1st Advantage MortgageCheshire County (77,297 residents) has a $83,329 median household income and $1,276 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Cheshire County by the numbers
- Income in Cheshire County compared with New Hampshire
- Labor force snapshot: Cheshire County
- Homes and rents, Cheshire County
- How Cheshire County compares with nearby counties
- Cheshire County towns compared
- Reading the Cheshire County data as a borrower
- Budget math at the Cheshire County median
- Cheshire County demographics against New Hampshire
- Steps before you apply in Cheshire County
- New Hampshire rules that apply in Cheshire County
- More guides for Cheshire County
- Frequently asked questions
Cheshire County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Cheshire County's population at 77,297; only 5 of New Hampshire's 10 county-level areas are larger. Its 707 square miles average 109 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Cheshire County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 25 places in the county (17 incorporated, 8 census-designated); the largest is Keene, with about 22,939 residents, or 30% of the county.
Income in Cheshire County compared with New Hampshire
At $83,329, the typical Cheshire County household income is 27% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Cheshire County | Gap to New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.2% | +2.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.8% | +6.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.1% | -1.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.9% | -6.9 pts |
On the low end, 18% of Cheshire County households report under $35,000; at the top, 41% report $100,000-plus. The poverty rate is 8.7%, 1 point higher than the state's 7.2%. None of these numbers decides a Cheshire County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Labor force snapshot: Cheshire County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Cheshire County residents work in education and health care and 14% in manufacturing. 3.3% of Cheshire County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 4.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Cheshire County | Gap to New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.3% | +1.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.4% | +1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.5% | +1.7 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.7% | -4.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.6% | -1.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Homes and rents, Cheshire County
Half of Cheshire County renters pay more than $1,276 a month and half pay less; the New Hampshire midpoint is $1,491. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 49% of renter households here. With a median value of $280,100, a typical Cheshire County house costs 3.4 times what the median household earns in a year. 73% of Cheshire County households own their home and 27% rent. Nationally, Cheshire County's $1,276 rent is 45% above the middle county.
| Housing | Cheshire County | New Hampshire statewide | Cheshire County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $280,100 | $402,500 | 30% lower |
| Median gross rent | $1,276/mo | $1,491/mo | 14% lower |
| Mobile homes | 6.2% | 5.2% | +1.0 pts |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 28% | +0.9 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 48% | +0.5 pts |
| Owners | 73% | 73% | -0.1 pts |
Cheshire County owners: get one secured and one unsecured quote, then compare the total cost and what you would put up as collateral (side by side).
How Cheshire County compares with nearby counties
Windham County is closest, 24 miles from center to center; the sixth, Bennington County, is 44 miles off. Income ranges from $72,217 in Windham County to $103,545 in Hillsborough County; 2 of these neighbors top Cheshire County's median. The list crosses into Massachusetts, Vermont, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheshire County | - | $83,329 | $1,276/mo | 73% |
| Windham County, VT | 24 mi | $72,217 | $1,056/mo | 74% |
| Hillsborough County, NH | 27 mi | $103,545 | $1,623/mo | 67% |
| Franklin County, MA | 29 mi | $74,907 | $1,177/mo | 70% |
| Sullivan County, NH | 30 mi | $80,858 | $1,211/mo | 75% |
| Merrimack County, NH | 39 mi | $97,004 | $1,360/mo | 73% |
| Bennington County, VT | 44 mi | $73,325 | $1,109/mo | 74% |
Cheshire County towns compared
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 25 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 86% of Cheshire County residents live in one of the 25. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $47,090 in West Swanzey to $110,455 in Marlow. None of the 25 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keene | city | 22,939 | $78,445 | $1,342 | 4 mi |
| Swanzey | town | 7,398 | $81,595 | $1,508 | 5 mi |
| Rindge | town | 6,497 | $102,679 | $1,123 | 17 mi |
| Chesterfield | town | 3,622 | $102,370 | $1,324 | 10 mi |
| Jaffrey | CDP | 3,277 | $99,667 | $869 | 14 mi |
| Fitzwilliam | town | 2,278 | $100,735 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Westmoreland | town | 2,237 | $104,444 | $1,354 | 10 mi |
| Dublin | town | 1,688 | $104,659 | $1,325 | 9 mi |
| Hinsdale | CDP | 1,580 | $72,292 | $1,046 | 15 mi |
| Alstead | town | 1,551 | $64,526 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Richmond | town | 1,314 | $89,375 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Winchester | CDP | 1,306 | $81,250 | $1,150 | 12 mi |
| West Swanzey | CDP | 1,188 | $47,090 | $1,645 | 5 mi |
| Troy | CDP | 1,081 | $96,250 | $1,300 | 8 mi |
Reading the Cheshire County data as a borrower
What the Cheshire County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Higher earners. 41% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Renters under pressure. When 49% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Budget math at the Cheshire County median
How much room does a median Cheshire County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,944 before taxes
- Less median rent of $1,276, which is 18% of it
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,224 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $1,276, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Cheshire County demographics against New Hampshire
36% of Cheshire County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 6.2%, against 5.3% for New Hampshire.
| Indicator | Cheshire County | +/- New Hampshire | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 35.5% | -5.1 pts | +13.4 pts |
| Work from home | 13.1% | -3.7 pts | +4.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 8.7% | +1.5 pts | -4.5 pts |
| No health insurance | 6.2% | +1.0 pts | -1.6 pts |
| Median age | 43.6 | +0.3 yrs | +2.1 yrs |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | +0.1 pts | -0.7 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.3% | 0.0 pts | -1.1 pts |
| No high school diploma | 5.6% | 0.0 pts | n/a |
| One-way commute | Share of Cheshire County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.2% |
| 60+ min | 7.4% |
Steps before you apply in Cheshire County
Quick steps for Cheshire County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Cheshire County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in New Hampshire.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
New Hampshire rules that apply in Cheshire County
Cheshire County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the New Hampshire Banking Department. If a Cheshire County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. See the New Hampshire state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Cheshire County
The New Hampshire guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Cheshire County earn?
The median is $83,329; 41% earn $100,000 or more and 18% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Cheshire County?
$1,276 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
I live in a small Cheshire County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Keene, Swanzey, Rindge, Chesterfield, Jaffrey and 20 more.
Is the fit check different in Cheshire County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Cheshire County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In New Hampshire it is the New Hampshire Banking Department.