New Hampshire Financial Distress Profile
Composite distress data for 10 counties, updated quarterly from federal sources. Household debt, delinquency, foreclosure law, and county-level distress scores compared to national averages.
· Data from NY Fed, CFPB, BLS, US Courts, Q4 2025
Behind on your mortgage in New Hampshire? See your options under New Hampshire law →
New Hampshire ranks #51 nationally for household financial distress. The national State Distress Index average is 50.0.
How Does New Hampshire Compare to the National Average?
New Hampshire is above the national average on 2 of 5 key household distress metrics. Credit card delinquency stands at 9.8% (below the 12.4% national rate), auto loan delinquency at 3.0%, and total debt per capita at $66,480.
Since 2019, credit card delinquency in New Hampshire has risen 3.2pp and total household debt has grown 17.4%. The state shows a mixed distress picture across different debt categories.
Key Statistics at a Glance
State Distress Index: New Hampshire
Domain Breakdown
The national American Distress Index reads 44.6 (Typical). On average, its inputs sit higher than in 45% of their own quarterly histories since 2005. New Hampshire's State Distress Index of 9.0 (Least distressed fifth) is computed from 4 equal-weighted domains covering delinquency, default and legal signals, labor, and the safety-net buffer.
New Hampshire vs. National Average
Delinquency rates measure the share of loan accounts 30 or more days past due. Higher rates signal greater household financial stress. Debt and balance figures are per capita, adjusted for state population.
Download all states (CSV)New Hampshire vs. National: 5 Key Metrics (Q4 2025)
Source: NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax, Q4 2025.
Similar States by Distress Level
States ranked closest to New Hampshire (#51) on the State Distress Index. Peer comparison reveals whether distress patterns are regional or structural.
| State | SDI Score | Quintile | Highest Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 9.0 | Least distressed fifth | Labor |
| Vermont | 17.6 | Least distressed fifth | Safety Net & Buffer |
| South Dakota | 15.5 | Least distressed fifth | Safety Net & Buffer |
| North Dakota | 12.1 | Least distressed fifth | Default & Legal |
Change Since 2019
Pre-pandemic 2019 values provide a baseline for how distress has evolved. Credit card and auto loan delinquency have risen sharply in most states since pandemic-era forbearance protections expired.
| Metric | 2019 | 2025 | Change | Nat'l 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Card Delinquency | 6.6% | 9.8% | +3.2pp | 12.4% |
| Auto Loan Delinquency | 2.9% | 3.0% | +0.1pp | 5.2% |
| Mortgage Delinquency | 0.70% | 0.61% | -0.1pp | 0.94% |
| Total Debt per Capita | $56,640 | $66,480 | +17.4% | $63,200 |
| CC Balance per Capita | $3,630 | $4,500 | +24.0% | $4,350 |
New Hampshire Foreclosure Law Summary
Understanding your state's foreclosure process is critical if you fall behind on mortgage payments. New Hampshire primarily uses non-judicial foreclosure.
New Hampshire has two foreclosure tracks: (1) non-judicial foreclosure by power of sale under RSA 479:25 et seq. — the dominant method, available when the mortgage contains a power of sale clause (standard in virtually all modern residential mortgage…
Full New Hampshire foreclosure law guide →State-Level Divergence
National averages mask wide variation across states. New Hampshire's credit card delinquency of 9.8% falls below the national 12.4%, but other metrics tell a more nuanced story. With 2 of 5 tracked metrics above national averages and a Distress Index of 9.0 (Least distressed fifth), the pressure on New Hampshire households is real. The Household Debt by State roundup tracks all 51 jurisdictions.
Distress by County
The County Distress Index scores every county in New Hampshire on a 0-100 scale using five equal-weighted domains: delinquency, default and legal, debt burden, labor, and safety net and buffer. New Hampshire's 10 counties average 33.3 — below the national county mean of 50.0.
Distress Fifth Distribution
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Most Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Distress Fifth | Top Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coos County | 50.1 | Middle fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Sullivan County | 37.0 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Strafford County | 35.1 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Belknap County | 34.5 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Hillsborough County | 34.3 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
Coos County ranks #1594 most distressed nationally out of 3,144 counties.
Least Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Distress Fifth | Top Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll County | 26.4 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Grafton County | 26.9 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Rockingham County | 27.3 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Merrimack County | 28.1 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Cheshire County | 33.7 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
The gap between New Hampshire's most and least distressed counties is 23.7 points — Coos County (50.1, Middle fifth) vs. Carroll County (26.4, Least distressed fifth).
Explore all 10 New Hampshire counties →CFPB Mortgage Complaints in New Hampshire
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has received 2,296 mortgage complaints from New Hampshire since 2012 — 163.8 per 100,000 residents, above the national rate of 129.3 per 100K. New Hampshire ranks #8 of 51 jurisdictions for complaint density.
| Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complaints | 103 | 99 | 111 | 69 | 59 | 98 |
Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Filed a mortgage complaint? Search the complaint database.
Bankruptcy Filings: New Hampshire
Bankruptcy filings reflect the downstream consequence of sustained financial distress — when households exhaust savings, fall behind on debt, and run out of alternatives. New Hampshire's filing rate is below the national average.
Source: U.S. Courts, Administrative Office. Table F-2: Cases Commenced by Chapter. Per-capita rates use 2024 Census population estimates.
Credit Distress: New Hampshire
The Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer tracks credit health metrics from Equifax data. 9.2% of New Hampshire residents have debt in collections — below the national rate of 13.9%. 11.4% have subprime credit scores (below 620), and 28.2% are credit-constrained.
Source: Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer. Data from NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax. 2025 Q1.
Economic Context: New Hampshire
SNAP enrollment and unemployment rates provide upstream context for household debt distress. Higher food assistance enrollment signals that more families are struggling with basic expenses, while elevated unemployment directly reduces income available for debt service.
Sources: USDA Food and Nutrition Service, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics. Population: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 estimates.
Safety Net Strength: New Hampshire
The Safety Net Index measures how much support infrastructure is available to households in financial distress — combining healthcare coverage, food assistance, emergency housing funds, and legal protections. New Hampshire scores 28.9 out of 100 (Minimal), ranking #48 of 51 jurisdictions.
Component Breakdown
Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation (Medicaid, 2024), USDA FNS (SNAP, 2025), U.S. Treasury HAF program status, state foreclosure statutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the credit card delinquency rate in New Hampshire?
The credit card delinquency rate in New Hampshire is 9.8% as of Q4 2025, ranking #38 among all states and DC. The national average is 12.4%. This rate has risen from 6.6% in 2019.
How does New Hampshire's household debt compare to the national average?
New Hampshire residents carry $66,480 in total debt per capita, above the national average of $63,200. Debt per capita has grown 17.4% since 2019. New Hampshire ranks #17 nationally for total household debt per capita.
What is the auto loan delinquency rate in New Hampshire?
Auto loan delinquency in New Hampshire stands at 3.0% as of Q4 2025, below the national rate of 5.2%. This ranks #46 nationally. The rate has risen from 2.9% in 2019.
What type of foreclosure process does New Hampshire use?
New Hampshire primarily uses non-judicial foreclosure. This allows lenders to foreclose without court proceedings, resulting in a faster process. See our full New Hampshire foreclosure law guide for timelines, protections, and legal resources.
Is New Hampshire above or below the national average for financial distress?
New Hampshire scores 9.0 on the State Distress Index (Least distressed fifth), ranking #51 of 51 jurisdictions. That is 41.0 points below the national state average of 50.0. This composite score is built from 4 domains: delinquency, default and legal, labor, and safety net and buffer. Separately, the national American Distress Index reads 44.6 (Typical) for the country over time. On average, its inputs sit higher than in 45% of their own quarterly histories since 2005.
How many CFPB mortgage complaints have been filed in New Hampshire?
The CFPB has received 2,296 mortgage complaints from New Hampshire since 2012, a rate of 163.8 per 100,000 residents. This ranks #8 of 51 jurisdictions. The national average is 129.3 per 100K. Companies responded to 98.4% of New Hampshire complaints within the required timeframe.
What is the bankruptcy filing rate in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire had 935 bankruptcy filings in the 12-month period ending Dec 2025, a rate of 66.7 per 100,000 residents — below the national rate of 169.1 per 100K. This ranks #48 of 51 jurisdictions. Chapter 7 filings account for 70.4% and Chapter 13 for 27.7%. Filings changed +9.1% year-over-year.
What percentage of people in New Hampshire have debt in collections?
9.2% of individuals in New Hampshire have debt in collections, below the national rate of 13.9%. This ranks #44 of 51 jurisdictions. Additionally, 11.4% of New Hampshire residents have subprime credit scores (below 620), compared to 16.9% nationally. Data from the Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer (NY Fed / Equifax).
What is the SNAP enrollment rate in New Hampshire?
74,442 residents of New Hampshire receive SNAP benefits, an enrollment rate of 5.3% — below the national rate of 11.2%. This ranks #49 of 51 jurisdictions. SNAP participation has changed -1.8% year-over-year. The pre-pandemic rate was 5.1%.
How strong is New Hampshire's financial safety net?
New Hampshire scores 28.9 out of 100 on the Safety Net Index, ranking #48 of 51 jurisdictions (Minimal). The score combines Medicaid coverage (11.6% enrollment rate, expansion state), SNAP enrollment (5.3%), Homeowner Assistance Fund status (winding down), and foreclosure legal protections. The national average is 48.1.
Which New Hampshire counties have the highest financial distress?
Coos County is the most distressed county in New Hampshire with a County Distress Index score of 50.1 (Middle fifth), ranking #1594 nationally out of 3,144 counties. Sullivan County (37.0), Strafford County (35.1), Belknap County (34.5) round out the top distressed counties. Carroll County is the least distressed at 26.4 (Least distressed fifth). See all 10 counties at /counties/new-hampshire/.
How long can foreclosure take in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire uses non-judicial foreclosure, which allows lenders to foreclose without court proceedings. Timeline varies by county and complexity. Homeowners have a right to cure: Up to the date of sale. You can cure the default at any time before the foreclos…. The homestead exemption is $120,000. Full details at /help/foreclosure/new-hampshire/.
Where does New Hampshire rank for financial distress?
New Hampshire scores 9.0 on the State Distress Index (Least distressed fifth), ranking #51 of 51 jurisdictions. 2 of 5 key metrics exceed national averages. The highest SDI domain is Labor. County Distress Index details are listed separately by county. The safety net ranks #48 (Minimal).
Data Sources
NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel
State-level household debt and delinquency statistics from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, based on Equifax credit bureau data. Updated quarterly.
American Distress Index
Composite index tracking U.S. household financial distress across five equal-weighted domains. National score as of the latest available quarter.
New Hampshire Foreclosure Statutes
State foreclosure law data compiled from primary statutory sources and validated against legal databases. Last verified 2026-03-10.
CFPB Complaint Database
Mortgage complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 2012–present. Density calculated using 2024 Census population estimates.
USDA SNAP State Activity
Monthly SNAP participation by state from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Enrollment rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
U.S. Bankruptcy Courts
Annual bankruptcy filings by chapter and district from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Per-capita rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer
Quarterly credit health metrics (collections, subprime share, delinquency, credit-constrained rates) from Equifax via the NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel.
Safety Net Index
Composite score from KFF Medicaid enrollment (2024), USDA SNAP participation (2025), U.S. Treasury HAF program status, and state foreclosure legal protections.