Unemployment in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, is lower than in 96% of U.S. counties
In Sullivan County, 2.4% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is lower than in 96% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 75% of U.S. counties.
What drives Sullivan County's score
In Sullivan County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 68.9. Collections and bankruptcy is the lowest part, at 23.5. Bankruptcy filings ran at 59.1 per 100,000 people (2025), lower than in 85% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Sullivan 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, Sullivan County is worse off than most counties on renters paying half their income or more in rent (23.1%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 68.9 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 rent23.1% · 2020 to 202478th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income21.6% · fiscal year 202759th percentile
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- 30.4 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind3.8% · August 202522nd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.7% · August 202543rd percentile
- People with a subprime credit score33.8% · second quarter of 202624th percentile
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- 26.0 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line8.7% · 202413th percentile
- Children below the poverty line11.2% · 202418th percentile
- People with a disability16.5% · 2020 to 202454th percentile
- People without health insurance6.0% · 2020 to 202431st percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$88,661 · 202411th percentile
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- 25.5 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year2.4% · Oct 2025 to Sep 20264th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working20.2% · 2020 to 202446th percentile
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- 23.5 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector18.5% · August 202532nd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people59.1 · 202514th percentile
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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 Sullivan 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 Sullivan County, 23.5% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Sullivan County
New Hampshire
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Sullivan County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 21.0% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about three times as much as benefit checks
In Sullivan County, New Hampshire, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 21.0%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Sullivan County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 6.7% in 2010 to 8.3% in 2011.
The share of households in Sullivan County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and has since fallen to 8.3%
Low on the chart: 6.5% 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, Sullivan County, New Hampshire.
How Sullivan County has changed
Sullivan County's population rose 44% from 1969 to 2024, reaching its highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 1999 to 2004, reaching 42,547. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Sullivan County, New Hampshire.
The number of jobs located in Sullivan County rose most sharply after its 2010 low, from 13,082 in 2010 to 14,090 in 2015.
The number of jobs located in Sullivan County was about the same in 2025 as in 1990
High on the chart: 14,476 in 1995. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Sullivan County, New Hampshire.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.9% | 2025 2.7% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 9.7% | 2024 8.7% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $28,678 | 2024 $88,661 |
The table uses 2.7% for 2025; the score uses 2.4% 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 Sullivan County's history
1929
Sibley Scythe. Wikipedia
1996
A flash flood in October 1996 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2010
The county's largest recorded population was the 2010 Census count of 43,742. The 2020 Census counted 43,063, 98% of the peak. Census Bureau
2013
A flash flood in July 2013 did $1.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2015
A thunderstorm in July 2015 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2021
A flash flood in July 2021 did $1.4 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1973
33 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Sullivan County, 15 of them for flooding. FEMA
Sullivan County beside its neighbors
Sullivan County scores higher than all six counties that border it, in New Hampshire and Vermont. For the share of income from benefit checks, Sullivan County ranks 3rd of the seven; Windham County is highest, at 25.7%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Windsor County, VT | 15 | 9.2% | 21.4% |
| Merrimack County, NH | 11 | 7.5% | 19.6% |
| Grafton County, NH | 9 | 9.6% | 16.7% |
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 Sullivan County the poorest county in New Hampshire?
No, Sullivan County's poverty rate was 8.7% in 2024, 3rd 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, Sullivan County ranks 2nd of 10 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Sullivan 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.
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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
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 Sullivan 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 Sullivan County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.