5 Ways New Hampshire Does Things Differently Than Maine Does

The signs you see as you enter the states of New Hampshire and Maine demonstrate just how different our states are. Maine welcomes you with "The Way Life Should Be," while New Hampshire does so with "Live Free or Die."

We may be neighbors, but there are a lot of differences in the way Maine and New Hampshire do things in their respective states. Some are in the quality of work done in the state while others are in the way our states run things.

Here are five of those things that New Hampshire and Maine do differently.

Maintaining Roads

When I cross the border into New Hampshire from Maine, the difference in the quality of the road changes, sometimes rather dramatically. After traveling on bumpy roads in Maine that feel like they could use new pavement, I feel like I'm gliding over the road on the smoothest surface known to man. Just look at the difference above at the border between states on Route 2. You don't need me to point out which state is which.

No State Income or Sales Tax

New Hampshire is one of nine states that don't require a state income or sales tax. That's more money in New Hampshire resident's pockets. Their local tax burden is a mere 6.14% with only Delaware and Alaska lower. Meanwhile, Maine's local tax burden is a whopping 11.14%, the third highest in the nation.

Liquor Stores at Rest Stops

Need to stop to pee in New Hampshire on I-95. You can do that and also pick up some booze while you're there. Where else are you going to see a liquor store with its own offramp from the highway? New Hampshire owns these liquor stores and they do charge tax on booze at a flat 30 cents per gallon, making it cheaper than Maine's 35 cents per gallon. The booze is cheaper too. A 1.75L bottle of Absolut vodka goes for $24.99 in New Hampshire and $36.99 in Maine.

No Seat Belt Law

This one is where New Hampshire residents take the state motto "Live Free or Die," literally. New Hampshire is the only state in the country that does not have a seat belt law. New Hampshire also doesn't have a motorcycle helmet law, but they aren't alone as Iowa and Illinois have no helmet laws either. Maine's seat belt law has been in place since 1995.

No Bottle Return

Ever notice on that can or bottle all the states listed that have a 5-cent deposit? You won't find New Hampshire on that list. However, I will say in my visits to New Hampshire, I haven't seen a lot of empty cans and bottles on the side of the roads like there used to be in Maine. The bottle bill was enacted in 1976 to give people an incentive to not chuck that can out the window. New Hampshire never did.