New Hampshire population: a record high, the lowest poverty rate

1.4 million residents, the most ever recorded

The July 2025 estimate of 1,415,342 is the highest figure for New Hampshire in any census or annual estimate. The state holds 0.41%¹ of the US population. Among its three neighbors only Massachusetts has more residents; Maine and Vermont have fewer.

The first census, in 1790, counted 141,885 people in New Hampshire, which ranked 10th of 18 among the states counted that year. Growth then stalled for decades. The count was 326,073 in 1860 and 318,300 in 1870, a decline, and by 1960 the state ranked 46th of 51. The next three decades changed that: the population rose from 606,921 in 1960 to 1,109,252 in 1990, and the state's rank climbed to 40th of 51⁹. Today's population is 2.7 times¹ the count of 1950.

Source: Census Bureau, Historical Census Statistics on Population Totals by Race, 1790 to 1990; Census Bureau, 2020 Census apportionment results and historical resident population 1910-2020; Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025. Census counts every ten years (April 1); estimates for July 1 after 2020.

Show the numbers

Year	New Hampshire
1850	317,976
1860	326,073
1870	318,300
1880	346,991
1890	376,530
1900	411,588
1910	430,572
1920	443,083
1930	465,293
1940	491,524
1950	533,242
1960	606,921
1970	737,681
1980	920,610
1990	1,109,252
2000	1,235,786
2010	1,316,470
2020	1,377,529
2021	1,387,907
2022	1,396,647
2023	1,401,530
2024	1,408,518
2025	1,415,342

Growth since 2000 has been slower. The 2000 Census counted 1,235,786 residents, the 2010 Census 1,316,470 and the 2020 Census 1,377,529. Between 2010 and 2020 the state grew by 4.6%, 2.8 percentage points below the US figure (7.4%)⁶. That was not enough to change its representation: it kept its 2¹⁰ seats in the House of Representatives after the 2020 Census.

Growth without a natural increase

New Hampshire has recorded more deaths than births in each of the last five years. In the year to June 2025 there were 11,911 births and 14,078 deaths, natural change of −2,167. Natural change was −1,662 in 2021, −2,384 in 2022, −2,236 in 2023 and −2,420 in 2024. Since April 2020 it totals −11,368, making New Hampshire one of 20 states that recorded more deaths than births between April 2020 and June 2025¹.

Two rates explain the gap. The birth rate, 8.4 per 1,000 residents, is the 3rd lowest in the country and 21% below the US figure (10.6 per 1,000 residents). The death rate, 10.0 per 1,000 residents, is 10% above the US figure (9.1 per 1,000 residents)¹; the state also has one of the largest shares of residents aged 65 and older (see the age section below).

Births+63,191

Deaths−74,559

Net domestic migration+36,247

Net international migration+12,303

Residual (estimation adjustment)+587

Total change+37,769

Source: Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025. Each bar starts where the previous one ended. The residual is the part of the change the Census Bureau cannot assign to a component.

Show the numbers

Component	People
Births	63,191
Deaths	−74,559
Net domestic migration	36,247
Net international migration	12,303
Residual (estimation adjustment)	587
Total change	37,769

Migration more than covers the deficit. Between April 2020 and June 2025 the state gained 48,550 residents through migration: 36,247 from other states and 12,303 from abroad. In the year to June 2025, net domestic migration of 6,554 amounted to 4.6 per 1,000 residents, tied for 9th highest among the states. Arrivals from abroad were a smaller factor: the net international migration rate of 1.7 per 1,000 residents was 54% below the US figure (3.7 per 1,000 residents). The result was growth of 0.48% in 2025, higher than every bordering state (Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont)¹.

Massachusetts sends the most newcomers

In the Census Bureau's 2024 survey of movers, 20,310 people moved to New Hampshire from Massachusetts. That flow was statistically larger than the flow from Florida, the next largest source. The flow in the other direction was 11,286. Florida (3,590) and Maine (3,115¹¹) followed as sources of arrivals.

Moved to New Hampshire from

Massachusetts20,310 ±3,696

Florida3,590 ±1,569

Maine3,115 ±965

New York2,115 ±876

Texas1,913 ±1,617

California1,710 ±1,143

Vermont1,592 ±780

Colorado1,448 ±1,224

Left New Hampshire for

Massachusetts11,286 ±2,887

Maine4,373 ±1,699

New York3,689 ±1,175

Connecticut3,295 ±1,250

Vermont1,769 ±662

Florida1,730 ±909

Pennsylvania1,518 ±923

South Carolina1,478 ±1,175

Source: Census Bureau, State-to-State Migration Flows, 2024. People aged 1 and over who lived in another state a year earlier (and the reverse). Survey estimates: whiskers show the 90% margin of error.

Show the numbers

State	Moved in from	Moved out to
Massachusetts	20,310 ±3,696	11,286 ±2,887
Florida	3,590 ±1,569	1,730 ±909
Maine	3,115 ±965	4,373 ±1,699
New York	2,115 ±876	3,689 ±1,175
Texas	1,913 ±1,617	–
California	1,710 ±1,143	–
Vermont	1,592 ±780	1,769 ±662
Colorado	1,448 ±1,224	–
Connecticut	1,139 ±752	3,295 ±1,250
Pennsylvania	1,401 ±1,226	1,518 ±923
South Carolina	–	1,478 ±1,175

In all, 46,226 people moved in from other states in 2024 and 39,383 moved out. The survey's estimate of the net gain, 6,843, carries a margin of error of ±7,263¹¹, so on this measure alone the gain is not statistically certain. Tax records also track the income that moves with households. In 2022 and 2023, households arriving in New Hampshire reported $2.9 billion in adjusted gross income and departing households $2.1 billion, a net gain of $756 million. That was the 9th highest net income gain of any state and the highest in the Northeast¹².

Where residents were born shows the same pull from other states. 51.8% of New Hampshire residents were born in another US state, 2nd highest after Wyoming, and 40.5% were born elsewhere in the Northeast. Only 39.9% were born in New Hampshire, lower than every bordering state (Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont)¹³.

Year to year, few residents move. In 2025, 90.9% of residents lived in the same home as a year earlier, tied for highest among the states (the margins of error put it between 1st and 5th¹⁴).

Race and ethnicity: among the least diverse states, changing slowly

New Hampshire is one of the whitest states. The Census Bureau's population estimates put the share of residents who are white and not Hispanic at 86.9% on July 1, 2025, the 4th highest of any state, down from 88.6% in 2020¹⁵. The survey measure moved in the same direction: 85.1% in 2025, down from 86.4% in 2024². On the Census Bureau's diversity index, the chance that two people chosen at random belong to different racial or ethnic groups, New Hampshire scores 27.0, the 4th least diverse¹⁶ state.

Single group (adds to 100%)Alone or in combination with other races

White, not Hispanic85.1% 93.1%

Hispanic or Latino (any race)5.3%

Two or more races, not Hispanic4.2%

Asian, not Hispanic3.0% 3.9%

Black, not Hispanic1.4% 2.7%

Some other race, not Hispanic0.7%

American Indian and Alaska Native, not Hispanic0.3% 1.9%

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, not Hispanic0.0% 0.1%

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B03002; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B02009. The dark bars are mutually exclusive and add to 100%. The light bars count everyone who reported the race, alone or with another race and of any ethnicity, so they overlap and add to more than 100%.

Show the numbers

Group	Share (single group)	MOE	Alone or in combination
White, not Hispanic	85.1%	±0.3	93.1%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	5.3%	±0.1	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	4.2%	±0.4	–
Asian, not Hispanic	3.0%	±0.2	3.9%
Black, not Hispanic	1.4%	±0.2	2.7%
Some other race, not Hispanic	0.7%	±0.2	–
American Indian and Alaska Native, not Hispanic	0.3%	±0.1	1.9%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, not Hispanic	0.0%		0.1%

The Hispanic or Latino share rose to 5.3% in 2025, up from 4.4% in 2020¹⁵. Puerto Ricans, not Mexican Americans, are the largest Hispanic origin group: in 2020–2024, 1.4% of residents were of Puerto Rican origin, compared with 0.8% Dominican and 0.8%¹⁸ Mexican.

Asian residents make up 3.1% of the population, up from 2.7% in 2020. The largest Asian group is Asian Indian, with 10,610 people in 2020–2024, followed by Chinese, except Taiwanese (6,350) and Filipino (3,807¹⁹). Black residents are 2.1% of the population, up from 1.7% in 2020, the 7th lowest¹⁵ share. Including people who are Black in combination with another race, the share is 2.7%¹⁷.

The lowest poverty rate of any state

In 2025, 6.2% of New Hampshire residents (±0.6 percentage points) lived below the official poverty line, the lowest in the nation and 5.6 percentage points below the US figure (11.8%). The next lowest states were Utah (8.6%) and New Jersey (8.7%). The rate was down from 7.2% in 2024⁵, a statistically significant fall.

United States11.8% ±0.1

Virginia9.4% ±0.4

Hawaii9.3% ±0.7

Colorado9.2% ±0.4

Vermont9.2% ±0.8

Connecticut9.1% ±0.6

Minnesota9.0% ±0.4

North Dakota9.0% ±0.9

New Jersey8.7% ±0.4

Utah8.6% ±0.6

New Hampshire6.2% ±0.6

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B17001. Whiskers show the 90% margin of error; states whose whiskers overlap may not differ significantly. Period: 2025.

Show the numbers

State	Poverty rate	MOE
United States	11.8%	±0.1
Virginia	9.4%	±0.4
Hawaii	9.3%	±0.7
Colorado	9.2%	±0.4
Vermont	9.2%	±0.8
Connecticut	9.1%	±0.6
Minnesota	9.0%	±0.4
North Dakota	9.0%	±0.9
New Jersey	8.7%	±0.4
Utah	8.6%	±0.6
New Hampshire	6.2%	±0.6

The low rate is not confined to one age group. Among adults aged 18 to 64 the rate was 5.5%, the lowest in the nation. Child poverty, 7.5%, and poverty among people 65 and older, 7.0%, were each tied for lowest (child poverty ranks between 49th and 51st once margins of error are allowed for; poverty at 65 and older between 49th and 51st⁵). The share in deep poverty, with income below half the poverty line, was 3.2%, and the share below twice the poverty line was 15.3%: both lowest²⁰ among the states.

The ranking narrows on the Supplemental Poverty Measure, which accounts for taxes, benefits and local housing costs. On that measure New Hampshire's rate averaged 8.0% in 2023–2025, 5.0 percentage points below the US figure (13.0%), but its rank is only tied for 5th lowest, with a range between 37th and 51st²¹.

Use of public assistance is correspondingly low. An average of 75,857 people received SNAP food benefits each month in fiscal 2025, 5.4% of the population and the 3rd lowest²² share. Medicaid and CHIP enrollment was 12.0% of the population in June 2026, also the 3rd lowest²³. The gap with the country is not new: in 2005 the state's poverty rate was 7.5%, when the US rate was 13.3%²⁴.

Household incomes and prices

The median household income was $106,759 in 2025 (±$2,502), $21,979 (26%) above the US figure ($84,780) and up from $102,408 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars)⁴. It is higher than in Maine and Vermont and not statistically different from Massachusetts. Only 9.9% of households had income under $25,000, the lowest share among the states (range between 47th and 51st), while 33.2% were in the $100,000 to $200,000 band and 20.1%²⁵ had $200,000 or more.

New HampshireUnited States

Under $25,0009.9% 14.0%

$25,000–$49,99911.5% 15.4%

$50,000–$99,99925.4% 27.8%

$100,000–$199,99933.2% 28.0%

$200,000 or more20.1% 14.8%

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B19001. Share of households in each band of income in the past 12 months, in 2025 dollars.

Show the numbers

Household income	New Hampshire	MOE	United States
Under $25,000	9.9%	±0.8	14.0%
$25,000–$49,999	11.5%	±0.8	15.4%
$50,000–$99,999	25.4%	±1.1	27.8%
$100,000–$199,999	33.2%	±1.4	28.0%
$200,000 or more	20.1%	±0.8	14.8%

Incomes are also spread more evenly than in most states. The Gini index of income inequality, 0.442, is 8% below the US figure (0.482) and the least unequal in the Northeast²⁶.

Prices are above average. The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the state's overall price level at 104.2 for 2024 (US = 100), the 9th most expensive. Utilities (133.7) and housing rents (114.9) are the costliest categories, while goods cost about what they do nationally (98.6). After adjusting for those prices, personal income per resident was $64,632 in 2024, the 9th highest²⁷.

The lowest adherence rate in the country

New Hampshire has the smallest share of residents on any congregation's books. The 2020 U.S. Religion Census counted 27.2%, the lowest in the nation and lower than every bordering state (Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont). Christian congregations counted 26.8%²⁸, also the lowest share.

The Catholic Church accounts for 58.8% of the state's adherents (16.0% of residents). Its share is down from 23.6% in 2010²⁸; the two studies did not count Catholics identically, but the drop is one of the largest of any state. A low rate means fewer people on congregation lists; it does not show how many residents believe or pray, which only surveys measure (religion overview).

Third-oldest state, with the fewest teen births

The median age, 44.2 years (±0.3 years), is the 3rd oldest in the country, after Maine (45.1 years) and Vermont (44.6 years³). In 2005 it was 39.5 years, against 36.4 years²⁴ for the US.

New HampshireMaineVermontUnited States

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2005-2019 and 2021-2025. ACS 1-year estimates; no standard 1-year release for 2020. Shaded band: 90% margin of error.

Show the numbers

Year	New Hampshire	Maine	Vermont	United States
2005	39.5 ±0.2	41.2 ±0.2	40.7 ±0.3	36.4 ±0.2
2006	39.3 ±0.3	41.0 ±0.2	40.6 ±0.3	36.4 ±0.2
2007	39.8 ±0.3	41.7 ±0.2	40.6 ±0.3	36.7 ±0.1
2008	40.3 ±0.3	41.9 ±0.2	41.5 ±0.3	36.9 ±0.1
2009	40.4 ±0.2	42.2 ±0.2	41.5 ±0.3	36.8 ±0.1
2010	41.3 ±0.2	42.7 ±0.3	41.5 ±0.3	37.2 ±0.1
2011	41.5 ±0.2	43.2 ±0.2	42.0 ±0.3	37.3 ±0.1
2012	41.9 ±0.3	43.5 ±0.2	42.4 ±0.2	37.4 ±0.1
2013	42.3 ±0.3	44.0 ±0.2	42.5 ±0.3	37.5 ±0.1
2014	42.5 ±0.3	44.1 ±0.2	42.8 ±0.3	37.7 ±0.1
2015	42.8 ±0.2	44.6 ±0.2	43.1 ±0.3	37.8 ±0.1
2016	42.7 ±0.3	44.5 ±0.2	43.1 ±0.3	37.9 ±0.1
2017	43.2 ±0.3	44.6 ±0.2	42.6 ±0.3	38.1 ±0.1
2018	43.1 ±0.2	45.1 ±0.2	43.1 ±0.3	38.2 ±0.2
2019	43.0 ±0.3	45.1 ±0.1	42.8 ±0.3	38.5 ±0.1
2021	43.1 ±0.2	44.7 ±0.2	42.9 ±0.3	38.8 ±0.1
2022	43.3 ±0.2	45.1 ±0.2	43.2 ±0.3	39.0 ±0.1
2023	43.4 ±0.3	44.9 ±0.2	43.7 ±0.3	39.2 ±0.1
2024	43.6 ±0.2	44.9 ±0.2	43.9 ±0.3	39.2 ±0.1
2025	44.2 ±0.3	45.1 ±0.2	44.6 ±0.3	39.5 ±0.1

Since 2020 the number of residents aged 65 and older has grown by 57,538 (21.5%), to 325,383, or 23.0% of the population, the 3rd highest share. Over the same period the number of children under 18 fell by 12,207 (4.7%), to 245,065. Children under 5 are 4.4% of residents, the 3rd lowest¹⁵ share.

MenWomenUnited States

MenWomen

85+

80–84

75–79

70–74

65–69

60–64

55–59

50–54

45–49

40–44

35–39

30–34

25–29

20–24

15–19

10–14

5–9

0–4

Source: Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025. Share of the total population in each age group. Vertical ticks: the United States.

Show the numbers

Age	Men (%)	Women (%)	US men (%)	US women (%)
0-4	2.24	2.13	2.76	2.65
5-9	2.37	2.27	2.96	2.83
10-14	2.58	2.44	3.08	2.95
15-19	2.80	2.78	3.31	3.16
20-24	3.18	2.99	3.43	3.28
25-29	3.17	2.86	3.46	3.37
30-34	3.28	3.12	3.41	3.38
35-39	3.39	3.27	3.38	3.40
40-44	3.12	3.03	3.21	3.27
45-49	2.74	2.79	2.93	3.03
50-54	2.91	2.99	2.83	2.96
55-59	3.32	3.44	2.86	3.02
60-64	3.79	4.00	2.96	3.21
65-69	3.61	3.84	2.75	3.08
70-74	2.85	3.12	2.26	2.64
75-79	2.14	2.44	1.71	2.08
80-84	1.21	1.50	1.00	1.32
85+	0.89	1.40	0.78	1.28

Fertility is low. New Hampshire's total fertility rate in 2024 was 1.35 births per woman over a lifetime at current rates, the 4th lowest and 16% below the US figure (1.60). The teen birth rate, 4.6 per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19, was the lowest in the nation, below second-placed Massachusetts (5.4 per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19²⁹).

Men and women are close to evenly balanced: 98.4 males per 100 females in July 2025. That is the highest in the Northeast and higher than every bordering state (Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont)¹⁵.

Where people live: small, fairly dense, still rural

With 8,954 square miles of land, New Hampshire is the 8th smallest³⁰ state by land area. It has 158.1 people per square mile, 63% above the US figure (96.7 people per square mile) and the 22nd most densely populated³¹ state. Yet 41.7% of residents lived in rural areas at the 2020 Census, the 9th highest share and 21.7 percentage points above the US figure (20.0%)³². This site covers states only; town and city figures are in the Census Bureau's QuickFacts.

Homes: mostly owned, often vacant

71.9% of households own their home, 6.6 percentage points above the US figure (65.3%)³³. The median home value was $487,100 in 2025 (±$8,193), $116,000 (31%) above the US figure ($371,100)³⁴, and the median rent $1,742, $185 (12%) above the US figure ($1,557)³⁵. Even so, a smaller share of renters spend 30 percent or more of income on housing than nationally: 48.4%, 3.4 percentage points below the US figure (51.8%)³⁶.

Of the state's 662,142³⁷ housing units, 13.3% were vacant in 2025, the 8th highest share and 3.7 percentage points above the US figure (9.6%)³⁸. The Census Bureau classifies homes intended for occupancy only during certain seasons as vacant, so the vacancy figure includes seasonal homes.

Diplomas, degrees and jobs

94.9% of adults 25 and older have finished high school (±1.6 percentage points), 4.3 percentage points above the US figure (90.6%). The share with a bachelor's degree or higher, 41.5% (±1.1 percentage points), ranks between 9th and 13th and is 4.1 percentage points above the US figure (37.4%)³⁹; Massachusetts and Vermont have higher shares and Maine a lower one. In 2005 it was 31.8%²⁴.

Unemployment averaged 3.2% in 2025 and was 2.6% in September 2026 (preliminary), 1.6 percentage points below the US figure (4.2%). The share of residents 16 and older in the labor force, 65.5%, is 3.1 percentage points above the US figure (62.4%)⁴⁰. 14.4% of workers mostly work from home, down from 16.0% in 2024⁴¹.

Infant health and life expectancy

New Hampshire's infant mortality rate in 2024 was 3.0 per 1,000 live births, the lowest in the nation and 46% below the US figure (5.5 per 1,000 live births). New Jersey was next at 3.4 per 1,000 live births⁴². Life expectancy at birth was 78.7 years in 2022, 1.2 years above the US figure (77.5 years) and the 10th longest⁴³.

The share of residents without health insurance was 5.3% in 2025, 3.1 percentage points below the US figure (8.4%) but up from 4.5% in 2024⁴⁴. Cancer⁴² was the leading cause of death in 2024, ahead of heart disease.

Irish, English and French Canadian roots

In 2020–2024, 20.6% of residents reported Irish ancestry, the highest share of any state. English ancestry (18.3%) ranks 5th highest. French Canadian ancestry, reported by 7.2%, is also the highest share in the country, and another 10.5%⁴⁶ reported French ancestry. People can report more than one ancestry, so these shares overlap.

After English and Spanish, French is the most common language spoken at home: 15,152 residents spoke it in 2020–2024, against 34,831⁴⁸ Spanish speakers. Overall, 8.4% of residents 5 and older speak a language other than English at home, 14.5 percentage points below the US figure (22.9%)⁴⁹.

Immigrants make up 7.3% of the population (±0.4 percentage points), 7.4 percentage points below the US figure (14.7%). Of these 103,494 people, 33.3% were born in Asia, 28.4% in Latin America and 22.3% in Europe, and 61.0% have become US citizens, 7.1 percentage points above the US figure (53.9%)¹³.

Married couples and veterans

Married couples head 50.8% of households, the 3rd highest share (range between 3rd and 6th) and higher than every bordering state (Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont)⁵⁰. The average household has 2.39 people, 4% below the US figure (2.49)⁵¹.

The state has 82,036 veterans, 7.0% of civilian adults, 1.1 percentage points above the US figure (5.9%)⁵². The largest group, 37.8%⁵³, served in the Vietnam era.