Seriously America is huge you could adventure around the states seeing a bunch of different lifestyles, and environments without ever having to get a passport.

Seriously America is huge you could adventure around the states seeing a bunch of different lifestyles, and environments without ever having to get a passport. In that sense perspectives are very, very different between the US and NZ. You've really got to compare it to, moving out of state. How many people in the US move around states for jobs/lifestyles etc ? When you grow up in New Zealand, it's almost a rite of passage to do your "OE" - overseas experience. It's part of the culture to go and explore the world. And of course young 20 somethings travelling meet other foreign young 20 somethings and it's pretty easy to see where that stat comes from. "Your country or mine? (the girl usually wins)" I grew up in a small town, lived in Auckland, now live in Toronto, Canada. The Greater Toronto area is the same population as all of New Zealand. Is it any better or worse ? No. It's just different. It all depends on what floats your boat. Are you an adventure sports junkie ? New Zealand is pretty much heaven on earth (I'm guessing Colorado would be awesome if you dug winter and summer sports together). Do you like bustling metropolis ? Well Toronto kinda rocks - Canadian and Kiwi philosophies are very close (although BC is far closer in life style to New Zealand, than over in Ontario) There is so many factors for what's good in a country - a lot are dependent on the invididual. What will be one persons heaven could be another persons "meh", quality of living, friendships, relationships, career choices, sports, food quality, environment yadda yadda. As a New Zealander living overseas, in my case, the pull to go home is very strong and ever present. And I will say this when I finally move home, I will never, ever complain that it's freezing in winter.