1st Advantage MortgageIn Grafton County, New Hampshire, the typical household earns $88,261 a year and the typical rent is $1,301. County medians do not set your terms. Shop at least three lenders, including a credit union serving Grafton County, and confirm each one's New Hampshire license.
On this page
- Grafton County by the numbers
- Grafton County industries and commutes
- Income in Grafton County compared with New Hampshire
- Grafton County against other New Hampshire counties
- What it costs to live in Grafton County
- Towns and communities in Grafton County
- Grafton County next to its neighbors
- Reading the Grafton County data as a borrower
- Grafton County demographics against New Hampshire
- Room for a loan payment in Grafton County
- Four steps for Grafton County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Grafton County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Grafton County by the numbers
Grafton County is home to about 92,120 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 5th most populous of 10 county-level areas in New Hampshire. Grafton County spans 1,709 square miles; with 92,120 people, that is 53.9 per square mile. Metro status: none; Grafton County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. Lebanon is the biggest of its 43 Census places, at roughly 14,999 people (16% of the county total).
Grafton County industries and commutes
Top Grafton County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 35%; second, professional and administrative services, 12%. Compared with New Hampshire, the county leans toward education and health care (35% against 24%). Unemployment in Grafton County, ACS five-year: 3.2%; New Hampshire: 3.3%. 40% of Grafton County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 12% need 45 or more. 2,348 Grafton County households, 6.3%, have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Grafton County | Gap to New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 34.7% | +10.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.8% | -0.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.9% | +2.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.0% | -2.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.2% | -4.5 pts |
| Construction | 5.8% | -1.5 pts |
Self-employed in Grafton County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
Income in Grafton County compared with New Hampshire
Grafton County households have a median income of $88,261 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 6th of 10 in New Hampshire.
| Yearly household income | Grafton County | Gap to New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.6% | +3.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.1% | +1.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.0% | -3.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 15.4% | -1.4 pts |
About 20% of households earn under $35,000, while 44% clear $100,000. Census counts 10.4% of Grafton County residents in poverty, against 7.2% across New Hampshire. For a borrower in Grafton County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Grafton County against other New Hampshire counties
Ranked against the other 9 county-level areas in New Hampshire, these are the Grafton County figures furthest from the middle.
- Few New Hampshire counties match Grafton County on the share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 47% here, 41% for the state, ranking the highest of 10. More graduates often means more student debt to factor in.
- Grafton County ranks the lowest of 10 New Hampshire counties for the share of commutes over 45 minutes: 12%, against 17% statewide. Less driving means fewer surprise repair bills.
- Households without a vehicle: 6.3% in Grafton County. Only 1 of 10 New Hampshire counties are higher. Car-free households may need loans less for repairs but more for moves.
What it costs to live in Grafton County
A typical Grafton County rental runs $1,301 a month including utilities, which is 13% below New Hampshire. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 45% of renter households here. Median value $344,500; median income $88,261; ratio 3.9. Owners occupy 71% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1981.
| Grafton County | New Hampshire | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacant units | 29% | 14% | +14.2 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 48% | -3.3 pts |
| Owners | 71% | 73% | -1.4 pts |
| Median home value | $344,500 | $402,500 | 14% lower |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 28% | +1.4 pts |
| Median gross rent | $1,301/mo | $1,491/mo | 13% lower |
Towns and communities in Grafton County
Places, by size: the top 14 of 43. Roughly 16% of Grafton County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Incomes vary by place: $154,091 at the median in Sugar Hill, $44,188 in Ashland. Rent is cheapest in Lincoln ($896) and steepest in Groton ($2,667). Lebanon and every other Grafton County community use this county guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanon | city | 14,999 | $98,147 | $1,744 | 29 mi |
| Hanover | CDP | 8,479 | $153,281 | $2,254 | 26 mi |
| Plymouth | CDP | 4,969 | $89,500 | $1,296 | 15 mi |
| Haverhill | town | 4,611 | $85,929 | $1,115 | 13 mi |
| Littleton | CDP | 4,114 | $53,082 | $932 | 28 mi |
| Campton | town | 3,407 | $118,870 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Thornton | town | 2,799 | $90,022 | $1,270 | 10 mi |
| Bristol | CDP | 2,098 | $73,993 | $1,279 | 23 mi |
| Enfield | CDP | 1,994 | $99,330 | n/a | 25 mi |
| Alexandria | town | 1,983 | $89,194 | $1,135 | 21 mi |
| Holderness | town | 1,917 | $107,863 | $2,068 | 17 mi |
| Lyme | town | 1,710 | $133,906 | $1,418 | 15 mi |
| Rumney | town | 1,458 | $79,444 | $1,064 | 7 mi |
| Woodsville | CDP | 1,422 | $57,946 | $1,119 | 17 mi |
Grafton County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Orange County at 27 miles out to Merrimack County at 44. Merrimack County leads the group on income ($97,004), Caledonia County trails ($69,970), and Grafton County out-earns 4 of the six. The list crosses into Vermont, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grafton County | - | $88,261 | $1,301/mo | 71% |
| Orange County, VT | 27 mi | $82,232 | $1,173/mo | 83% |
| Carroll County, NH | 32 mi | $86,463 | $1,195/mo | 83% |
| Belknap County, NH | 35 mi | $92,783 | $1,167/mo | 80% |
| Caledonia County, VT | 40 mi | $69,970 | $920/mo | 79% |
| Sullivan County, NH | 43 mi | $80,858 | $1,211/mo | 75% |
| Merrimack County, NH | 44 mi | $97,004 | $1,360/mo | 73% |
Reading the Grafton County data as a borrower
What the Grafton County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Consolidation math. With 44% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Grafton County demographics against New Hampshire
47% of Grafton County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 5.4%, against 5.3% for New Hampshire.
| Indicator | Grafton County | +/- New Hampshire | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.1 | +0.8 yrs | +2.6 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 46.7% | +6.1 pts | +24.6 pts |
| No high school diploma | 5.3% | -0.3 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.4% | +0.2 pts | -2.4 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | +1.7 pts | +0.9 pts |
| Work from home | 17.2% | +0.4 pts | +8.5 pts |
| Poverty rate | 10.4% | +3.1 pts | -2.8 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | -0.2 pts | -1.2 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.4% |
| 60+ min | 6.4% |
Room for a loan payment in Grafton County
Grafton County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $88,261 a year is $7,355 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $1,301, takes 18% of that
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,273 left for all other debt payments
- Under a 45% cap, $3,310 total minus rent leaves $2,009
A household below the $88,261 median has less room than this, often none.
Four steps for Grafton County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Grafton County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Who licenses lenders for Grafton County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Grafton County, check the New Hampshire Banking Department. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on New Hampshire: New Hampshire personal loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the New Hampshire guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grafton County a high-income county?
Its $88,261 median ranks 6th of 10 New Hampshire counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Can a Grafton County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $1,301 median rent and $7,355 median monthly income, rent alone uses 18%; add other debts before a new payment.
Is home equity cheaper than a personal loan in Grafton County?
Often, because the home secures it. With 71% of Grafton County homes owner-occupied, weigh that lower cost against the risk to the house.
I live near Lebanon. Which guide is mine?
This one. Lebanon and the rest of Grafton County have no separate city guide.
Are Grafton County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.