We asked, you answered: Which New England state should we drop?

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As we all know six states make up New England—Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Here’s a little history:

The first permanent settlement here was Plymouth Colony in 1620, when the Pilgrims landed in what’s now Massachusetts. Massachusetts Bay Colony followed in 1630.

New Hampshire began as a collection of fishing and trading posts along the coast before being granted as a separate province in the mid-1600s.

Vermont’s story is quirkier—it wasn’t originally part of New England as a British colony. It started as a disputed area between New Hampshire and New York, then declared itself an independent republic in 1777.

Maine was originally part of Massachusetts until 1820, when it split off as its own state under the Missouri Compromise.

Rhode Island is basically New England’s rebel child. It was founded in the 1630s by Roger Williams, a minister who got kicked out of Massachusetts Bay for his religious and political views. He believed in total freedom of religion and separation of church and state—radical ideas back then. He set up a settlement at Providence. A few years later, Anne Hutchinson and others established Portsmouth and Newport.

Connecticut grew out of Puritans from Massachusetts Bay moving west for farmland and more autonomy in the 1630s. It’s known for the Fundamental Orders of 1639, which many historians consider the first written constitution in the Western world.

There are debates about whether these states actually mesh well together. So, this week, we asked readers which New England state we should drop. Here’s what they said…

“At first I was going to say Rhode Island because of its size and lack of mountains but Newport won me over. I believe Connecticut is least like the other New England states and more emulates New York.” — Stuart Schuster

“Drop New Hampshire. It is out of sync with the other five states in that it is politically very regressive.” — Tim Kelly

“I hate to say it because I live there, but NH is the oddball of the NE states—in theology and policies. My daughter said it really is a southern state sitting in the middle of NE. I have to agree in many respects but I am hoping greater minds will prevail and elections will alter the course of past history and move us in more alignment with the other NE states.” — Lynne Walsh

“New Hampshire should be the one to go. Or a least change the motto to ‘Live Somewhat Free or Die Trying.'” — Mike Gravel

“Connecticut and Rhode Island as they are indistinguishable for the most part!” — Michael Blackledge

“New Hampshire is not in line with the rest of New England states with respect to the conviction of democracy and support of the US Constitution. NH is the only state not part of the North East Health Alliance. As a native-born New Hampshirite, I’m angry and embarrassed by the governor and ‘old white men’ Legislature holding back the potential for this state.” — R Carr 

“Do not drop any New England states. They are all unique and beautiful!” — Jill Alexander 

“New Hampshire. We should be affiliated with Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Florida, given the current political trajectory dictated by our MAGA-dominated Republican Legislature and weak-kneed governor. We lag behind our New England neighbors in every regard: from public school and higher ed funding, to climate action, to protecting reproductive freedom for all. As a 38-year resident of the state, deeply involved in our government and politics for decades, I have a tough time explaining to out-of-state friends just how NH evolved from the Live Free or Die libertarian ethos to one where the government is dictating everything from health care access to the bathroom you use to what is said in the classroom.” — Susan Arnold 

“New Hampshire! We go against everyone else because our politicians all have kissed the ring and are incapable of independent thought.
I think New England should drop this Sununu-enabled, continued-by-Ayotte backward state! We are a disgrace!” — Mary Ann Acone 

“NH. Think of all the things the other NE states do together while we go off on our own or, more often, do nothing. I love you, NH, but you kill me. Why not join RGGI or RPS or the New England health care initiatives, like the NE Healthcare Collaborative? Where we used to be fiscally conservative, we’re now miserly and sometimes cruel. Think of the many education policies and funding (K-college) as examples. We’re giving away public money to private schools and hurting local communities. Add in housing, child care, and inequitable high local taxes: we’re chasing people away. What will the future bring?” — Marcia Blaine

“New Hampshire. It’s more in line with Mississippi, Alabama and other states that value fascism over humanity.”— Joyce Hurd

“What?! We should not drop any states. New Hampshire needs to get on board with other New England states as far as health care, regulation of marijuana, and education. We should also not even think about redistricting mid-census to benefit the Republicans. New England has to stick together during these treacherous and possibly dangerous times. And, New Hampshire needs the other states in New England to stay true to the ideals set out by our founders.” — Laura Dunham 

“Drop off Connecticut and Rhode Island.” — Julie Swan

“Connecticut. It has been 30 years since I lived there, but the population, at least in the more populous southeastern and Long Island Sound shoreline communities, is more in tune with New York than the rest of New England.” — Joe Vogeslang

“Connecticut seems to have more in common with the mid-Atlantic states.” — Lois Westerhoff