1st Advantage MortgageHillsborough County households have a median income of $103,545 and median rent of $1,623 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Hillsborough County by the numbers
- Household income in Hillsborough County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Hillsborough County
- Employment and commuting in Hillsborough County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Hillsborough County
- Who lives in Hillsborough County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Hillsborough County
- Room for a loan payment in Hillsborough County
- Before you sign
- New Hampshire rules that apply in Hillsborough County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Hillsborough County by the numbers
Roughly 426,378 residents live in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, 1st by population among the state's 10 counties and county equivalents. It covers 877 square miles of land, or about 486 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Manchester-Nashua, NH metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 34 Census places inside Hillsborough County, Manchester leads by population with about 115,643; 18 of the 34 are incorporated.
Household income in Hillsborough County
At $103,545, the typical Hillsborough County household income is 58% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 2nd of 10.
| Yearly household income | Hillsborough County | Gap to New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 13.4% | -2.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.9% | +0.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.4% | +0.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 18.3% | +1.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 52% of Hillsborough County households make $100,000 or more, and 13% make less than $35,000. 6.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 7.2%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.430 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Hillsborough County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Rent, home values and ownership in Hillsborough County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,623 in Hillsborough County versus $1,491 statewide. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $421,100, about 4.1 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 67%. The median home was built in 1978, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Hillsborough County | New Hampshire figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,623/mo | $1,491/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $421,100 | $402,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 28% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.9% | 5.2% | n/a |
Employment and commuting in Hillsborough County
The biggest employer of Hillsborough County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by manufacturing (15%). Compared with New Hampshire, the county leans toward manufacturing (15% against 13%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 18% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 18% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Hillsborough County workers | vs New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.8% | -1.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.8% | +2.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.7% | +1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +0.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.3% | +0.1 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.6% | +0.1 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 27 to 43 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $80,858 in Sullivan County to $130,847 in Middlesex County; 2 of these neighbors top Hillsborough County's median. The list crosses into Massachusetts, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough County | - | $103,545 | $1,623/mo | 67% |
| Cheshire County, NH | 27 mi | $83,329 | $1,276/mo | 73% |
| Merrimack County, NH | 27 mi | $97,004 | $1,360/mo | 73% |
| Rockingham County, NH | 32 mi | $118,331 | $1,687/mo | 78% |
| Middlesex County, MA | 34 mi | $130,847 | $2,201/mo | 61% |
| Sullivan County, NH | 40 mi | $80,858 | $1,211/mo | 75% |
| Worcester County, MA | 43 mi | $95,939 | $1,426/mo | 66% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Hillsborough County
The table lists the 14 largest of 34 Census places in Hillsborough County, by population. Together all 34 hold about 360,831 people, so roughly 15% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $49,205 in Hillsborough to $171,046 in Brookline. Rent is cheapest in New Ipswich ($882) and steepest in Mason ($2,530). Live in one of these Hillsborough County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | city | 115,643 | $81,007 | $1,564 | 15 mi |
| Nashua | city | 91,294 | $96,326 | $1,737 | 16 mi |
| Merrimack | town | 28,164 | $127,219 | $1,932 | 11 mi |
| Bedford | town | 23,746 | $167,418 | $2,099 | 10 mi |
| Pelham | town | 14,449 | $135,956 | $1,425 | 23 mi |
| Weare | town | 9,170 | $118,271 | $1,541 | 12 mi |
| Milford | CDP | 8,956 | $78,684 | $1,557 | 6 mi |
| Hollis | town | 8,603 | $168,883 | $1,598 | 13 mi |
| Litchfield | town | 8,499 | $162,036 | $2,138 | 14 mi |
| Hudson | CDP | 7,469 | $95,842 | $1,722 | 18 mi |
| Brookline | town | 5,736 | $171,046 | $2,500 | 11 mi |
| New Ipswich | town | 5,310 | $110,507 | $882 | 14 mi |
| East Merrimack | CDP | 5,081 | $87,311 | $1,952 | 13 mi |
| Pinardville | CDP | 4,418 | $79,340 | $1,082 | 12 mi |
Who lives in Hillsborough County, in numbers
College graduates make up 42% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 5.5%, against 5.3% for New Hampshire.
| Indicator | Hillsborough County | All of New Hampshire | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 43.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 41.5% | 40.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.6% | 5.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.5% | 5.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 4.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 18.1% | 16.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.7% | 7.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 3.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.0% |
| 60+ min | 10.1% |
Before borrowing in Hillsborough County
Based on the Hillsborough County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Long drives. With 18% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Hillsborough County budgets.
- Consolidation math. With 52% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Tight rental budgets. With 48% of Hillsborough County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Room for a loan payment in Hillsborough County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Hillsborough County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $8,629 before taxes
- 19% goes to median rent ($1,623)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,483 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Hillsborough County's.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Hillsborough County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
New Hampshire rules that apply in Hillsborough County
Consumer lenders serving Hillsborough County are licensed by the state, not the county; in New Hampshire that is the New Hampshire Banking Department. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: New Hampshire guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the New Hampshire guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hillsborough County a high-income county?
Its $103,545 median ranks 2nd of 10 New Hampshire counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Hillsborough County?
$1,623 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
Does this page cover Manchester?
Yes, along with the other 33 Census places in Hillsborough County, such as Nashua, Merrimack, Bedford.
Can Hillsborough 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Hillsborough County residents?
The New Hampshire Banking Department licenses consumer lenders in New Hampshire; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.