The southern part of New Hampshire contains all of the major cities, most of the population and industry, and still a goodly amount of the scenery that brings so many people to this state.

The Merrimack Valley is home to Manchester, the state's largest city. Long an important mill town, Manchester is the fastest-growing metropolitan area in New England, largely because of its business-friendly nature. It was named the second most tax-friendly city in the country by Kiplinger's and ranked 1st by Forbes on its list of "America's 100 Cheapest Places to Live."

To the north of Manchester is Concord, the state capital; to the south, Nashua, the only city in the U.S. to be ranked #1 twice in Money magazine's annual "Best Place to Live in America" list. Both cities are part of the same boom that has transformed the entire Merrimack Valley.

New Hampshire's coast is only 18 miles in length, but surprisingly includes some pristine shoreline. The area is dominated by Portsmouth, a small but vibrant city that blends a wealth of colonial architecture with modern restaurants, shops, and theaters.

In the western part of the region is the Monadnock range, capped by Mt. Monadnock, one of the state's highest peaks. This area, and the Lakes district in the northern part of the region, are relatively less developed, and more typical of the small-town New England of the American imagination.