press (author of “State Rankings 2007″)

“ New Hampshire does an outstanding job in a number of quality of life areas,” said Scott Morgan, president of Morgan Quitno Press.

“The state has the lowest crime and poverty rates in the country. In addition, the citizens of New Hampshire are employed, well educated and involved in their communities.”

Recognizing a state for its high quality of life, Morgan Quitno Press issues its Livable State Award based on 44 factors selected from updated editions of its annual reference book, “State Rankings.” The 2007 edition of “State Rankings” compares states in more than 550 categories. Morgan Quitno considers its award unique because it takes into account a broad range of economic, educational, health-oriented, public safety and environmental statistics. To determine a state’s “livability rating,” Morgan Quitno averaged each state’s rankings for 44 categories. Those categories included both positive and negative factors, such as unemployment rates, job growth, sunny days, birthrates, homeownership and highway fatality rates, among other criteria.