1st Advantage MortgageCoos County (31,271 residents) has a $57,677 median household income and $876 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. For a Coos County borrower, the useful steps are the same anywhere: price the need, gather three written offers, and check the New Hampshire license.
On this page
- Who lives in Coos County
- Work, industries and travel time in Coos County
- What it costs to live in Coos County
- Household income in Coos County
- How Coos County ranks in New Hampshire
- Counties near Coos County
- Places inside Coos County
- What the numbers mean for Coos County borrowers
- Coos County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Budget math at the Coos County median
- Verifying a lender from Coos County
- A Coos County borrower's checklist
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Coos County
With an estimated 31,271 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Coos County ranks 10th of 10 in New Hampshire for population. Its 1,795 square miles average 17 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Coos County is not part of any metropolitan area. Largest place: Berlin, about 9,383 residents (30% of Coos County); 22 Census places in all.
Work, industries and travel time in Coos County
The biggest employer of Coos County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in public administration, at 7% locally and 4% for New Hampshire. The survey's unemployment rate for Coos County averages 4.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.3%). Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. No car: 9.0% of Coos County households.
| Where residents work | Coos County | Difference from New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.8% | +1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.3% | +1.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.3% | +2.6 pts |
| Construction | 10.0% | +2.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.1% | -4.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.5% | -4.9 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
What it costs to live in Coos County
Half of Coos County renters pay more than $876 a month and half pay less; the New Hampshire midpoint is $1,491. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 44% of renter households here. Coos County homes are worth $188,900 at the median, a 3.3-to-1 ratio to income. The ownership rate is 74%. The median home was built in 1969, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills. Nationally, Coos County's $876 rent is about level with the middle county.
| Home costs | Coos County | New Hampshire | Compared with New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $188,900 | $402,500 | 53% lower |
| Mobile homes | 10.1% | 5.2% | +4.9 pts |
| Median gross rent | $876/mo | $1,491/mo | 41% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 48% | -3.9 pts |
| Owners | 74% | 73% | +1.5 pts |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 28% | +0.9 pts |
Coos 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).
Household income in Coos County
Coos County households have a median income of $57,677 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 10th of 10 in New Hampshire.
| Band | Coos County | Compared with New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.0% | +14.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.8% | +10.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.3% | -12.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.9% | -11.9 pts |
30% under $35,000 and 25% at $100,000 or more: that is the Coos County income split. Poverty rate, Coos County: 13.2%; New Hampshire: 7.2%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.488 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Coos County median.
How Coos County ranks in New Hampshire
The 3 Coos County numbers that rank furthest from typical in New Hampshire, and what each means for a borrower:
- On the uninsured rate, Coos County sits near the top of New Hampshire at 7.7%, the highest of 10. Ask any provider about financial assistance before borrowing for care.
- The share of mobile homes: 10.1% in Coos County, the highest of 10 in New Hampshire. Repairs on manufactured homes are a common loan purpose; get written quotes.
- On the poverty rate, Coos County sits near the top of New Hampshire at 13.2%, the highest of 10. Nonprofit credit counseling is free or low cost and worth a call first.
Counties near Coos County
Essex County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, Carroll County, is 54 miles off. Richest neighbor: Carroll County, $86,463. Poorest: Franklin County, $58,675. Coos County: $57,677. Some neighbors are in Maine and Vermont. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Coos County resident follows New Hampshire rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coos County | - | $57,677 | $876/mo | 74% |
| Essex County, VT | 22 mi | $59,294 | $827/mo | 82% |
| Oxford County, ME | 29 mi | $60,173 | $836/mo | 81% |
| Caledonia County, VT | 42 mi | $69,970 | $920/mo | 79% |
| Franklin County, ME | 48 mi | $58,675 | $802/mo | 76% |
| Orleans County, VT | 49 mi | $70,103 | $892/mo | 80% |
| Carroll County, NH | 54 mi | $86,463 | $1,195/mo | 83% |
Places inside Coos County
28,997 of Coos County's 31,271 residents live in its 22 Census places (93%); the 14 largest are listed. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $37,321 in Groveton to $93,125 in Shelburne. Median rent ranges from $273 in Stewartstown to $1,130 in Shelburne. This guide covers each of the 22 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin | city | 9,383 | $45,180 | $815 | 12 mi |
| Lancaster | CDP | 2,230 | $66,765 | $1,036 | 18 mi |
| Gorham | CDP | 2,092 | $62,679 | $829 | 18 mi |
| Northumberland | town | 1,815 | $40,268 | $1,018 | 13 mi |
| Whitefield | CDP | 1,512 | $61,429 | $1,070 | 25 mi |
| Milan | town | 1,334 | $70,300 | $878 | 8 mi |
| Colebrook | CDP | 1,268 | $46,833 | $750 | 20 mi |
| Jefferson | town | 1,013 | $67,188 | $867 | 20 mi |
| Stewartstown | town | 960 | $57,069 | $273 | 22 mi |
| Stratford | town | 950 | $49,583 | $775 | 12 mi |
| Dalton | town | 916 | $81,429 | $900 | 27 mi |
| Groveton | CDP | 834 | $37,321 | $1,022 | 12 mi |
| Columbia | town | 683 | $57,917 | $792 | 16 mi |
| Pittsburg | town | 683 | $58,250 | $1,018 | 34 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
What the numbers mean for Coos County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Coos County borrowers.
- Age 50.3 at the median. Many Coos County applicants document income with award letters; ask about early payoff.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Coos County borrower sees (free reports).
Coos County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 20% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 7.7%, against 5.3% for New Hampshire.
| Measure | Coos County | Gap to New Hampshire | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.1% | -20.6 pts | -2.1 pts |
| Work from home | 8.0% | -8.9 pts | -0.7 pts |
| Median age | 50.3 | +7.0 yrs | +8.8 yrs |
| Poverty rate | 13.2% | +6.0 pts | 0.0 pts |
| No vehicle | 9.0% | +4.4 pts | +3.6 pts |
| No high school diploma | 9.6% | +4.0 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.7% | +2.4 pts | -0.2 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | +0.9 pts | -0.1 pts |
| Minutes to work | Coos County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.5% |
| 60+ min | 8.0% |
Budget math at the Coos County median
How much room does a median Coos County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $4,806 gross per month ($57,677 / 12)
- Median rent: $876, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 35% cap, $1,682 total minus rent leaves $806
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,287 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Coos County's.
Verifying a lender from Coos County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Coos County borrowers answers to the New Hampshire Banking Department. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The New Hampshire page has statewide figures to set beside Coos County's.
A Coos County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Coos County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Keep exploring
The New Hampshire guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Coos County rank on income in New Hampshire?
10th of 10, with a median of $57,677. The state median is $99,031.
Is Coos County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $876 against $1,491 statewide, and 44% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Coos County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 74% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
How many towns are in Coos County?
The Census Bureau counts 22 places mainly in the county, led by Berlin, Lancaster, Gorham, Northumberland, Whitefield.
Can Coos County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every New Hampshire county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.