Best Counties in New Hampshire — 2026 Rankings
10 of 10 counties scored across 12 dimensions
10
10 scored
43/100
composite score
49/100
38.3—49
lowest to highest
Rankings
Top Counties in New Hampshire
State Overview
Understanding County Scores in New Hampshire
New Hampshire Trails the National Livability Median
With a composite score of 43.1, the Granite State sits below the national median of 50.0. While it offers high quality of life metrics in specific categories, these are often offset by significant affordability hurdles across all 10 counties.
High Earners and Healthy Lifestyles Lead the Way
New Hampshire excels in economic and physical wellness, boasting a robust income score of 83.9 and a health score of 81.8. Residents benefit from some of the highest earnings in the country alongside superior healthcare access and outcomes.
Steep Costs and Tax Burdens Strain Budgets
The state faces significant pressure from a low cost score of 13.3 and a tax score of only 8.0. These figures reflect a high cost of living and property tax demands that frequently outweigh the benefit of having no state income tax.
Carroll and Rockingham Lead for Overall Balance
Carroll County takes the top spot with a score of 49.0, followed closely by Rockingham at 48.9 and Grafton at 44.5. Rockingham stands out for its exceptional 98.0 income score, while Carroll offers the state's most favorable tax score at 34.0.
A Premium Destination for High-Income Professionals
New Hampshire suits high-earning families who prioritize health and economic stability over low living expenses. While the 43.1 composite score highlights affordability barriers, the state remains a premier choice for those who can navigate its premium price tag.
All County Rankings in New Hampshire
Search, sort, and filter all 10 ranked counties
Showing 1–10 of 10 counties
| Rank | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carroll County | 49 | 34 | 15.6 | 86.9 | 49 | 80 | 78.3 | 29 | 7.5 | 50.5 | 45.1 | ||
| 2 | Rockingham County | 48.9 | 8.9 | 3.4 | 98 | 63.9 | 95.7 | 79.3 | 14.2 | 26.4 | 52.2 | 54 | 42 | |
| 3 | Grafton County | 44.5 | 4.3 | 10.9 | 87.8 | 45.7 | 87.7 | 79.6 | 18.2 | 27.4 | 50.3 | 66.7 | 47.3 | |
| 4 | Merrimack County | 43.6 | 3.1 | 8.3 | 93.3 | 58 | 85.6 | 62.3 | 21.8 | 20.5 | 52.3 | 52.5 | ||
| 5 | Cheshire County | 43.4 | 1.3 | 11.7 | 84.8 | 43.6 | 84.5 | 70.6 | 39.5 | 51.2 | 51.8 | 66.2 | 43.1 | |
| 6 | Sullivan County | 42.8 | 1.1 | 15.5 | 78.4 | 44.1 | 77.1 | 63.3 | 62.5 | 57.8 | 50.1 | 65.9 | 47.3 | |
| 7 | Coos County | 41.2 | 2.6 | 44.5 | 34.1 | 45.6 | 56.9 | 56.8 | 27.2 | 49.9 | 49.6 | 50.8 | ||
| 8 | Strafford County | 40.2 | 3.4 | 6.6 | 89.8 | 42.7 | 84.6 | 56.8 | 35.9 | 35.9 | 52.3 | 46 | 41.9 | |
| 9 | Hillsborough County | 39.3 | 5.8 | 4.5 | 95.4 | 39.7 | 86.9 | 57.2 | 10.2 | 41.5 | 52.3 | 53.8 | ||
| 10 | Belknap County | 38.3 | 15.5 | 12.1 | 90.8 | 25.4 | 78.5 | 56.3 | 42.6 | 13.5 | 54.1 | 54.9 |
Carroll County
Rockingham County
Grafton County
Merrimack County
Cheshire County
Sullivan County
Coos County
Strafford County
Hillsborough County
Belknap County
Frequently Asked Questions about Counties in New Hampshire
Common questions about county rankings and scores in New Hampshire.
What is the best county in New Hampshire?
Carroll County is the top-ranked county in New Hampshire with a CountyScore of 49/100. It leads the state across the available scoring dimensions, which include Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets.
How many counties are ranked in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire has 10 counties in total. Of those, 10 have been ranked with a composite score based on available data dimensions. The remaining 0 counties do not yet have enough data for a full score.
What factors determine a county's score?
Each county is scored 0–100 across up to eight data dimensions: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, and Water Quality. The composite score is a weighted average of whichever dimensions have data. Currently available dimensions are: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets. Higher scores are always better — a score of 100 represents the best possible performance for that dimension.
What is the average county score in New Hampshire?
The average composite CountyScore across all ranked counties in New Hampshire is 43/100. The national average is 50/100, so New Hampshire counties score 7 points below the national average.
How does New Hampshire compare to other states?
New Hampshire's average county score of 43/100 is 7 points below the national average of 50/100. You can compare New Hampshire counties to counties in any other state using the county detail pages or the CountyScore compare tool.
Explore County Data by Category
Dive deeper into specific dimensions for counties in New Hampshire.
Best counties in other states
Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019–2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.