Unemployment in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, is lower than in 91% of U.S. counties
In Cheshire County, 2.8% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is lower than in 91% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 80% of U.S. counties.
What drives Cheshire County's score
In Cheshire County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 71.4. Jobs are the lowest part, at 16.3.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Cheshire County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, Cheshire County is worse off than most counties on rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income (25.5%, fiscal year 2027).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 71.4 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent19.4% · 2020 to 202457th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income25.5% · fiscal year 202785th percentile
-
- 33.1 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.9% · August 202541st percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.7% · August 202542nd percentile
- People with a subprime credit score30.9% · second quarter of 202615th percentile
-
- 21.3 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line8.2% · 20249th percentile
- Children below the poverty line9.3% · 202410th percentile
- People with a disability14.5% · 2020 to 202435th percentile
- People without health insurance6.2% · 2020 to 202433rd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$81,728 · 202417th percentile
-
- 19.0 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector17.1% · August 202526th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people54.1 · 202511th percentile
-
- 16.3 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year2.8% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202611th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working16.0% · 2020 to 202421st percentile
-
Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Cheshire County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Cheshire County, 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Cheshire County
New Hampshire
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Cheshire County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 20.6% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about three times as much as benefit checks
In Cheshire County, New Hampshire, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 20.6%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Cheshire County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 6.6% in 2010 to 7.9% in 2011.
The share of households in Cheshire County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2014 and has since fallen to 6.3%
Low on the chart: 5.7% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Cheshire County, New Hampshire.
How Cheshire County has changed
Cheshire County's population rose by about half to 78,078, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 1984 to 1989, reaching 70,104. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Cheshire County, New Hampshire.
The number of jobs located in Cheshire County had its largest drop, from 33,994 in 2005 to 31,524 in 2010.
The number of jobs located in Cheshire County was at its highest on the chart in 2005 and is down 10% since
High on the chart: 33,994 in 2005. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Cheshire County, New Hampshire.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.1% | 2025 3.0% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 7.0% | 2024 8.2% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $31,473 | 2024 $81,728 |
The table uses 3.0% for 2025; the score uses 2.8% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Cheshire County's history
2003
A flash flood in August 2003 did $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2005
A flash flood in October 2005 did $10 million in property damage and killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2010
The county's largest recorded population was the 2010 Census count of 77,117. The 2020 Census counted 76,458, 99% of the peak. Census Bureau
2012
A flash flood in May 2012 did $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
-
Since 1973
32 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Cheshire County, 14 of them for flooding. FEMA
Cheshire County beside its neighbors
Of the five counties that border Cheshire County, in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont, four score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Cheshire County ranks 4th of the six; Franklin County is highest, at 28.5%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County, MA | 37 | 10.2% | 28.5% |
| Worcester County, MA | 37 | 9.6% | 18.8% |
| Sullivan County, NH | 24 | 8.7% | 21.0% |
| Windham County, VT | 20 | 11.4% | 25.7% |
| Cheshire County, NH | 19 | 8.2% | 20.6% |
| Hillsborough County, NH | 17 | 7.0% | 14.8% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Cheshire County the poorest county in New Hampshire?
No, Cheshire County's poverty rate was 8.2% in 2024, 6th highest of 10 in New Hampshire (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Coos County, at 13.8%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Cheshire County ranks 5th of 10 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Cheshire County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
-
New Hampshire Legal Assistance
Legal aid
-
603 Legal Aid
Legal aid
-
HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Cheshire County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Cheshire County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.