Best counties to raise a family in New Hampshire
Best counties to raise a family in New Hampshire
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in New Hampshire using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.
#10. Coos County, New Hampshire
- Population: 31,360
- Median home value: $134,400 (73% own)
- Median rent: $755 (27% own)
- Median household income: $52,054
- Top public schools: Gorham Middle School (grade B+), Edward Fenn Elementary School (grade B), Gorham High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Community Bible Academy (grade unavailable), Unity Christian School (grade unavailable), Easter Seal Lancaster School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Gorham (grade B+), Berlin (grade C), Randolph (grade A minus)
#9. Sullivan County, New Hampshire
- Population: 43,105
- Median home value: $180,800 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,072 (28% own)
- Median household income: $64,587
- Top public schools: Grantham Village School (grade A), Cornish Elementary School (grade A), Sunapee Middle High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Kimball Union Academy (grade A+), Mount Royal Academy (grade A minus), Claremont Christian Academy (grade B)
- Top places to live: Cornish (grade A minus), Charlestown (grade B minus), Newport (grade C+)
#8. Cheshire County, New Hampshire
- Population: 76,473
- Median home value: $208,900 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,079 (30% own)
- Median household income: $69,360
- Top public schools: John D. Perkins Academy (grade A), Nelson Elementary School (grade A minus), Westmoreland School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Dublin School (grade A+), Dublin Christian Academy (grade A minus), Immaculate Heart of Mary School (grade A)
- Top places to live: Keene (grade B+), Chesterfield (grade B), Jaffrey (grade B)
#7. Belknap County, New Hampshire
- Population: 63,395
- Median home value: $253,600 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,088 (22% own)
- Median household income: $75,035
- Top public schools: Gilmanton Elementary School (grade A), Gilford Middle School (grade A minus), Gilford Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: New Hampton School (grade A), Tilton School (grade A), Laconia Christian Academy (grade B)
- Top places to live: Gilford (grade A), Sanbornton (grade B), Belmont (grade B minus)
#6. Carroll County, New Hampshire
- Population: 49,961
- Median home value: $272,000 (81% own)
- Median rent: $979 (19% own)
- Median household income: $70,873
- Top public schools: Josiah Bartlett Elementary School (grade B+), Sandwich Central School (grade B+), Moultonborough Academy High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Brewster Academy (grade A), Cornerstone Christian Academy (grade A+)
- Top places to live: North Conway (grade B+), Conway (grade B+), Madison (grade B minus)
#5. Strafford County, New Hampshire
- Population: 130,598
- Median home value: $262,000 (66% own)
- Median rent: $1,178 (34% own)
- Median household income: $76,560
- Top public schools: Moharimet Elementary School (grade A), Oyster River Middle School (grade A), Mast Way School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Portsmouth Christian Academy (grade A), St. Thomas Aquinas High School (grade A minus), Tri-City Christian Academy (grade C+)
- Top places to live: Madbury (grade A), Durham (grade A), Lee (grade A)
#4. Merrimack County, New Hampshire
- Population: 152,983
- Median home value: $255,100 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,113 (27% own)
- Median household income: $82,457
- Top public schools: Dunbarton Elementary School (grade A), Hopkinton Middle School (grade A minus), Bow Memorial School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Paul's School (grade A+), Proctor Academy (grade A+), Concord Christian Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: Bow (grade A), Canterbury (grade A minus), Dunbarton (grade A minus)
#3. Grafton County, New Hampshire
- Population: 91,025
- Median home value: $240,300 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,089 (30% own)
- Median household income: $73,755
- Top public schools: Hanover High School (grade A+), Frances C. Richmond School (grade A+), Bernice A. Ray School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Holderness School (grade A+), The White Mountain School (grade A+), Oliverian School (grade A)
- Top places to live: Hanover (grade A+), Lebanon (grade A), Plymouth (grade A minus)
#2. Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
- Population: 420,504
- Median home value: $306,000 (66% own)
- Median rent: $1,305 (34% own)
- Median household income: $86,930
- Top public schools: Academy for Science & Design High School (grade A+), Academy for Science & Design Middle School (grade A+), Memorial School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Derryfield School (grade A+), Bishop Guertin High School (grade A), Trinity High School (grade A)
- Top places to live: Bedford (grade A), Brookline (grade A), Amherst (grade A)
#1. Rockingham County, New Hampshire
- Population: 312,771
- Median home value: $367,300 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,371 (22% own)
- Median household income: $101,683
- Top public schools: Maude H. Trefethen School (grade A+), New Franklin School (grade A), Mary C. Dondero Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Phillips Exeter Academy (grade A+), Jesse Remington High School (grade A minus), Pinkerton Academy (grade B minus)
- Top places to live: Portsmouth (grade A), Newfields (grade A), Brentwood (grade A)
