In New Hampshire, the median household income is $99,031 and 73% of homes are owner-occupied (ACS 2020 to 2024). A safe personal loan starts with a license check, three written offers compared on total cost, and a payment that fits your own budget.
On this page
- New Hampshire by the numbers
- What the numbers mean for New Hampshire borrowers
- Largest places in New Hampshire
- The next 20 places in New Hampshire
- Counties with the most residents
- How New Hampshire earns a living
- More context for New Hampshire budgets
- Checking a lender in New Hampshire
- Can New Hampshire residents use the questionnaire?
- Local guides in New Hampshire
- Frequently asked questions
New Hampshire by the numbers
Here is New Hampshire next to the U.S. on income, housing, work and commuting, with a rank among the 50 states plus DC for each line. Source: ACS five-year estimates for 2020 to 2024.
| What we measured | New Hampshire | United States | Rank of 51 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $99,031 | $80,734 | 7th |
| Unemployment rate (ACS) | 3.3% | 5.2% | 47th |
| Rent, median gross (monthly) | $1,491 | $1,413 | 16th |
| Rent-burdened renters (30%+) | 48% | 51% | 29th |
| Median home value | $402,500 | $332,700 | 15th |
| Homes owner-occupied | 73% | 65% | 6th |
| Cost-burdened owners with a mortgage | 28% | 28% | 19th |
| Home value to income ratio | 4.1x | 4.1x | 21st |
| Workers commuting 45+ minutes | 17% | 17% | 12th |
| Working from home | 17% | 15% | 13th |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 41% | 36% | 9th |
| Median age | 43.3 | 38.9 | 2nd |
| Gini index (inequality) | 0.444 | 0.483 | 48th |
| Share of households under $35,000 | 16% | 21% | 50th |
| Households earning $100,000 or more | 50% | 41% | 7th |
| Poverty rate | 7.2% | 12.5% | 51st |
What the numbers mean for New Hampshire borrowers
New Hampshire posts an ACS unemployment rate of 3.3% and a poverty rate of 7.2%, compared with 5.2% and 12.5% for the country. If your job is seasonal or hourly, lenders may ask for more months of statements to see a steady pattern.
The bottom and top of the New Hampshire income ladder: 16% of households under $35,000, 50% at $100,000 or more. U.S. comparison: 21% and 41%. Because partners generally need $30,000 or more in yearly income, the questionnaire states that floor on the income step instead of surprising anyone at the end.
New Hampshire's median household income is $99,031, 7th of 51 and 23% above the U.S. figure of $80,734. Half of households earn more than this and half earn less, and a lender will look only at where you sit.
About 73% of New Hampshire homes are owner-occupied (6th of 51; U.S. 65%), and the median home is valued at $402,500, or 4.1 times the median household income. 28% of mortgaged owners are housing-cost burdened, versus 28% nationally.
Largest places in New Hampshire
The 12 most populous places in New Hampshire, with Census income, rent and home value for each. Linked names have their own local guide on this site.
| City or town | County | People | Median income | Median rent | Home value (median) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | Hillsborough County | 115,643 | $81,007 | $1,564 | $365,600 |
| Nashua | Hillsborough County | 91,294 | $96,326 | $1,737 | $403,900 |
| Concord | Merrimack County | 44,375 | $84,902 | $1,441 | $350,900 |
| Dover | Strafford County | 33,364 | $94,829 | $1,607 | $436,700 |
| Rochester | Strafford County | 33,144 | $80,836 | $1,369 | $279,100 |
| Salem | Rockingham County | 30,964 | $110,490 | $1,625 | $473,300 |
| Merrimack | Hillsborough County | 28,164 | $127,219 | $1,932 | $458,600 |
| Bedford | Hillsborough County | 23,746 | $167,418 | $2,099 | $612,100 |
| Keene | Cheshire County | 22,939 | $78,445 | $1,342 | $252,500 |
| Portsmouth | Rockingham County | 22,545 | $106,219 | $1,869 | $688,500 |
| Derry | Rockingham County | 21,339 | $91,673 | $1,549 | $391,200 |
| Laconia | Belknap County | 17,085 | $73,218 | $1,224 | $340,300 |
New Hampshire has 2 places with 50,000 or more residents and 20 with at least 10,000. Among places of 20,000 or more, median household income runs from $78,445 in Keene to $167,418 in Bedford. Median rent in that group ranges from $1,342 in Keene to $2,099 in Bedford.
The next 20 places in New Hampshire
20 more New Hampshire places, largest first.
| Community | Population | Median household income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windham | 16,038 | $189,583 | $3,218 |
| Lebanon | 14,999 | $98,147 | $1,744 |
| Pelham | 14,449 | $135,956 | $1,425 |
| Claremont | 13,078 | $59,096 | $1,146 |
| Londonderry | 12,225 | $119,571 | $1,952 |
| Somersworth | 12,111 | $74,504 | $1,477 |
| Durham | 10,681 | $112,070 | $1,302 |
| Hampton | 10,101 | $97,163 | $1,654 |
| Exeter | 9,964 | $87,346 | $1,711 |
| Barrington | 9,489 | $110,323 | $1,867 |
| Berlin | 9,383 | $45,180 | $815 |
| Weare | 9,170 | $118,271 | $1,541 |
| Hampstead | 9,102 | $112,348 | $1,299 |
| Milford | 8,956 | $78,684 | $1,557 |
| Franklin | 8,799 | $71,648 | $1,110 |
| Hollis | 8,603 | $168,883 | $1,598 |
| Litchfield | 8,499 | $162,036 | $2,138 |
| Hanover | 8,479 | $153,281 | $2,254 |
| Seabrook | 8,427 | $84,349 | $1,542 |
| Bow | 8,335 | $172,857 | $1,539 |
Measured as a year of median rent against median household income, housing weighs most in Somersworth (24%) and least in Bow (11%) among these 20 places.
Counties with the most residents
Of 10 counties in New Hampshire, these 10 have the most people.
| County | Residents | Median household income | Median gross rent | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough County | 426,378 | $103,545 | $1,623 | $421,100 |
| Rockingham County | 319,082 | $118,331 | $1,687 | $497,500 |
| Merrimack County | 155,967 | $97,004 | $1,360 | $367,600 |
| Strafford County | 132,575 | $88,570 | $1,488 | $362,800 |
| Grafton County | 92,120 | $88,261 | $1,301 | $344,500 |
| Cheshire County | 77,297 | $83,329 | $1,276 | $280,100 |
| Belknap County | 64,659 | $92,783 | $1,167 | $374,900 |
| Carroll County | 51,804 | $86,463 | $1,195 | $388,900 |
| Sullivan County | 43,715 | $80,858 | $1,211 | $268,700 |
| Coos County | 31,271 | $57,677 | $876 | $188,900 |
Median income by county stretches from $57,677 (Coos County) up to $118,331 (Rockingham County). A statewide average hides that spread, which is why the same loan can be comfortable in one county and a stretch in the next.
How New Hampshire earns a living
Where New Hampshire residents work, by the four largest industries, compared with the U.S. (ACS 2020 to 2024).
| Sector | Share of New Hampshire workers | U.S. share | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education, health care and social assistance | 24% | 24% | +1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13% | 10% | +2.8 pts |
| Professional, scientific and administrative services | 12% | 13% | -0.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12% | 11% | +1.0 pts |
The industry where New Hampshire stands out most from the U.S. is manufacturing: 13% of employed residents, versus 10% for the nation. Lenders verify your own income history, so steady deposits matter more than which sector you work in.
More context for New Hampshire budgets
New Hampshire's Gini index of income inequality is 0.444 (U.S.: 0.483; higher means more unequal), 41% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree, and the median resident is 43.3 years old.
New Hampshire renters pay a median $1,491 a month. 48% of them spend 30 percent or more of income on rent, below the national share of 51%. Size any payment to the month after rent is paid, not to your gross income.
Commutes shape budgets too: 17% of New Hampshire workers travel 45 minutes or more each way (U.S.: 17%), and 17% work from home. Vehicle costs are a fixed line for long-distance commuters, so keep a repair cushion before taking on a new payment.
Checking a lender in New Hampshire
Before you share details with any lender, confirm it may lend in New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Banking Department is the state banking agency listed in the Conference of State Bank Supervisors directory.
- CFPB complaints reach the lender and are tracked by a federal regulator.
- NMLS Consumer Access shows many lenders' licenses state by state.
- An upfront fee to "secure" a loan is a warning sign the FTC describes here.
Can New Hampshire residents use the questionnaire?
You can start it, and the location step is where you find out: if partners are not yet taking New Hampshire requests, you will see a short email waitlist and nothing more is asked.
Local guides in New Hampshire
City guides for New Hampshire are on our list. Until then, this page is the guide for every New Hampshire town, and the local guides search will bring you back here.
Frequently asked questions
Who regulates personal lenders in New Hampshire?
In New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Banking Department is the banking agency named by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors. You can also search a lender on NMLS Consumer Access and file complaints with the CFPB.
How much does a typical New Hampshire household earn?
About $99,031. Half of New Hampshire households earn more and half less; nationally the midpoint is $80,734.
Is rent high in New Hampshire?
The typical renter pays $1,491; the U.S. median is $1,413. In New Hampshire, 48% of renting households spend 30 percent or more of income on housing.
Do home values in New Hampshire change how I should borrow?
The median home in New Hampshire is valued at $402,500, about 4.1 times the median household income of $99,031. Where housing takes a big share of income, keep new payments modest and compare total cost rather than stretching the term.