Grafton County, New Hampshire

County Distress Index: Healthy · 34.0 | 93,146 people · 8th most distressed in New Hampshire
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Grafton County, NH ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 34.0 — 2523rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within New Hampshire, it ranks 8th of 10 counties. Among its 9 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Grafton County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 75.1 — worse than roughly 75% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 75.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 72
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 77
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 90
Homeownership Rate 66
Economic Vitality 73.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 84
Rent-to-Income Ratio 91
Business Formation Rate 45
House Price Change (YoY) 20
Structural Poverty 24.1
Unemployment Rate 6
Poverty Rate 16
Income vs. State Median 59
Child Poverty Rate 10
Disability Rate 29
Transfer Income Dependency 11
Consumer Credit Distress 13.7
Debt in Collections 14
Medical Debt 23
Auto Loan Delinquency 11
Credit Card Delinquency 9
Uninsured Rate 29
Subprime Credit Population 9
Legal Distress 9.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 10

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Grafton County
Grafton County, NH 34.0 Healthy —
Coos County, NH 49.4 Normal +15.4
Sullivan County, NH 49.0 Normal +15.0
Belknap County, NH 42.2 Normal +8.2
Caledonia County, VT 39.6 Normal +5.6
Merrimack County, NH 36.2 Normal +2.2
Essex County, VT 35.4 Normal +1.4
Orange County, VT 33.2 Healthy -0.8
Carroll County, NH 32.3 Healthy -1.7
Windsor County, VT 31.1 Healthy -2.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Grafton County
York County, ME 33.8 Healthy -0.2
Island County, WA 34.3 Healthy +0.3
Cass County, ND 33.7 Healthy -0.3
Putnam County, NY 34.3 Healthy +0.3
Bonner County, ID 33.7 Healthy -0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Grafton County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Grafton County.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING, EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT, INC. (AHEAD)
Littleton
603-444-1377 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair Housing

See all counselors in New Hampshire →

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 Grafton County residents at no cost.

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

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Grafton County has a County Distress Index score of 34.0 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,523rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 8th in New Hampshire out of 10 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Grafton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Grafton County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 75.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Grafton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Grafton County (34.0) can be compared to its 9 neighboring counties: Coos County, NH (49.4); Sullivan County, NH (49.0); Belknap County, NH (42.2).

  • 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 Healthy 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). Grafton County's score of 34.0 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Grafton 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 Grafton County?

    Grafton County, New Hampshire has a population of approximately 93,146 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.