HomeNew HampshireBelknap County
Belknap County, New Hampshire: commercial real estate data.
Belknap County, New Hampshire had an estimated 65,257 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 63,704, across 400 square miles. County output reached $4.30 bn in 2024, 1,905 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 180 7(a) approvals worth $47.5 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Belknap County
How many people live in Belknap County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202464,659
- Households26,337
- Average household size2.46
- Median household income$92,783
- Median age48.4
- Median gross rent$1,167 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$374,900
- Home value to household income4.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher33.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree13.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over49,359
- Population under 1811,189
- Share under 1817.3 percent
- Population 65 and over15,492
- Share 65 and over24.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6437,978
- Civilian labor force34,393
- Unemployment rate3.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over64.3 percent
- Rank by population among New Hampshire counties7th of 10
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included855th of 3,222
Belknap County is the 7th largest of 10 New Hampshire counties by population. A median home costs 4.0 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 24.0 percent against 17.3 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Belknap County
Is Belknap County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202465,257
- Census 2020 base population63,704
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.44 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024238
- Births, 2024432
- Deaths, 2024783
- Natural change, 2024-351
- Net domestic migration, 2024580
- Net international migration, 202413
- Total net migration, 2024593
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,996
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1024th of 3,144
The county has grown 2.44 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Belknap County
Where are people moving to Belknap County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,404
- People arriving, from those returns3,945
- Tax returns filed by households leaving2,059
- Net household movement345
- Adjusted gross income arriving$324.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$144.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$135,052
- Average income of a leaving household$87,322
- Largest single originMerrimack County (414 households)
- Largest single destinationMerrimack County (429 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merrimack County | 414 | 706 | $29.3 m |
| Hillsborough County | 262 | 413 | $26.7 m |
| Middlesex County | 177 | 290 | $35.5 m |
| Rockingham County | 163 | 293 | $24.4 m |
| Grafton County | 158 | 231 | $8.8 m |
| Strafford County | 125 | 201 | $12.6 m |
| Carroll County | 91 | 142 | $7.4 m |
| Essex County | 77 | 130 | $26.1 m |
Households arriving report $47,730 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Merrimack County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Belknap County
What is the Belknap County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$4.30 bn
- County GDP, 2023$3.99 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.6 percent
- GDP change over five years37.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the New Hampshire areas BEA publishes7th of 10
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes773rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$66,437
Output grew 7.6 percent in the latest year and 37.8 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Belknap County
Employment by industry in Belknap County
- Covered employment, annual average25,854
- Establishments reporting2,240
- Average annual pay$56,999
- Average weekly wage$1,096
- Retail trade, employment5,010
- Retail trade, average annual pay$42,007
- Accommodation and food services, employment3,553
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$31,077
- Health care and social assistance, employment3,224
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$66,814
- Manufacturing, employment2,077
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$71,828
- Construction, employment1,564
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment1,028
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 5,010 | 322 | $42,007 |
| Accommodation and food services | 3,553 | 260 | $31,077 |
| Health care and social assistance | 3,224 | 161 | $66,814 |
| Manufacturing | 2,077 | 81 | $71,828 |
| Construction | 1,564 | 298 | $87,118 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,028 | 159 | $51,967 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 946 | 60 | $30,996 |
| Other services, except public administration | 880 | 214 | $47,429 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 5,010 jobs, 19.4 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Belknap County
How many businesses are in Belknap County?
- Establishments, all industries1,905
- Employment at those establishments21,197
- Annual payroll$1.11 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents29.5
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Belknap County
Building permits in Belknap County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024282
- Declared construction value permitted$118.6 m
- Single family units authorized242
- Multifamily units authorized40
- Multifamily share of units14.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$420,459
- Units authorized per 1,000 households10.7
Single-family homes are 85.8 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Belknap County
SBA loans in Belknap County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded180
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$47.5 m
- Average 7(a) approval$264,025
- Median 7(a) approval$70,550
- 10th percentile approval$20,890
- 90th percentile approval$501,750
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,093
- Jobs per approval6.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active33
- Distinct industries receiving approvals93
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer4.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms8
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter169
- Franchise loans11
- Franchise share of approvals6.1 percent
- Most active lenderMeredith Village Savings Bank (52)
- 504 approvals recorded73
- 504 gross approval dollars$22.8 m
- Average 504 approval$312,233
- Median 504 approval$224,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval5.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved17.5
- Most active CDCGranite State Economic Development Corporation (54)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$70.3 m
The average approval of $264,025 sits well above the median of $70,550, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 4.4 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Belknap County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Belknap County
Do SBA loans in Belknap County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded38
- Paid in full36
- Charged off2
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans5.3 percent
- Status: Charged off2
- Status: Paid in full36
- Status: Cancelled12
- Status: Exempt from disclosure122
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed8
Of the 38 loans that have reached a final outcome, 5.3 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Belknap County
SBA lending by place in Belknap County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending14
- Laconia, approvals41
- Meredith, approvals33
- Gilford, approvals21
- Belmont, approvals16
- Tilton, approvals13
- Alton, approvals9
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Laconia | 41 | $8,675,600 |
| Meredith | 33 | $9,492,900 |
| Gilford | 21 | $10,767,000 |
| Belmont | 16 | $4,152,900 |
| Tilton | 13 | $3,178,700 |
| Alton | 9 | $958,000 |
| New Hampton | 9 | $779,600 |
| Gilmanton | 7 | $5,456,000 |
| 6 other borrower cities | 31 | $4,063,800 |
Laconia accounts for 41 approvals against 33 in Meredith. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Belknap County
How large is Belknap County?
- Land area400 sq mi
- Rank by land area among New Hampshire counties9th of 10
- Width, east to west28.5 mi
- Height, north to south33.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land162
- Establishments per square mile4.76
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Belknap County
Flood risk in Belknap County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book11
- Of those, participating in the NFIP11
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Belknap County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The EPA places Belknap County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Belknap County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Belknap County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202464,659
- Households26,337
- Average household size2.46
- Median household income$92,783
- Median age48.4
Common questions
Belknap County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Belknap County, New Hampshire?
The Census Bureau estimates 65,257 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 64,659, in 26,337 households, ranking 7th of 10 New Hampshire counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Belknap County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.44 percent since the 2020 census base of 63,704, to 65,257 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 432 births against 783 deaths, with net migration of 593. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Belknap County?
$92,783. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $374,900, which is 4.0 times income, and median gross rent is $1,167 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Belknap County?
1,905 establishments, employing 21,197 people with an annual payroll of $1.11 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Belknap County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 5,010 jobs, 19.4 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 25,854 jobs at an average annual pay of $56,999, or $1,096 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Belknap County?
180 7(a) approvals totaling $47.5 m since FY2020, across 33 lenders, with a median approval of $70,550, plus 73 504 approvals worth $22.8 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Belknap County get paid back?
Of the 38 loans that have reached a final outcome, 36 were paid in full and 2 charged off, a charge-off rate of 5.3 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Belknap County?
282 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $118.6 m. Multifamily was 14.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Belknap County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Belknap County come from?
The largest single origin is Merrimack County, with 414 households. Arriving households report an average income of $135,052 against $87,322 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Belknap County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Belknap County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Belknap County
Cities and places in Belknap.
6 Census places lie wholly or partly in Belknap County. All 6 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laconia | city | 17,085 | 41 | Wholly in this county |
| Tilton Northfield | CDP | 3,101 | None recorded | 66.8 percent here, 33.2 percent Merrimack County |
| Meredith | CDP | 2,617 | 33 | Wholly in this county |
| Belmont | CDP | 1,378 | 16 | Wholly in this county |
| New Hampton | CDP | 302 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Alton | CDP | 281 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
A further 72 of the county's 180 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Belknap County, the largest being Gilford (21), Tilton (13), Gilmanton (7). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.