Surprise! New Englanders are ‘Most Generous.’

Conventional wisdom says New Englanders are flinty, tough-minded, independent. Now you can add generous to that profile.

Nearly three-quarters of the region’s residents give to charity — a share higher than in any other part of the country, according to a new analysis. New Englanders, along with residents of the Mountain-region states, are also tops in volunteerism, at 35 percent.

The study by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, does more than establish “most generous” bragging rights. It’s a first-of-its-kind analysis of household giving, drawing on the data of 9,000 households nationwide every two years since 2000.

New England

• 72 percent of residents give to charity, making it the most generous region
• 18 percent of New Englanders’ contributions went to education
• 15 percent went to support basic needs

Connecticut

• $2,764 average household giving
• 14^th highest in household giving in the nation