HomeNew HampshireStrafford County
Strafford County, New Hampshire: commercial real estate data.
Strafford County, New Hampshire had an estimated 134,202 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.5 percent since the 2020 census base of 130,897, across 369 square miles. County output reached $7.98 bn in 2024, 2,729 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 263 7(a) approvals worth $81.7 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Strafford County
How many people live in Strafford County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024132,575
- Households52,080
- Average household size2.55
- Median household income$88,570
- Median age38.2
- Median gross rent$1,488 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$362,800
- Home value to household income4.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher39.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree14.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over90,096
- Population under 1823,399
- Share under 1817.6 percent
- Population 65 and over22,652
- Share 65 and over17.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6486,524
- Civilian labor force75,844
- Unemployment rate3.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over69.5 percent
- Rank by population among New Hampshire counties4th of 10
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included494th of 3,222
Strafford County is the 4th largest of 10 New Hampshire counties by population. A median home costs 4.1 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 17.6 percent against 17.1 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Strafford County
Is Strafford County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024134,202
- Census 2020 base population130,897
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.52 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024594
- Births, 20241,098
- Deaths, 20241,320
- Natural change, 2024-222
- Net domestic migration, 2024543
- Net international migration, 2024260
- Total net migration, 2024803
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,968
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1004th of 3,144
The county has grown 2.52 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.
Strafford County
Where are people moving to Strafford County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving4,430
- People arriving, from those returns6,646
- Tax returns filed by households leaving4,000
- Net household movement430
- Adjusted gross income arriving$347.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$59.1 m
- Average income of an arriving household$78,519
- Average income of a leaving household$72,178
- Largest single originRockingham County (1,046 households)
- Largest single destinationRockingham County (771 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockingham County | 1,046 | 1,553 | $80.7 m |
| York County | 477 | 713 | $23.7 m |
| Hillsborough County | 259 | 340 | $18.1 m |
| Essex County | 242 | 337 | $19.7 m |
| Middlesex County | 179 | 269 | $17.5 m |
| Merrimack County | 175 | 244 | $9.7 m |
| Carroll County | 150 | 235 | $7.7 m |
| Belknap County | 131 | 200 | $7.0 m |
Households arriving report $6,341 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 Rockingham 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.
Strafford County
What is the Strafford County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$7.98 bn
- County GDP, 2023$7.92 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20240.8 percent
- GDP change over five years28.5 percent
- Rank by GDP among the New Hampshire areas BEA publishes5th of 10
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes526th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$60,225
Output grew 0.8 percent in the latest year and 28.5 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.
Strafford County
Employment by industry in Strafford County
- Covered employment, annual average46,517
- Establishments reporting3,189
- Average annual pay$64,687
- Average weekly wage$1,244
- Health care and social assistance, employment7,915
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$68,961
- Retail trade, employment6,934
- Retail trade, average annual pay$43,082
- Manufacturing, employment5,054
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$75,858
- Accommodation and food services, employment4,441
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$26,640
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment2,132
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment1,966
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 7,915 | 322 | $68,961 |
| Retail trade | 6,934 | 374 | $43,082 |
| Manufacturing | 5,054 | 156 | $75,858 |
| Accommodation and food services | 4,441 | 313 | $26,640 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 2,132 | 266 | $62,160 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 1,966 | 318 | $93,437 |
| Construction | 1,682 | 347 | $75,207 |
| Other services, except public administration | 1,642 | 318 | $48,077 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 7,915 jobs, 17.0 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Strafford County
How many businesses are in Strafford County?
- Establishments, all industries2,729
- Employment at those establishments39,697
- Annual payroll$2.22 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents20.6
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.
Strafford County
Building permits in Strafford County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024942
- Declared construction value permitted$203.5 m
- Single family units authorized327
- Multifamily units authorized615
- Multifamily share of units65.3 percent
- Average declared value per unit$216,005
- Units authorized per 1,000 households18.1
Multifamily is 65.3 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Strafford County
SBA loans in Strafford County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded263
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$81.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$310,667
- Median 7(a) approval$99,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$668,340
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)2,432
- Jobs per approval9.2
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active44
- Distinct industries receiving approvals117
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer3.8 percent
- Loans on real estate terms10
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter249
- Franchise loans6
- Franchise share of approvals2.3 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (15)
- Most active lenderTD Bank, National Association (60)
- 504 approvals recorded173
- 504 gross approval dollars$77.6 m
- Average 504 approval$448,353
- Median 504 approval$256,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval6.3
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved14.0
- Most active CDCGranite State Economic Development Corporation (148)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$159.3 m
The average approval of $310,667 sits well above the median of $99,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 3.8 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.
Strafford County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Strafford County
Do SBA loans in Strafford County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded54
- Paid in full51
- Charged off3
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans5.6 percent
- Status: Paid in full51
- Status: Exempt from disclosure155
- Status: Charged off3
- Status: Cancelled32
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed22
Of the 54 loans that have reached a final outcome, 5.6 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.
Strafford County
SBA lending by place in Strafford County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending16
- Dover, approvals92
- Rochester, approvals68
- Somersworth, approvals28
- Barrington, approvals17
- Lee, approvals11
- Durham, approvals10
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Dover | 92 | $28,261,400 |
| Rochester | 68 | $20,509,200 |
| Somersworth | 28 | $13,694,600 |
| Barrington | 17 | $5,373,600 |
| Lee | 11 | $7,575,700 |
| Durham | 10 | $1,441,000 |
| Strafford | 8 | $539,000 |
| Rollinsford | 6 | $427,800 |
| 8 other borrower cities | 23 | $3,883,000 |
Dover accounts for 92 approvals against 68 in Rochester. 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.
Strafford County
How large is Strafford County?
- Land area369 sq mi
- Rank by land area among New Hampshire counties10th of 10
- Width, east to west21.7 mi
- Height, north to south31.7 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land359
- Establishments per square mile7.40
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.
Strafford County
Flood risk in Strafford County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book13
- Of those, participating in the NFIP13
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Strafford County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The EPA places Strafford 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 Strafford 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 Strafford County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024132,575
- Households52,080
- Average household size2.55
- Median household income$88,570
- Median age38.2
Common questions
Strafford County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Strafford County, New Hampshire?
The Census Bureau estimates 134,202 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 132,575, in 52,080 households, ranking 4th of 10 New Hampshire counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Strafford County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.52 percent since the 2020 census base of 130,897, to 134,202 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,098 births against 1,320 deaths, with net migration of 803. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Strafford County?
$88,570. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $362,800, which is 4.1 times income, and median gross rent is $1,488 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Strafford County?
2,729 establishments, employing 39,697 people with an annual payroll of $2.22 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 Strafford County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 7,915 jobs, 17.0 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 46,517 jobs at an average annual pay of $64,687, or $1,244 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Strafford County?
263 7(a) approvals totaling $81.7 m since FY2020, across 44 lenders, with a median approval of $99,000, plus 173 504 approvals worth $77.6 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Strafford County get paid back?
Of the 54 loans that have reached a final outcome, 51 were paid in full and 3 charged off, a charge-off rate of 5.6 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Strafford County?
942 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $203.5 m. Multifamily was 65.3 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Strafford 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 Strafford County come from?
The largest single origin is Rockingham County, with 1,046 households. Arriving households report an average income of $78,519 against $72,178 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Strafford 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 Strafford 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.
Strafford County
Cities and places in Strafford.
7 Census places lie wholly or partly in Strafford County. All 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | city | 33,364 | 92 | Wholly in this county |
| Rochester | city | 33,144 | 68 | Wholly in this county |
| Somersworth | city | 12,111 | 28 | Wholly in this county |
| Durham | CDP | 10,681 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Farmington | CDP | 3,924 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Milton | CDP | 356 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Milton Mills | CDP | 72 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
A further 55 of the county's 263 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Strafford County, the largest being Barrington (17), Lee (11), Strafford (8). 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.