New U.S. Census Bureau data offer a detailed look at how New Hampshire residents have fared during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. This data, covering the five years of 2020-24, provides insight into long-term trends in income and poverty across different regions and demographic groups.
Household income varied widely by region. In Rockingham County, median household income, representing the middle household, stood at $118,300 during the five-year period, the highest in the state. The median in Coos County was about half that amount, at $57,700.
While median incomes have risen, increases in the cost of living have limited the impact of those gains. According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Living Wage Calculator, the estimated cost of living for two working adults and one child was $109,665 in Rockingham County and $88,949 in Coos County in 2026; these estimates underscore that challenges covering costs can reach households anywhere, but impact a greater percentage of Granite Staters in some regions.
Poverty rates also differ significantly by region.
Northern and western counties reported higher poverty rates than the statewide average, with approximately 13.2% of residents in Coos County with incomes below poverty levels during the five-year period. While poverty rates tended to be higher in more rural regions, the largest number of people living in poverty was concentrated in southeastern New Hampshire due to larger population sizes. For example, although Rockingham County had the lowest poverty rate (4.8%) statewide, it also had the second-highest number of people (about 15,000) living in poverty.
Different demographic groups also faced varying poverty rates. Rates were substantially higher among Granite Staters without a high school diploma and among those experiencing disabilities. Black, Hispanic or Latino, and biracial or multiracial Granite Staters also experienced poverty at higher rates than non-Hispanic white residents. Nearly one-quarter of families with children headed by a single woman lived in poverty, more than three times the statewide rate for families with children overall.
However, the data shows meaningful reductions in poverty for some groups compared to the 2015-19 period. Poverty rates declined by 8.6 percentage points among Black residents, 3.1 points among Hispanic or Latino residents, and 3.4 points among families with children headed by a single woman, suggesting post-pandemic wage growth may have bolstered some incomes for some groups.
Overall, the latest Census data suggests that New Hampshire’s economic gains have not been uniform. Policies that support broad-based prosperity and reduce poverty can help ensure that all Granite Staters can afford to live in the communities they call home.
Jess Williams is a policy analyst with the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute. The NHFPI Policy Memo is a partnership of the NH Fiscal Policy Institute and NH Business Review.
New U.S. Census Bureau data offer a detailed look at how New Hampshire residents have fared during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. This data, covering the five years of 2020-24, provides insight into long-term trends in income and poverty across different regions and demographic groups.
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