New Hampshire again leads region in population gains

O1 ORD, 1. . While most 1ew (ngland states are losing population, 1ew ampshire has continued its trend of modest gains, according to the latest U.S. ensus Bureau estimates.

The estimates released this week were based not on the yet-to-be released ensus, but from the last round of estimates, which cover July to July . During that time, Maine and 1ew ampshire were the only 1ew (ngland states to gain population, with 1ew ampshire seeing the region’s largest percentage increase for the third year in a row.

Maine and 1ew ampshire have gained population in each of the past four years, and Massachusetts grew in three of the four. onnecticut, Rhode Island and 9ermont all lost population in at least three of the past four years.

While 1ew ampshire’s gain from to was small about , people compared with growth in the South and West, it is somewhat surprising given that states lost population last year and the overall growth rate for the U.S. was the lowest in at least years, said .enneth Johnson, senior demographer at the University of 1ew ampshire’s arsey School of 3ublic 3olicy.

“It’s impressive in a sense that the state is still e[periencing growth at a time when so many other states aren’t,” he said.

With more deaths than births, all of 1ew ampshire’s gain in recent years has been due to people moving into the state, according to an analysis by the arsey School. That in-migration had slowed and then stopped after the reat Recession but has begun returning.

Johnson’s past research has shown that recent migration gains were greatest among young adults. That helps offset the mortality rate among older residents at a time when the three northern 1ew (ngland states have the oldest median ages in the country.

“They’re all facing essentially the same problem. 1ew ampshire’s big advantage is that it continues to get migrants into the state,” Johnson said.