NH is like two different states.... Southern NH, from Greater Manchester on south, contains half the population is a a far suburb (or ex-urb) of Boston, while north of Concord, it is much more rural. Maine is a little like that, Greater Portland and south along the coast, vs. the rest of the state.

But ME, NH, and VT suffer from a "brain train," there are fewer opportunities for well educated people, and maybe half of the college-educated people leave. As one of my mentors frankly put it, You'll make more money in Mass.