1st Advantage MortgageIn Sullivan County, New Hampshire, the typical household earns $80,858 a year and the typical rent is $1,211. 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
- Sullivan County by the numbers
- What Sullivan County households earn
- Where Sullivan County differs from the rest of New Hampshire
- Jobs and commutes in Sullivan County
- Housing costs in Sullivan County
- Towns and communities in Sullivan County
- The counties around Sullivan County
- What the numbers mean for Sullivan County borrowers
- More Sullivan County figures
- $6,738 a month: the Sullivan County median budget
- Licensing and complaints for Sullivan County
- Checklist for Sullivan County applicants
- Beyond Sullivan County
- Frequently asked questions
Sullivan County by the numbers
Roughly 43,715 residents live in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, 9th by population among the state's 10 counties and county equivalents. It covers 538 square miles of land, or about 81 people per square mile. Sullivan County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. The Census Bureau counts 14 places in the county (11 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is Claremont, with about 13,078 residents, or 30% of the county.
What Sullivan County households earn
Half of Sullivan County households take in less than $80,858 a year and half take in more, 18% below the New Hampshire median of $99,031. That places it 9th among New Hampshire's 10 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Sullivan County | Gap to New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.6% | +4.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.7% | +5.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.8% | -3.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.0% | -6.9 pts |
Six-figure households (39%) outnumber those under $35,000 (21%) in Sullivan County. Census counts 10.1% of Sullivan County residents in poverty, against 7.2% across New Hampshire. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Where Sullivan County differs from the rest of New Hampshire
Out of every New Hampshire county, Sullivan County is most unusual on these measures.
- Sullivan County ranks the highest of 10 New Hampshire counties for the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 54%, against 48% statewide. Rent pressure leaves little room; stress-test any payment.
- The ACS unemployment rate: 3.1% in Sullivan County, the lowest of 10 in New Hampshire. Low unemployment does not lower your rate; your credit does.
- Population: 43,715 in Sullivan County. Only 1 of 10 New Hampshire counties are lower. With few local branches, online lenders and statewide credit unions widen the choice.
Jobs and commutes in Sullivan County
By the Census industry count, 30% of employed Sullivan County residents work in education and health care and 15% in manufacturing. Relative to New Hampshire (24%), education and health care is 5 points bigger in Sullivan County (30%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.1% in Sullivan County. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 16%; under 15 minutes: 31%. Households without a car make up 5.3% of the total (4.6% statewide).
| Top industries | Sullivan County share | +/- vs New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.8% | +5.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.7% | +2.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.0% | +1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.8% | -3.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.4% | -1.3 pts |
| Construction | 6.0% | -1.2 pts |
Seasonal work is common in many Sullivan County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.
Housing costs in Sullivan County
$1,211 a month is the median gross rent in Sullivan County, 19% below the state. By the Census definition, 54% of Sullivan County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $268,700, or 3.3 years of median income. In Sullivan County, 75% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Half the housing stock was built before 1974. Against the median U.S. county, Sullivan County rent is 38% above.
| Measure | Sullivan County | New Hampshire | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,211/mo | $1,491/mo | 19% lower |
| Median home value | $268,700 | $402,500 | 33% lower |
| Owners | 75% | 73% | +2.6 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 48% | +5.5 pts |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 28% | +2.5 pts |
| Mobile homes | 7.7% | 5.2% | +2.5 pts |
| Vacant units | 24% | 14% | +10.0 pts |
At a $268,700 median value, many Sullivan County owners hold equity. Using it lowers cost only if you can carry the risk (equity vs. unsecured). 54% of Sullivan County renters are already past the 30% line; one more payment should leave room for a late paycheck.
Towns and communities in Sullivan County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 14 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 73% of Sullivan County residents live in one of the 14. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $31,078 in Charlestown to $101,393 in Sunapee. Claremont and every other Sullivan County community use this county guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claremont | city | 13,078 | $59,096 | $1,146 | 6 mi |
| Newport | CDP | 4,758 | $78,174 | $1,378 | 2 mi |
| Sunapee | town | 3,416 | $101,393 | $1,713 | 7 mi |
| Cornish | town | 1,816 | $91,821 | $1,221 | 9 mi |
| Unity | town | 1,375 | $87,500 | $1,625 | 5 mi |
| Washington | town | 1,208 | $89,453 | $1,106 | 13 mi |
| Springfield | town | 1,122 | $100,893 | $1,096 | 13 mi |
| Goshen | town | 1,042 | $70,417 | $1,938 | 9 mi |
| Lempster | town | 953 | $86,607 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Acworth | town | 851 | $82,917 | $1,352 | 11 mi |
| Langdon | town | 805 | $97,917 | $1,417 | 14 mi |
| Croydon | town | 798 | $98,333 | $991 | 6 mi |
| Charlestown | CDP | 659 | $31,078 | $1,082 | 13 mi |
| Plainfield | CDP | 220 | $109,500 | $1,600 | 14 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
The counties around Sullivan County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 41 miles). Income ranges from $72,217 in Windham County to $103,545 in Hillsborough County; 4 of these neighbors top Sullivan County's median. Some neighbors are in Vermont. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Sullivan County resident follows New Hampshire rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sullivan County | - | $80,858 | $1,211/mo | 75% |
| Windsor County, VT | 24 mi | $77,594 | $1,118/mo | 75% |
| Merrimack County, NH | 28 mi | $97,004 | $1,360/mo | 73% |
| Cheshire County, NH | 30 mi | $83,329 | $1,276/mo | 73% |
| Windham County, VT | 36 mi | $72,217 | $1,056/mo | 74% |
| Hillsborough County, NH | 40 mi | $103,545 | $1,623/mo | 67% |
| Belknap County, NH | 41 mi | $92,783 | $1,167/mo | 80% |
What the numbers mean for Sullivan County borrowers
Sullivan County-specific points to check:
- Retirement budgets. In a county with a 47.0 median age, keep any loan term shorter than your plans for the money.
- Tight rental budgets. With 54% of Sullivan County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Sullivan County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
More Sullivan County figures
Degree holders: 30% of adults over 25. Uninsured, Sullivan County: 6.0%; New Hampshire: 5.3%.
| Sullivan County | vs New Hampshire | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.3% | -10.3 pts | +8.2 pts |
| Work from home | 10.2% | -6.6 pts | +1.6 pts |
| Median age | 47.0 | +3.7 yrs | +5.5 yrs |
| Poverty rate | 10.1% | +2.9 pts | -3.1 pts |
| No high school diploma | 7.9% | +2.3 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.0% | +0.8 pts | -1.8 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.3% | +0.7 pts | -0.1 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | -0.3 pts | -1.3 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Sullivan County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.7% |
| 60+ min | 7.8% |
$6,738 a month: the Sullivan County median budget
Sullivan County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $6,738 a month: gross income for a household at the Sullivan County median
- Rent at the median, $1,211, takes 18% of that
- Under a 40% cap, $2,695 total minus rent leaves $1,484
These are gross figures; take-home pay in Sullivan County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
Licensing and complaints for Sullivan County
Sullivan County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the New Hampshire Banking Department. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the New Hampshire state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Sullivan County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for New Hampshire borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Beyond Sullivan County
No city in Sullivan County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sullivan County a high-income county?
Its $80,858 median ranks 9th of 10 New Hampshire counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What is the median rent in Sullivan County, NH?
$1,211 a month, utilities included, or $14,532 a year.
I live near Claremont. Which guide is mine?
This one. Claremont and the rest of Sullivan County have no separate city guide.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Sullivan County or elsewhere in New Hampshire, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Sullivan County check a lender's license?
With the New Hampshire Banking Department. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.