New Hampshire · GEOID 33005

Cheshire County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 77,297 · 35,899 housing units

Median household income

$83,329

State $99,670

Median home value

$280,100

State $401,722

Median gross rent

$1,276

State $1,495

Homeownership rate

72.7%

State 72.8%

Renter cost-burden rate

48.7%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

23.6%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.2%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

3.0%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

14.7%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

3.36

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Cheshire County	New Hampshire
Population	77,297	1,394,868
Population density (per sq. mi.)	109.38	—
Median household income	$83,329	$99,670
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$114,700	—
Households	30,620	—
Average household size	2.40 people	—
Owner-occupied	72.7%	72.8%
Renter-occupied	27.3%	27.2%
Race	92.0% White · 0.8% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Cheshire County compared with New Hampshire.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

35.5% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 40.6%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	17.3%	$66,618	$1,665	$216,955
1 earner	29.3%	$73,750	$1,844	$243,503
2 earners	42.9%	$124,896	$3,122	$433,886
3+ earners	10.6%	$152,500	$3,813	$536,637

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

30,620

Average size: 2.40 people

Households with children

6,636

21.7% of households

Per-capita income

$43,485

Poverty rate: 8.4%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

72.7% owner-occupied vs. state average 72.8%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 71.6% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 16.9%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

59.1% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,972.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $280,100.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,276.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 5,279 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 0.8% · For rent 5.4% · Seasonal 58.8% · Other 15.2%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

26.0% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 74.0% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

8.6%

3,103 units of 35,899 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

2.2%

801 units of 35,899 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$66,663

100% MHI$83,329

120% MHI$99,995

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Cheshire County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$65,900	$75,300	$94,100
100% AMI	$80,290	$91,760	$114,700
120% AMI	$96,350	$110,100	$137,650

HUD FMR Area: Cheshire County, NH. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

48.7% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (20.8% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

23.6% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Cheshire County.

Covered employment

25,654

Across 19 sectors

Establishments

2,191

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$59,706

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	5,149	$40,916	$121,284	−$158,816	$1,023
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	4,939	$71,814	$236,297	−$43,803	$1,795
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	4,064	$65,951	$214,472	−$65,628	$1,649
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	2,520	$27,451	$71,162	−$208,938	$686
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	2,030	$76,989	$255,560	−$24,540	$1,925
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	1,332	$41,943	$125,107	−$154,993	$1,049
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	913	$118,460	$409,929	+$129,829	$2,962
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	873	$51,947	$162,345	−$117,755	$1,299
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	810	$47,371	$145,311	−$134,789	$1,184
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	783	$95,015	$322,659	+$42,559	$2,375
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	726	$92,479	$313,219	+$33,119	$2,312
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	405	$44,482	$134,558	−$145,542	$1,112
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	289	$73,474	$242,476	−$37,624	$1,837
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	226	$51,264	$159,802	−$120,298	$1,282
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	217	$66,902	$218,012	−$62,088	$1,673
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	200	$34,680	$98,071	−$182,029	$867
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	145	$68,821	$225,156	−$54,944	$1,721
NAICS 99 Unclassified NAICS 99	25	$31,140	$84,894	−$195,206	$779
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	8	$64,298	$208,319	−$71,781	$1,607

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	2,215	$27,403	$70,984	−$209,116	$685
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	2,116	$87,913	$296,223	+$16,123	$2,198
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	1,379	$28,159	$73,798	−$206,302	$704
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	1,377	$69,947	$229,347	−$50,753	$1,749
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	1,370	$46,802	$143,193	−$136,907	$1,170
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	1,369	$95,556	$324,672	+$44,572	$2,389
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	968	$47,839	$147,053	−$133,047	$1,196
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	941	$28,794	$76,162	−$203,938	$720
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	928	$60,309	$193,471	−$86,629	$1,508
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	913	$118,460	$409,929	+$129,829	$2,962
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	810	$47,371	$145,311	−$134,789	$1,184
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	794	$49,799	$154,349	−$125,751	$1,245
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	763	$65,333	$212,172	−$67,928	$1,633
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	726	$92,479	$313,219	+$33,119	$2,312
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	593	$63,287	$204,556	−$75,544	$1,582
NAICS 326 Plastics and rubber products manufacturing NAICS 326	567	$65,060	$211,156	−$68,944	$1,627
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	545	$27,096	$69,841	−$210,259	$677
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	486	$75,646	$250,561	−$29,539	$1,891
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	480	$32,231	$88,955	−$191,145	$806
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	466	$44,301	$133,884	−$146,216	$1,108
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	453	$99,800	$340,470	+$60,370	$2,495
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	413	$42,362	$126,666	−$153,434	$1,059
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	383	$83,842	$281,069	+$969	$2,096
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	361	$73,431	$242,316	−$37,784	$1,836
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	329	$64,098	$207,575	−$72,525	$1,602
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	310	$60,190	$193,028	−$87,072	$1,505
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	305	$27,798	$72,454	−$207,646	$695
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	289	$32,081	$88,397	−$191,703	$802
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	249	$42,723	$128,010	−$152,090	$1,068
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	249	$69,162	$226,425	−$53,675	$1,729
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	247	$52,355	$163,864	−$116,236	$1,309
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	222	$71,867	$236,494	−$43,606	$1,797
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	214	$29,661	$79,389	−$200,711	$742
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	168	$30,055	$80,855	−$199,245	$751
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	167	$138,969	$486,270	+$206,170	$3,474
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	167	$52,692	$165,118	−$114,982	$1,317
NAICS 325 Chemical manufacturing NAICS 325	154	$62,986	$203,436	−$76,664	$1,575
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	154	$45,787	$139,415	−$140,685	$1,145
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	145	$68,821	$225,156	−$54,944	$1,721
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	140	$36,942	$106,491	−$173,609	$924
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	124	$28,755	$76,016	−$204,084	$719
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	122	$116,616	$403,065	+$122,965	$2,915
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	116	$59,435	$190,218	−$89,882	$1,486
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	112	$79,188	$263,745	−$16,355	$1,980
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	98	$84,998	$285,372	+$5,272	$2,125
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	86	$44,105	$133,154	−$146,946	$1,103
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	79	$57,612	$183,432	−$96,668	$1,440
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	79	$73,527	$242,673	−$37,427	$1,838
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	78	$59,548	$190,638	−$89,462	$1,489
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	78	$53,935	$169,745	−$110,355	$1,348
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	60	$64,814	$210,240	−$69,860	$1,620
NAICS 532 Rental and leasing services NAICS 532	59	$47,221	$144,753	−$135,347	$1,181
NAICS 334 Computer and electronic product manufacturing NAICS 334	56	$65,695	$213,520	−$66,580	$1,642
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	46	$54,731	$172,708	−$107,392	$1,368
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	40	$88,241	$297,443	+$17,343	$2,206
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	36	$51,058	$159,036	−$121,064	$1,276
NAICS 115 Support activities for agriculture and forestry NAICS 115	32	$31,868	$87,604	−$192,496	$797
NAICS 999 Unclassified NAICS 999	25	$31,140	$84,894	−$195,206	$779
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	20	$19,989	$43,386	−$236,714	$500
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	18	$22,997	$54,583	−$225,517	$575
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	10	$43,983	$132,700	−$147,400	$1,100
NAICS 113 Forestry and logging NAICS 113	8	$43,072	$129,309	−$150,791	$1,077
NAICS 212 Mining (except oil and gas) NAICS 212	8	$64,298	$208,319	−$71,781	$1,607
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	7	$76,136	$252,385	−$27,715	$1,903

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023	950	—	—	$14.97	$31,150	$84,931	$779
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	1,370	—	—	$15.65	$32,550	$90,143	$814
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	180	—	—	$17.58	$36,570	$105,106	$914
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	1,840	—	—	$18.41	$38,290	$111,509	$957
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	630	—	—	$18.96	$39,430	$115,752	$986
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	500	—	—	$19.18	$39,900	$117,502	$998
Tellers SOC 43-3071	110	—	—	$19.96	$41,510	$123,495	$1,038
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	190	—	—	$22.56	$46,930	$143,670	$1,173
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131	540	—	—	$23.19	$48,220	$148,472	$1,206
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	380	—	—	$23.39	$48,640	$150,035	$1,216
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	760	—	—	$23.79	$49,490	$153,199	$1,237
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	420	—	—	$25.90	$53,870	$169,503	$1,347
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	440	—	—	$28.40	$59,080	$188,896	$1,477
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	470	—	—	$28.48	$59,240	$189,492	$1,481
Paramedics SOC 29-2043	40	—	—	$29.95	$62,300	$200,882	$1,558
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	420	—	—	—	$62,510	$201,664	$1,563
Electricians SOC 47-2111	200	—	—	$30.57	$63,580	$205,647	$1,590
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	140	—	—	$31.54	$65,590	$213,129	$1,640
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	160	—	—	$32.23	$67,040	$218,526	$1,676
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	820	—	—	$44.78	$93,140	$315,679	$2,329

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 33005 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.