1st Advantage MortgageRockingham County households have a median income of $118,331 and median rent of $1,687 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's New Hampshire license first.
On this page
- Rockingham County by the numbers
- What Rockingham County households earn
- Employment and commuting in Rockingham County
- What it costs to live in Rockingham County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Rockingham County
- Regional comparison for Rockingham County
- People and households in Rockingham County
- Local borrowing considerations for Rockingham County
- Room for a loan payment in Rockingham County
- Checking a lender's license in New Hampshire
- Four steps for Rockingham County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Rockingham County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Rockingham County's population at 319,082; only 1 of New Hampshire's 10 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 695 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 459 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area. Salem is the biggest of its 39 Census places, at roughly 30,964 people (10% of the county total).
What Rockingham County households earn
Half of Rockingham County households take in less than $118,331 a year and half take in more, 19% above the New Hampshire median of $99,031. That places it 1st among New Hampshire's 10 county-level areas.
| Household income | Rockingham County | vs New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 12.1% | -3.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 29.7% | -5.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 35.2% | +2.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 23.0% | +6.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 58% of Rockingham County households make $100,000 or more, and 12% make less than $35,000. Census counts 4.8% of Rockingham County residents in poverty, against 7.2% across New Hampshire. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.430 here. None of these numbers decides a Rockingham County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Rockingham County
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 14%. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.6% in Rockingham County. Long commutes are common here: 21% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 3.1% of the total (4.6% statewide).
| Top industries | Rockingham County share | +/- vs New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.2% | -1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.0% | +1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.3% | -0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.9% | -0.9 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.9% | +1.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.8% | +0.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Rockingham County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What it costs to live in Rockingham County
A typical Rockingham County rental runs $1,687 a month including utilities, which is 13% above New Hampshire. 50% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. Home values center on $497,500, or 4.2 years of median income. Owners occupy 78% of homes.
| Home costs | Rockingham County | New Hampshire | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,687/mo | $1,491/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $497,500 | $402,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 28% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 14% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Rockingham County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Rockingham County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 39 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 83% of Rockingham County residents live in one of the 39. Incomes vary by place: $189,583 at the median in Windham, $73,066 in Raymond. None of the 39 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | town | 30,964 | $110,490 | $1,625 | 15 mi |
| Portsmouth | city | 22,545 | $106,219 | $1,869 | 17 mi |
| Derry | CDP | 21,339 | $91,673 | $1,549 | 12 mi |
| Windham | town | 16,038 | $189,583 | $3,218 | 16 mi |
| Londonderry | CDP | 12,225 | $119,571 | $1,952 | 16 mi |
| Hampton | CDP | 10,101 | $97,163 | $1,654 | 14 mi |
| Exeter | CDP | 9,964 | $87,346 | $1,711 | 8 mi |
| Hampstead | town | 9,102 | $112,348 | $1,299 | 8 mi |
| Seabrook | town | 8,427 | $84,349 | $1,542 | 14 mi |
| Plaistow | town | 7,861 | $108,317 | $1,664 | 10 mi |
| Stratham | town | 7,754 | $151,998 | $2,511 | 10 mi |
| Atkinson | town | 7,267 | $146,380 | $1,140 | 11 mi |
| Sandown | town | 6,628 | $135,040 | $1,893 | 6 mi |
| Kingston | town | 6,275 | $105,330 | $1,393 | 5 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Regional comparison for Rockingham County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (21 to 38 miles). Income ranges from $88,333 in York County to $130,847 in Middlesex County; 1 of these neighbors top Rockingham County's median. The list crosses into Massachusetts, Maine, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockingham County | - | $118,331 | $1,687/mo | 78% |
| Strafford County, NH | 21 mi | $88,570 | $1,488/mo | 67% |
| Essex County, MA | 27 mi | $101,883 | $1,756/mo | 63% |
| Hillsborough County, NH | 32 mi | $103,545 | $1,623/mo | 67% |
| Merrimack County, NH | 36 mi | $97,004 | $1,360/mo | 73% |
| York County, ME | 37 mi | $88,333 | $1,339/mo | 77% |
| Middlesex County, MA | 38 mi | $130,847 | $2,201/mo | 61% |
People and households in Rockingham County
College graduates make up 46% of the adult population. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Rockingham County | All of New Hampshire | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0 | 43.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 45.7% | 40.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.9% | 5.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.1% | 5.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.1% | 4.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 19.4% | 16.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 4.8% | 7.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 3.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Rockingham County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.6% |
| 60+ min | 9.9% |
Local borrowing considerations for Rockingham County
Based on the Rockingham County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Long drives. With 21% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Rockingham County budgets.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 45, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 58% of Rockingham County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Renters under pressure. When 50% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Room for a loan payment in Rockingham County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Rockingham County's medians:
- Start: $9,861 gross per month ($118,331 / 12)
- 17% goes to median rent ($1,687)
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $2,553 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Checking a lender's license in New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Banking Department is the place to verify any lender's New Hampshire license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: New Hampshire guide.
Four steps for Rockingham County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Rockingham County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A New Hampshire license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Nearby and statewide guides
The New Hampshire guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rockingham County a high-income county?
Its $118,331 median ranks 1st of 10 New Hampshire counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Rockingham County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,687 a month; 50% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Rockingham County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 78% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Rockingham County?
By population: Salem, Portsmouth, Derry, Windham, Londonderry. The county has 39 Census places in all.
Can Rockingham 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.