New Hampshire Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained, Population Review

Population & Growth

New Hampshire's 1,387,834 residents make it the 41st-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +227.2% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 155 people per square mile. By comparison, the US national average is roughly 94/sq mi, while New Jersey leads with ~1,260/sq mi and Alaska is the lowest at ~1.3/sq mi.

Race & Ethnicity

By Census ACS classification, New Hampshire is:

88.9% White (alone)
1.5% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
1.0% Hispanic or Latino (any race)
0.0% two or more races

Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals can exceed 100% in some breakdowns. The full racial composition (including Native Hawaiian, American Indian, etc.) is available on the New Hampshire state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in New Hampshire is $95,628, with per-capita income at $50,867. 4.4% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 2.2%.

Income is concentrated in metro counties — see the county-level rankings on the cities ranking page and counties ranking page for sub-state variation.

Age & Households

Median age in New Hampshire: 43.2 years (US median ~39). The population is 49.9% male and 50.1% female. New Hampshire skews older than the US median, often a sign of out-migration of younger residents or high retiree population.

Largest Cities in New Hampshire

Manchester city — population 115,415
Nashua city — population 91,131
Concord city — population 44,219
Dover city — population 33,070
Rochester city — population 32,866

Largest Counties in New Hampshire

Hillsborough County — population 424,732
Rockingham County — population 317,163
Merrimack County — population 155,018
Strafford County — population 131,743
Grafton County — population 91,759

How New Hampshire Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 41st of 50 states. By median household income: see the richest states ranking. By population growth: see fastest growing states. By cost of living: see cheapest states to live.

See the complete New Hampshire state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

New Hampshire has a population of 1,387,834 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 41st among the 50 states. Population density is 155 people per square mile.

New Hampshire is gaining population, with a +227.2% change since 1910 (430,572 → 1,387,834). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

88.9% of New Hampshire's population identifies as White, 1.5% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 1.0% as Hispanic or Latino (any race). Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals may exceed 100%.

Median household income in New Hampshire is $95,628 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $50,867. 4.4% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in New Hampshire is 43.2 years. The population is 49.9% male and 50.1% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the New Hampshire state page.

The largest cities in New Hampshire by population: Manchester city (115,415), Nashua city (91,131), Concord city (44,219), Dover city (33,070), Rochester city (32,866).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). New Hampshire ranks 41st. Detailed rankings update each ACS release cycle.

Across recent Census Population Estimates, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois have shown the largest sustained population declines. New Hampshire's own trend is gaining. National state-by-state rankings are published annually by the Census Population Estimates Program.

All demographic data on this page comes from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, currently the 2023 release. Historical population figures use Census Population Estimates Program annual estimates. Data is public domain and freely available at census.gov.