Springfield College is home to students from across the world. International students frequent Alden Street, and many west coast states are represented as well. However, the majority of students that attend Springfield College are from the New England region.
Massachusetts comes in at number one. Out of 2,258 undergraduate students attending Springfield College, 612 of them are from the Bay State – just under 38%.
Not surprisingly, due to Springfield’s location near the southern border of Massachusetts, the next state with the highest percentage of students is Connecticut (27%). These two states are probably the most obvious, due to the location of the College.
However, next up on the list come New York (294, 13%) and New Jersey (98, 4%), both of which are higher than that of the other New England states.
To round out the bunch with New Hampshire (66, 2.9%) , Rhode Island (61, 2.7%), Maine (47, 2%) and Vermont (24, 1%), only a handful of students in each class are making the trek to Springfield College.
With that, there is always high debate on what state is the best. Massachusetts and Connecticut both have an abundance of defenders. However, those who hail from the others feel strongly about why their state is better.
Sports teams, historical events and activities are some of the aspects that spark debate over the credibility of each state. What makes a state special?
The Springfield Student asked writers – who each hail from one of the six New England states – to defend their home turf and explain why it is the best.
Massachusetts- Tucker Paquette
Massachusetts has a lot working in its favor. From tourist destinations to popular vacation spots to some of the best sports teams in the country, the Bay State can offer something for everyone.
It wouldn’t be right to begin with anything other than the city of Boston when talking about Massachusetts. Whether someone is a tourist from far away or simply a resident of the state (or city), there is plenty to do around the area. Some options include going to a quality local restaurant (of which there are many options to choose from) or attending a sporting event (more on that later).
Also, Cape Cod is a fan favorite place to go on vacation for people in the region – and across the world – and for good reason: Cape Cod was named one of the “best beach destinations in the world” by travel experts. There are also a variety of dining options and fun activities – including the Cape Cod League, the collegiate summer league that has sent more than 1,000 former players on to play in the major leagues – available around the Cape, so it is safe to say that visitors aren’t lacking when it comes to options.
The sports teams from Boston are yet another highlight of the state. While there are a few decent collegiate teams, much of Massachusetts’ sports fame stems from the four main professional franchises – the Bruins, Celtics and Red Sox, as well as the Patriots (while technically representing all of New England, the Patriots are based in Foxborough, Mass., and the favorite team of many Massachusetts residents). The success that each of these teams have had over the past 20-or-so years is a common point of pride around the state, and their winning ways (a combined 12 titles since 2001) have a unique way of bringing residents of the Commonwealth together.
When factoring in all that the state brings to the table – world-class cities, vacation destinations and sports franchises – it is apparent that Massachusetts reigns supreme.
Rhode Island- Nick Pantages
The smallest state in America, Rhode Island is home to a plethora of neat things to do. The Ocean State has beautiful beaches, fun cities, beautiful colleges and much more. The main attraction is the beautiful neighborhood of Newport.
The best spot to check out is the massive mansions that line the coast of Newport, the greatest of which is the Breakers. The Breakers was built by the legendary Vanderbilt family and organized by Cornelius Vanderbilt, who had it constructed as a summer vacation getaway, as well as a powerful showing of his fortune.
There is also much to do in Newport, such as the beautiful beachside walking and biking paths, as well as the restaurants in the downtown area, most of them featuring delicious seafood.
The International Tennis Hall of Fame is also in Newport, where legends of the game as well as other contributors are enshrined.
If you haven’t gotten your mansion fix in Newport you can head down to Westerly, on the Connecticut border, and enjoy Misquamicut Beach, the best beach I have ever been to. The big waves and great atmosphere, including a DJ, arcade and food trucks make it a great attraction. If your time at the beach is up, there are more mansions right around the corner, notably housing Taylor Swift and Conan O’Brien.
Providence, the capital and most populated city of Rhode Island, also has a lot to do. The food on Federal Hill is to die for. The Hill hosts many bustling Italian restaurants and bakeries, with classic Italian-American staple dishes being served across the Hill.
From pasta dishes to chicken and veal cutlets and delicious seafood bars, Federal Hill has the best food in the state if you are a lover of Italian-American cuisine like myself.
Providence is also home to a variety of great schools. Yankees ace reliever Michael King, Colts First-Round pick Kwity Paye and reigning World Series MVP Jeremy Peña all graduated from Rhode Island high schools, and Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli as well as the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets head coaches, Joe Mazzulla and Michael Malone are Ocean State products.
Rhode Island is also home to the beautiful campus of Brown, a prestigious and picturesque Ivy League school.
The Providence Friars men’s basketball team consistently has the best student sections and atmosphere in all of college basketball.
Although the state – which is the home of George Washington’s second-hand man, Nathanael Greene, and where the legendary sit-com Family Guy took place – is very small, there is definitely plenty to do in Rhode Island, and more than enough to make it the most superior state in New England.
Connecticut- Patrick Fergus
Connecticut has always seemed to possess a reputation of irrelevancy. It is often referred to as simply a highway from one state to another, and while it doesn’t have any major sports teams or bustling metropolises, there is undoubtedly much more to the Constitution State.
The state’s natural beauty is notable whether it’s fall, spring, spring or summer. From its idyllic waterfront state parks to the quaint farms in the countryside, there is something for everyone. The picturesque scenic waterside views and lighthouses are truly one of a kind.
Connecticut has the perfect fusion of urban and rural areas, with peaceful towns never too far from a larger metropolitan area, bursting with a preponderance of different cultures and people. I live in the small town of New Milford, a mere 20 minutes away from Danbury, one of the larger cities in the state. Major cities like New Haven and Stamford are not too far out of the way.
New Haven, the second largest city according to population, is very well known for its Arts scene, with world-class theaters like the Schubert and many other museums, galleries and music venues. Visitors and locals alike flock to Wooster Street, home of the famous New-Haven style pizza.
Frank Pepe’s, Sally’s Apizza, and Modern Pizza are consistently ranked among the top pizzerias in the entire country. If you swing by, you’ll see lines around the block of people eager to try Pepe’s White Clam or Sally’s Tomato Pie.
Several blocks away is the prestigious Yale University, boasting academic excellence and first-class research. Connecticut College, Wesleyan, and UConn are just a few of the state’s other top-notch schools. UConn boasts one of the most successful Division I basketball programs, with a combined 15 national titles between the men’s and women’s teams, who have both secured their spot in the Sweet 16 in this year’s tournament.
Connecticut is full of its fair share of tourist attractions. By far the most popular, though, is the Mystic Seaport, a historic village full of museums, a shipyard, delectable restaurants, and the Mystic Aquarium. Historical landmarks are more or less commonplace in New England, and Connecticut is no different.
The Mark Twain house in the capital city of Hartford offers tours year-round of the legendary author’s home and Gillette Castle in East Haddam, a gorgeous stone mansion with unique decor and a medieval-style facade.
Only some entertainment avenues are historical, though, such as the XL Center, which holds various events. It serves as the second home for the UConn Huskies and numerous concerts and other events. Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort also have a special place in the nightlife scene. Not to mention that ESPN’s headquarters are located in Bristol, just down the road from the oldest amusement park in the U.S., Lake Compounce.
For me, Connecticut is far from the perfect state but has always been unfairly labeled as boring, bland and forgettable. There is plenty to do whether you’re visiting or calling the state your home. The beautiful scenery, great restaurants and plenty of opportunities for a great time are simply a few reasons why Connecticut is the best state in New England.
New Hampshire- Carley Crain
The Live Free or Die state is the place I have called home my entire life. And I believe it is the best state in New England. First off, there is no sales tax
As a college student in a lot of student debt, this is great! Alcohol is also a lot cheaper and is actually sold inside grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations and Walmarts, which is very convenient and practical for a 21-year-old.
My favorite part of NH? The mountains and scenery. The White Mountains are a region of the state that I call home. I have hiked hundreds of miles and have seen the most beautiful views as a New Hampshire resident. The White Mountains were even named the most scenic place in the United States by a group of travel photographers on Enjoytravel.com.
The White Mountains beat out places like White Sands National Park and Oahu, Hawaii, according to MassLive. The fall foliage during the autumn months has also been recognized by visitors worldwide. The rich colors that spread all over are a sight worth seeing. Additionally, I love to ski, and NH has a long list of impeccable mountains, including the biggest mountain in the Northeast, Mount Washington! (which is almost 7,000’ in elevation)
The seacoast and the lakes region are also very underrated parts of New Hampshire. The state parks of Hampton Beach are incredible – very well maintained, clean and private. The waves are always fun to body surf on and the rocks along the water are great to climb.
The lakes region, specifically Lake Winnipesaukee, is a beautiful spot to spend a summer day. From paddleboarding, kayaking, jet skiing and barbequing, there is something for everyone to do. The sunsets over the lake are like a scene out of a movie.
On the other hand, in New Hampshire, getting a license is a much easier process than in other states. There is no such thing as a permit. Someone can get their license the day they turn 16. And… we have much better drivers than in Massachusetts! Also, not as many tolls.
New Hampshire doesn’t often come up in discussions when speaking about what is the “best state in New England.” But it easily should, because to put it simply – the 603 is by far the best.
Maine- Reese Merritt
Recall the time you were driving or someone else was driving behind lanes of traffic, and that unusual license plate caught your eye. Not because the plate number was particularly hilarious, but because the design was dissimilar to the others around you. Perhaps it was the one from Alaska, or Texas or Idaho. Still, if you are from the Northeast, Vermont is easy to identify. All one has to do is look for the color green because the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles, associated with the Vermont Agency of Transportation, could not think of a more appropriate plate design in 1967.
Unlike Vermont, one of the other New England states developed a greater complementary plate design. Perched upon a pine cone and tassel, a black-capped chickadee sits in the top left corner. But more importantly, at the very bottom in large, black lettering, the word “Vacationland” appears.
Maine, the country’s “vacationland,” offers a unique setting that has lured tourists and vacationers for decades, thanks to its inevitable tranquility. It is not terribly difficult to find a rural area, lay down flat or sit on a bench, and listen to crystal-clear waves crash, hear the crickets chirp in the neverending, pristine woods, and perceive the plain, yet rare, silence.
While visiting New England’s only national park, Acadia National Park – which to be clear, is in Maine – watching the sun rise across the Atlantic Ocean and set along the skiable mountains is breathtaking. At four million visits a year, Acadia is one of the top 10 most visited national parks in the U.S., according to the National Park Service.
Even if rural life is not for you, there are still plenty of other urban attractions that in fact draw so many tourists that the state’s population triples in size during the summer season. Yes, the population triples. I’m sure you or a friend of yours has visited Ogunquit, meaning “beautiful place by the sea,” or potentially downtown Portland, or maybe the famous L.L. Bean boot in Freeport. Either way, a stroll through the vibrant neighborhood scene has been walked, a club in a mini golf course has been swung, an item in a glowing, tourist-attracting, upscale store has been bought, a drop of Maine maple syrup has been tasted, and of course, a fresh red lobster has been eaten.
For those who have only experienced Maine’s 3,478 miles of coastline – which is more than California’s – in the summer, winter is equally as nice. White Christmases, skiing and snowboarding, or at least an attempt at doing so, and ice fishing are all completely possible and easy to pursue in Maine. In general, snow for the lower three New England states is unfortunately difficult to persistently keep.
Vacationland is geographically larger than all of the other five New England states combined, and is equally more appealing and pleasing than all of the other five New England states combined. And no, not every Mainer has seen a moose.
Vermont- River Mitchell
Vermont is a beautiful state filled with mountains, lakes and much more. It has a lot of really nice benefits for its residents.
Skiing and hiking are a massive part of the lifestyle that many Vermonters live. Vermont has the best skiing in the Northeast, with multiple big resorts such as Stowe, Sugarbush, Killington and Jay Peak. The hiking scenery is also phenomenal in Vermont, with prominent mountains such as Mount Mansfield and Camels Hump.
The underpopulation of Vermont also makes for a very relaxing environment. You’ll almost never be stuck in any sort of traffic, even in the more populated part of Vermont. You also get to enjoy the peace and serenity that comes with it, as all you’ll hear at night is the wind blowing in the trees – not the sound of cars rumbling by.
Vermont also has Lake Champlain, which runs along the Vermont-New York border, with breathtaking views of the Adirondack Mountains. Not only this, but Lake Champlain is also the biggest lake in the U.S. that is not a Great Lake. Burlington, the major city in Vermont, is also perched right on the shore of Lake Champlain.
This allows for beautiful summer walks down by the waterfront, and allows people to take their boats out on the big body of water. Burlington also has Church Street, which is a pedestrian-only thoroughfare that features a bunch of different stores, restaurants, a Ben and Jerry’s and more.
Vermont is also the leading producer of maple syrup across the whole country, as well as the birthplace of Ben and Jerry’s.
Overall, Vermont is a beautiful state with a lot to offer. The peaceful lifestyle alongside the phenomenal skiing are the main reasons why Vermont is the best state in New England.