Hillsborough County, New Hampshire

County Distress Index: Normal · 41.6 | 427,354 people · 6th most distressed in New Hampshire
American Default Research

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Hillsborough County, NH falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 41.6 — 2086th 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 6th of 10 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Hillsborough County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 80.0 — worse than roughly 80% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 80.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 86
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 69
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 99
Homeownership Rate 79
Economic Vitality 67.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 83
Rent-to-Income Ratio 73
Business Formation Rate 36
House Price Change (YoY) 36
Consumer Credit Distress 30.5
Debt in Collections 27
Medical Debt 33
Auto Loan Delinquency 30
Credit Card Delinquency 36
Uninsured Rate 29
Subprime Credit Population 29
Legal Distress 19.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 19
Structural Poverty 12.2
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 3
Income vs. State Median 15
Child Poverty Rate 4
Disability Rate 14
Transfer Income Dependency 7

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County, NH 41.6 Normal —
Sullivan County, NH 49.0 Normal +7.4
Worcester County, MA 48.9 Normal +7.2
Essex County, MA 48.0 Normal +6.4
Cheshire County, NH 42.8 Normal +1.2
Merrimack County, NH 36.2 Normal -5.4
Middlesex County, MA 32.5 Healthy -9.2
Rockingham County, NH 30.7 Healthy -11.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hillsborough County
Washtenaw County, MI 41.9 Normal +0.2
Capitol Planning Region, CT 41.9 Normal +0.3
Western Connecticut Planning Region, CT 41.3 Normal -0.3
Bergen County, NJ 41.3 Normal -0.3
Honolulu County, HI 42.0 Normal +0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hillsborough County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Hillsborough County.

NEIGHBORWORKS OF SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE
Manchester
603-626-4663 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair HousingPost-Purchase
NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY
Bedford
603-472-8623 Website
Home Improvement/RehabPre-Purchase
NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY
Bedford
603-310-9287 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingHomeless/Displacement

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 Hillsborough 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in New Hampshire →

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Hillsborough County has a County Distress Index score of 41.6 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,086th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 6th in New Hampshire out of 10 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hillsborough County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hillsborough County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 80.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Hillsborough County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hillsborough County (41.6) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Sullivan County, NH (49.0); Worcester County, MA (48.9); Essex County, MA (48.0).

  • 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). Hillsborough County's score of 41.6 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough County?

    Hillsborough County, New Hampshire has a population of approximately 427,354 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.