Well this has been one heck of a couple of years for the Republican Party. Never in my life time have I see anything like it — given that’s a relatively short lifetime, but who’s counting?
And now that we’re headed towards the next big election, we wanted to get a better sense of what parts of New Hampshire would be the most likely to back Donald Trump again.
Specifically, which cities have the highest number of conservative voters in the Granite State?
In order to do so, we turned our sites on measuring how each city in New Hampshire with populations greater than 5,000 voted and contributed to political campaigns in the past several years. The cities with the highest percentage of voters who voted republican and gave the most to conservatives where named the most conservative cities in the state.
If you’re wondering, Hanover is the most liberal city in New Hampshire of all those we measured.
And to be clear, we didn’t form this list based on our own biases — we relied on the cold hard data. For more on how we ran the numbers, keep on reading. Then we’ll take a closer look at each of our top 10 most conservative cities in New Hampshire.
And if you already knew these places were conservative, check out some more reading about New Hampshire and the most conservative places in the country:
How we determined the most conservative cities in New Hampshire for 2019
We started by making a list of every city in New Hampshire over 5,000 people based on the 2013-2017 American Community Survey (The most recent data). That left us with 25 cities and towns.
We then measured the voting record and donation data to determine which places lean the most rightward in their allegiances by:
- Percentage Of Registered Republicans
- # Of Contributions To Republicans Per Capita
- $ Amount Contributed To Republicans Per Capita
Next, we ranked each city from 1 to 25 for each of the criteria where number one was the most conservative.
The winner, Laconia, is “The Most Conservative City in New Hampshire For 2019”.
Let’s go through these conservative places, shall we?
The 10 Most Conservative Places In New Hampshire For 2019
/10
Laconia is a city in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 15,951 at the 2010 census, and an estimated 16,470 as of 2016. It is the county seat of Belknap County. Laconia, situated between Lake Winnipesaukee and Winnisquam Lake, includes the villages of Lakeport and Weirs Beach. Each June for nine days beginning on the Saturday of the weekend before Father’s Day and ending on Father’s Day, the city hosts Laconia Motorcycle Week, also more simply known as ‘bike week’, one of the country’s largest rallies, and each winter, the Laconia World Championship Sled Dog Derby. The city is also the site of the state’s annual Pumpkin Festival since 2015, having organized it after its former home of Keene rejected it due to riots in their neighborhoods in 2014. The city also includes one of the colleges of the Community College System of New Hampshire.
/10
Berlin is a city along the Androscoggin River in Cos County in northern New Hampshire, United States. The population was 10,051 at the 2010 census. It includes the village of Cascade. Located on the edge of the White Mountains, the city’s boundaries extend into the White Mountain National Forest. Berlin is home to the Berlin and Cos County Historical Society’s Moffett House Museum & Genealogy Center, Service Credit Union Heritage Park, the Berlin Fish Hatchery, and the White Mountains Community College, member of the Community College System of New Hampshire.
/10
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, in the United States. It is the only city in the county, but only the fourth-largest community, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census. As of 2016 the estimated population was 21,485. A historic seaport and popular summer tourist destination, Portsmouth was the home of the Strategic Air Command’s Pease Air Force Base, later converted to Portsmouth International Airport at Pease with limited commercial air service.
/10
Hampton is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 14,976 at the 2010 census. Located beside the Atlantic Ocean, Hampton is home to Hampton Beach, a summer tourist destination.
/10
Londonderry is a town in western Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The town is bordered on the north by the city of Manchester and on the east by the town of Derry. The population was 24,129 at the 2010 census. Londonderry is known for its apple orchards and is home to the headquarters of Stonyfield Farm and partial home to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.
/10
Newmarket is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 8,936 at the 2010 census. Some residents are students and employees at the nearby University of New Hampshire in Durham.
/10
Derry is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 33,109 at the 2010 census. Although it is a town and not a city, Derry is the fourth most-populous community in the state. The town’s nickname, “Spacetown”, derives from the fact that Derry is the birthplace of Alan Shepard, the first astronaut from the United States in space. Derry was also for a time the home of the poet Robert Frost and his family.
/10
Exeter is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The town’s population was 14,306 at the 2010 census. Exeter was the county seat until 1997, when county offices were moved to neighboring Brentwood. Home to the Phillips Exeter Academy, a private university-preparatory school, Exeter is situated where the Exeter River feeds the tidal Squamscott River.
/10
Claremont is the only city in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 13,355 at the 2010 census.
/10
Nashua is a city in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2010 census, Nashua had a total population of 86,494, making it the second-largest city in the state after Manchester. As of 2016 the population had risen to an estimated 87,882.
Summing Up The Conservative Strongholds in New Hampshire
Well there you have it, the places in New Hampshire that have the highest number of conservatives per capita, with Laconia ranking as the least conservative in the entire state.
If you’re curious, here are the least conservative cities in New Hampshire:
- Hanover
- Lebanon
- Keene
For more New Hampshire reading, check out:
- 10 Best Places To Live In New Hampshire
- These Are The 10 Best Counties To Live In New Hampshire
- 10 Cheapest Places To Live In New Hampshire
- 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In New Hampshire
- These Are The 10 Best Places To Retire In New Hampshire
- These Are The 10 Richest Cities In New Hampshire
- 10 Safest Places In New Hampshire
- 10 Worst Places To Live In New Hampshire
Detailed List Of The Most Conservative Places In New Hampshire
| Rank | City | % Conservative |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laconia, NH | 55.1% |
| 2 | Berlin, NH | 50.9% |
| 3 | Portsmouth, NH | 49.9% |
| 4 | Hampton, NH | 49.9% |
| 5 | Londonderry, NH | 49.9% |
| 6 | Newmarket, NH | 49.9% |
| 7 | Derry, NH | 49.9% |
| 8 | Exeter, NH | 49.9% |
| 9 | Claremont, NH | 47.6% |
| 10 | Nashua, NH | 46.7% |
| 11 | Hudson, NH | 46.7% |
| 12 | Milford, NH | 46.7% |
| 13 | Manchester, NH | 46.7% |
| 14 | Pinardville, NH | 46.7% |
| 15 | South Hooksett, NH | 45.0% |
| 16 | Concord, NH | 45.0% |
| 17 | Suncook, NH | 45.0% |
| 18 | Franklin, NH | 45.0% |
| 19 | Somersworth, NH | 42.1% |
| 20 | Rochester, NH | 42.1% |
| 21 | Durham, NH | 42.1% |
| 22 | Dover, NH | 42.1% |
| 23 | Keene, NH | 40.3% |
| 24 | Lebanon, NH | 37.1% |
| 25 | Hanover, NH | 37.1% |
