About one in 14 people in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, lives below the poverty line
In Hillsborough County, 7.0% of people lived below the poverty line (Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024). That is lower than in 95% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 80% of U.S. counties.
What drives Hillsborough County's score
In Hillsborough County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 75.2. Income and the safety net is the lowest part, at 10.1. About one in 15 children (6.8%, 2024) lives below the poverty line, a lower share than in 96% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index combines five things we measure for every county: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each gets a score from 0 to 100; the higher the score, the worse off the county is compared with others.
Even so, Hillsborough County is worse off than most counties on rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income (24.9%, fiscal year 2027).
The five parts count equally; together they hold 14 measures. Under each part, a bar shows where Hillsborough County ranks among all 3,144 U.S. counties on that measure, as a percentile: the share of counties it is higher than. A longer bar means more trouble.
- 75.2 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorHUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027; renters, 2020–24 Census survey
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income24.9% · fiscal year 202783rd percentile
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent21.0% · 2020 to 202467th percentile
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- 31.5 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, Q4 2025
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.9% · August 202530th percentile
- People with a credit card behind4.6% · August 202535th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score18.7% · Q4 202528th percentile
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- 23.2 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector17.2% · August 202527th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people69.5 · 202519th percentile
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- 18.4 of 100
Jobs
Adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey; unemployment through Aug 2026
- Adults 25 to 54 not working14.3% · 2020 to 202413th percentile
- Unemployment rate, 12-month average3.3% · Sep 2025 to Aug 202623rd percentile
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- 10.1 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- Children below the poverty line6.8% · 20243rd percentile
- People with a disability11.8% · 2020 to 202413th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$105,060 · 20244th percentile
- People below the poverty line7.0% · 20244th percentile
- People without health insurance5.5% · 2020 to 202425th percentile
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Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; 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 Aug 2026.
Where the money in Hillsborough County comes from
The Bureau of Economic Analysis adds up all the income that reaches the people of a county and splits it three ways: pay from work, income from investments and rent, and benefit checks.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Hillsborough County
New Hampshire
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Hillsborough County in 2024, pay from work was 70 cents of every dollar of income. Income from investments and rentals was 15 cents. Benefit checks were 15 cents. Across the country, pay is 61 cents of the dollar and benefit checks are 18.
Benefit checks have grown from 7 cents of every dollar in 1969, but pay from work still brings in more.
In Hillsborough County, benefit checks rose from 7 to 15 cents of every dollar
Benefit checks and pay from work as shares of all personal income, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire: 14.8% and 69.9% in 2024. Yearly, 1969–2024.
Use this chart Free to use with credit
The quote: In 2024, benefit checks made up 14.8% of all personal income in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAINC4).
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 Hillsborough County, 17.3% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally.
How Hillsborough County has changed
The number of people living in Hillsborough County grew by about 95% between 1969 and 2024, from 221,149 to 430,462. The number of jobs located there grew by about 23% from 1990 to 2024.
Unemployment fell from 5.0% in 1990 to 3.5% in 2025.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| People living in the countyBEA | 1969 221,149 | 2024 430,462 |
| Jobs located in the countyBLS QCEW | 1990 163,351 | 2024 201,342 |
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.0% | 2025 3.5% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 6.6% | 2024 7.0% |
| Median household income (not adjusted for prices)Census SAIPE | 1989 $39,572 | 2024 $105,060 |
| Share of income from benefit checksBEA | 1969 6.8% | 2024 14.8% |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices. We don't chart the distress score over time because it compares counties at one moment.
Dated events in Hillsborough County's history
Largest decennial census count
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 422,937, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
1999
Thunderstorm wind: one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
2006
Flood: $2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2007
Flood: $1.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2021
Flash flood: $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1973
31 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Hillsborough County, 11 of them for flooding. FEMA
Storms are listed if they did $1 million or more in damage or killed someone.
Hillsborough County beside its neighbors
Of the seven counties that border Hillsborough County, in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, four score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Hillsborough County ranks 6th of the eight; Sullivan County is highest, at 21.0%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester County, MA | 39 | 9.6% | 18.8% |
| Essex County, MA | 38 | 9.3% | 16.6% |
| Sullivan County, NH | 25 | 8.7% | 21.0% |
| Cheshire County, NH | 21 | 8.2% | 20.6% |
| Hillsborough County, NH | 19 | 7.0% | 14.8% |
| Middlesex County, MA | 14 | 7.8% | 9.9% |
| Merrimack County, NH | 12 | 7.5% | 19.6% |
| Rockingham County, NH | 8 | 5.3% | 12.3% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Aug 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 Hillsborough County the poorest county in New Hampshire?
No, Hillsborough County's poverty rate was 7.0% in 2024, 9th 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, Hillsborough County ranks 6th of 10 in the state.
Hillsborough County, New Hampshire: common questions
What is the poverty rate in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire?
7.0% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: about one in 14 people. Among children it was 6.8%.
Is Hillsborough County the poorest county in New Hampshire?
No, Hillsborough County's poverty rate was 7.0% in 2024, 9th 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, Hillsborough County ranks 6th of 10 in the state.
What is the population of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire?
About 430,462 people in 2024, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis's count. The 2020 Census counted 422,937, the most of any census.
How is the County Distress Index calculated?
We rank every U.S. county on 14 federal measures of money trouble, grouped into five equally weighted parts, and average them. The published score is the share of the other 3,143 counties with a lower average. The methodology lists every measure and its source.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Hillsborough County
A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counselor works at a nonprofit agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The counseling to avoid foreclosure is free, and a counselor can help you talk to your mortgage company and understand what it offers, according to the Consumer Financial Protection BureauSourceCFPB.
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Neighborworks of Southern New Hampshire
HUD-approved housing counselor
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New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority
HUD-approved housing counselor
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New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority
HUD-approved housing counselor
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New Hampshire Legal Assistance
Legal aid
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603 Legal Aid
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Counseling to avoid foreclosure is free. Our help directory lists 1,313 approved agencies 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 Hillsborough County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Aug 2026, built from HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. Our methodology
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Hillsborough County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.