Coos County, New Hampshire

County Distress Index: Normal · 49.4 | 31,372 people · 1st most distressed in New Hampshire
American Default Research

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Coos County, NH falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 49.4 — 1608th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within New Hampshire, it ranks 1st of 10 counties. It scores higher than all 4 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Coos County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 71.9 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 71.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 75
Rent-to-Income Ratio 84
Business Formation Rate 58
House Price Change (YoY) 43
Structural Poverty 68.0
Unemployment Rate 16
Poverty Rate 49
Income vs. State Median 99
Child Poverty Rate 49
Disability Rate 86
Transfer Income Dependency 81
Housing Cost Burden 59.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 69
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 47
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 80
Homeownership Rate 52
Legal Distress 50.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 51
Consumer Credit Distress 34.9
Debt in Collections 37
Medical Debt 27
Auto Loan Delinquency 12
Credit Card Delinquency 62
Uninsured Rate 40
Subprime Credit Population 34

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Coos County
Coos County, NH 49.4 Normal —
Oxford County, ME 47.9 Normal -1.5
Essex County, VT 35.4 Normal -14.0
Grafton County, NH 34.0 Healthy -15.4
Carroll County, NH 32.3 Healthy -17.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Coos County
White County, IN 49.4 Normal -0.0
Allen County, KS 49.4 Normal -0.0
Hardy County, WV 49.5 Normal +0.0
Seward County, KS 49.5 Normal +0.1
Colorado County, TX 49.4 Normal -0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Coos County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Coos County

Find an Attorney

New Hampshire Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

New Hampshire Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 603-229-0002

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Coos County residents at no cost.

New Hampshire Legal Assistance 1-800-639-5290
603 Legal Aid 1-800-639-5290

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Coos County, New Hampshire?

    Coos County has a County Distress Index score of 49.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,608th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 1st in New Hampshire out of 10 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Coos County?

    The primary driver of distress in Coos County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 71.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Coos County compare to neighboring counties?

    Coos County (49.4) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Oxford County, ME (47.9); Essex County, VT (35.4); Grafton County, NH (34.0).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Normal zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Coos County's score of 49.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

  • What data sources power Coos County's CDI score?

    Coos County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Coos County?

    Coos County, New Hampshire has a population of approximately 31,372 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.