Sullivan County, New Hampshire

County Distress Index: Normal · 49.0 | 43,969 people · 2nd most distressed in New Hampshire
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Sullivan County, NH falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 49.0 — 1642nd 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 2nd of 10 counties. It scores higher than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Sullivan County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 87.5 — worse than roughly 88% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 87.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 95
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 95
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 94
Homeownership Rate 48
Economic Vitality 84.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 93
Rent-to-Income Ratio 91
Business Formation Rate 70
House Price Change (YoY) 48
Consumer Credit Distress 34.0
Debt in Collections 33
Medical Debt 32
Auto Loan Delinquency 44
Credit Card Delinquency 23
Uninsured Rate 34
Subprime Credit Population 37
Structural Poverty 33.1
Unemployment Rate 4
Poverty Rate 13
Income vs. State Median 77
Child Poverty Rate 19
Disability Rate 39
Transfer Income Dependency 24
Legal Distress 14.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 14

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Sullivan County
Sullivan County, NH 49.0 Normal —
Cheshire County, NH 42.8 Normal -6.2
Hillsborough County, NH 41.6 Normal -7.4
Windham County, VT 37.0 Normal -12.0
Merrimack County, NH 36.2 Normal -12.8
Grafton County, NH 34.0 Healthy -15.0
Windsor County, VT 31.1 Healthy -18.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Sullivan County
Lawrence County, IN 49.0 Normal +0.0
Marshall County, KY 49.0 Normal -0.0
Gogebic County, MI 49.0 Normal +0.0
Curry County, OR 49.0 Normal -0.0
Rabun County, GA 49.1 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

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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

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Legal aid organizations serving Sullivan County residents at no cost.

New Hampshire Legal Assistance 1-800-639-5290
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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Sullivan County has a County Distress Index score of 49.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,642nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 2nd in New Hampshire out of 10 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Sullivan County?

    The primary driver of distress in Sullivan County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 87.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Sullivan County compare to neighboring counties?

    Sullivan County (49.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Cheshire County, NH (42.8); Hillsborough County, NH (41.6); Windham County, VT (37.0).

  • 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). Sullivan County's score of 49.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Sullivan 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 Sullivan County?

    Sullivan County, New Hampshire has a population of approximately 43,969 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.