Population 132,575 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Strafford County
Household size in Strafford County
| Period | Strafford County | Boston area | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.49 | 2.54 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.52 | 2.59 | 2.50 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.50 | 2.60 | 2.49 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.48 | 2.55 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Strafford County has 2.48 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. The picture is much the same across the Boston area.
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 Strafford County
| Period | Strafford County | Boston area | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.2 | 38.9 | 40.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.2 | 39.7 | 42.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.5 | 40.4 | 43.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.0 | 40.8 | 44.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.7 | +1.9 | +3.5 | +2.3 |
At 41.0, the median age in Strafford County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 37.2, as it has nationally. Strafford County has the youngest population of any New Hampshire county.
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 Strafford County
| Period | Strafford County | Boston area | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 10.4% | 9.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 10.2% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 9.6% | 8.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 9.7% | 8.5% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Strafford County: 7.9% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 1.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Strafford County
Renters in Strafford County
| Period | Strafford County | Boston area | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.8% | 36.8% | 27.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 34.8% | 38.5% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.0% | 38.3% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.9% | 38.4% | 27.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | +1.6 pts | −0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Strafford County is about as common as it is nationally: 32.9% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in the wider Boston area (38.4%). About four in ten owners (39.0%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. No other New Hampshire county has a higher share of renters.
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 Strafford County
| Period | Strafford County | Boston area | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 8.1% | 12.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 7.4% | 12.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.4% | 7.3% | 12.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.1% | 6.7% | 11.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Strafford County as nationally: 10.1%, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the Boston area as a whole (6.7%).
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 Strafford County
| Period | Strafford County | Boston area | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1971 | 1958 | 1971 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1959 | 1972 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1974 | 1961 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1964 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The typical home in Strafford County was built around 1977, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are newer than in the wider Boston area, where the median home dates to 1964. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the east. Only two of New Hampshire's ten counties have newer 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 Strafford County
| Period | Strafford County | Boston area | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $963 | $1,171 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,035 | $1,251 | $1,094 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,150 | $1,537 | $1,224 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,557 | $2,051 | $1,597 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$594 | +$881 | +$580 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Strafford County costs $1,557 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in the wider Boston area ($2,051). Rent has climbed $594 a month since 2006–10, up 62%, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 31.7% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Strafford County
Bachelor's degrees in Strafford County
| Period | Strafford County | Boston area | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.1% | 42.2% | 33.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 36.7% | 44.1% | 35.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.9% | 48.2% | 37.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 40.7% | 51.9% | 41.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.6 pts | +9.7 pts | +7.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
About four in ten adults 25 and older in Strafford County (40.7%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a bit above the national share of 35.6%. Locally, though, the share is lower than in the wider Boston area (51.9%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.6 points, 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 Strafford County
| Period | Strafford County | Boston area | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.2% | 89.8% | 91.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.0% | 90.6% | 92.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.2% | 91.5% | 93.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.1% | 91.8% | 94.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.9 pts | +2.1 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Strafford County: 95.1% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.9 points, mirroring the country.
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 Strafford County
| Period | Strafford County | Boston area | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 7.0% | 5.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 8.0% | 6.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.7% | 4.6% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.5% | 4.9% | 3.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Strafford County than nationally: unemployment was 3.5%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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).
Strafford 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strafford County | 2.48 | 41.0 | 7.9% | 32.9% | 10.1% | 1977 | $1,557 | 40.7% | 95.1% | 3.5% |
| Merrimack County | 2.49 | 43.1 | 8.1% | 26.5% | 8.4% | 1974 | $1,449 | 38.8% | 94.6% | 3.1% |
| Sullivan County | 2.64 | 47.4 | 8.8% | 24.6% | 21.2% | 1970 | $1,317 | 29.8% | 92.3% | 3.4% |
| Washington County | 2.39 | 45.8 | 9.7% | 23.4% | 13.8% | 1964 | $1,030 | 22.6% | 90.5% | 5.0% |
| Warren County | 2.18 | 46.8 | 9.1% | 27.9% | 17.8% | 1971 | $1,224 | 36.7% | 93.3% | 4.5% |
| Oneida County | 2.33 | 41.9 | 12.7% | 32.3% | 10.3% | 1958 | $1,025 | 27.4% | 87.8% | 4.9% |
| Oswego County | 2.42 | 41.6 | 13.6% | 26.6% | 12.0% | 1971 | $982 | 21.8% | 89.3% | 7.1% |
| Wayne County | 2.32 | 43.9 | 9.5% | 20.1% | 9.1% | 1966 | $961 | 25.6% | 90.9% | 3.6% |
| Monroe County | 2.37 | 41.3 | 12.1% | 36.3% | 7.5% | 1966 | $1,296 | 40.8% | 91.7% | 5.2% |
| Orleans County | 2.35 | 44.8 | 11.8% | 22.8% | 10.5% | 1955 | $888 | 18.3% | 87.1% | 5.3% |
| Niagara County | 2.29 | 43.9 | 11.5% | 28.8% | 8.9% | 1962 | $987 | 27.7% | 92.0% | 6.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Berkshire County, MA · Bonneville County, ID · Sebastian County, AR · Jasper County, MO · Kendall County, IL · Kennebec County, ME · Linn County, OR · Madison County, IN · Marathon County, WI · Monroe County, IN
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 Strafford 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.
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