In this ranking scheme "freedom" seems to be freedom to exploit or freedom for the wealthy and powerful. A state that allows workers greater freedom to organize is ranked less free than a state that restricts workers' rights.
Freedom is of course subjective. Some define it as democracy. Others as the right of self determination, which is of course subject to arbitrary limits. I suggest your definition is as arbitrary as any.
I've lived in NH and the official motto is "live free or die". It isn't "vacationland" on their license plates. The unofficial motto is "Welcome to NH, now go home"
I've also lived in VT, which is really two very different places. First is what I'll call the Burlington/Montpelier part and most of the rest of the state. The old saying is that the nice thing about Burlington is that it's so close to Vermont
Burlington and environs is the largest populated region in VT and is very liberal. A great many are there because IBM caused a huge transplantation of people to that area decades ago. A great many were San Fransisco liberals. Because of their numbers now they own Montpelier, the state capitol. That leaves a fairly libertarian group of people who are the original Vermonters being led by "foreigners" philosophically. It's a rather interesting situation.
You could try to force citizens of either state into one defining box, but you'll fail miserably.