Population 77,297 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Cheshire County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Cheshire County
Household size in Cheshire County
| Period | Cheshire County | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.44 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.36 | 2.50 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.41 | 2.49 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.45 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Cheshire County run small, averaging 2.45 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Households are largest in the southeast and smallest in the center. Only two of New Hampshire's ten counties have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Cheshire County
| Period | Cheshire County | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.7 | 40.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.6 | 42.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.5 | 43.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.7 | 44.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.0 | +3.5 | +2.3 |
Cheshire County skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.7, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 40.7 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Cheshire County
| Period | Cheshire County | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 9.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.4% | 8.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.4% | 8.5% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.4% of households in Cheshire County, well below the national share of 11.6%. New Hampshire as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share is down 1.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Cheshire County
Renters in Cheshire County
| Period | Cheshire County | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.5% | 27.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.6% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.6% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.3% | 27.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Cheshire County own their homes; 27.3% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. About four in ten owners (40.6%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southeast. The renter share is down 1.2 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Cheshire County
| Period | Cheshire County | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 12.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.1% | 12.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.9% | 12.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.8% | 11.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Cheshire County: 13.8% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 2.0 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Cheshire County
| Period | Cheshire County | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1971 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1965 | 1972 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Cheshire County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1970, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1964 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the center has the oldest housing. Only one other New Hampshire county has older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Cheshire County
| Period | Cheshire County | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $964 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $971 | $1,094 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,006 | $1,224 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,331 | $1,597 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$367 | +$580 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Cheshire County costs $1,331 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $367 a month from 2006–10, a 38% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 31.2% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the northwest; the most affordable are in the southeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Cheshire County
Bachelor's degrees in Cheshire County
| Period | Cheshire County | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.0% | 33.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.7% | 35.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.2% | 37.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 35.8% | 41.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +7.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Cheshire County as nationally: 35.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is lower than in New Hampshire as a whole (41.1%). The share with a degree is up 5.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Cheshire County
| Period | Cheshire County | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.1% | 91.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.5% | 92.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.2% | 93.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.5% | 94.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Cheshire County: 94.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The picture is much the same across New Hampshire. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.4 points, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Cheshire County
| Period | Cheshire County | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 5.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 6.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.4% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.2% | 3.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.6 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Cheshire County has been strong: just 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 4.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Cheshire County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheshire County | 2.45 | 44.7 | 8.4% | 27.3% | 13.8% | 1970 | $1,331 | 35.8% | 94.5% | 3.2% |
| Windham County | 2.24 | 46.8 | 9.8% | 26.1% | 25.3% | 1969 | $1,052 | 44.0% | 95.4% | 4.6% |
| Hillsborough County | 2.54 | 42.2 | 9.6% | 32.6% | 6.0% | 1974 | $1,733 | 41.5% | 93.4% | 2.9% |
| Bennington County | 2.46 | 47.8 | 8.8% | 26.3% | 23.1% | 1969 | $1,226 | 41.9% | 94.2% | 3.9% |
| Rockingham County | 2.56 | 45.2 | 7.9% | 21.6% | 7.8% | 1982 | $1,853 | 46.2% | 96.2% | 3.6% |
| Schenectady County | 2.39 | 40.2 | 11.6% | 36.0% | 7.4% | 1958 | $1,287 | 35.9% | 90.6% | 6.4% |
| Montgomery County | 2.54 | 40.2 | 11.1% | 29.6% | 14.4% | 1954 | $917 | 23.3% | 88.5% | 4.4% |
| Madison County | 2.32 | 42.5 | 9.5% | 21.7% | 13.9% | 1963 | $962 | 31.5% | 92.7% | 4.3% |
| Cayuga County | 2.32 | 44.3 | 12.1% | 28.6% | 13.5% | 1957 | $1,054 | 24.7% | 90.0% | 3.7% |
| Seneca County | 2.33 | 44.0 | 8.5% | 29.0% | 16.0% | 1960 | $1,016 | 25.7% | 86.0% | 4.6% |
| Ontario County | 2.28 | 45.1 | 9.2% | 26.3% | 8.5% | 1973 | $1,220 | 38.2% | 93.5% | 3.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Blue Earth County, MN · Carteret County, NC · Catoosa County, GA · Belmont County, OH · Aroostook County, ME · Otero County, NM · Oconee County, SC · Newport County, RI · Natrona County, WY · Lonoke County, AR
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Cheshire County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.