Cheshire County, New Hampshire Demographics 2026
Cheshire County, New Hampshire has a population of 77,297, the 6th most populous county in New Hampshire. The median household income is $83,329 and the median home value is $280,100. The poverty rate is 8.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Cheshire County Quick Facts
How Cheshire County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 76,945 | 77,297 | +0.5% |
| Median household income | $81,001 | $83,329 | +2.9% |
| Median home value | $257,200 | $280,100 | +8.9% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 24 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Cheshire County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keene | 22,939 | $78,445 | 10.1% | $252,500 |
| Jaffrey | 3,277 | $99,667 | 4.8% | $217,700 |
| Hinsdale | 1,580 | $72,292 | 10.1% | $227,000 |
| Winchester | 1,306 | $81,250 | 10.7% | $217,800 |
| West Swanzey | 1,188 | $47,090 | 7.2% | $193,400 |
| Troy | 1,081 | $96,250 | 4.3% | $204,600 |
| Marlborough | 1,048 | $67,356 | 7.2% | $261,700 |
| North Walpole | 513 | $74,167 | 11.7% | $201,000 |
| Walpole | 512 | $89,750 | 11.7% | $438,400 |
Explore New Hampshire Rankings
Population Overview
Cheshire County is located in New Hampshire with a total population of 77,297. It is the 6th most populous county out of 10 in New Hampshire. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Cheshire County is 43.6 years. This is about the same as the state median of 43.3 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Cheshire County is $83,329. This is 16% lower than the state median of $99,031. It is also 3% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.7%. This is 20% higher than the state poverty rate of 7.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.3%. This is 1% lower than the state rate of 3.4%. The median home value is $280,100. Housing costs are 30% lower than the state median of $402,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 72.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.
Race & Ethnicity
Cheshire County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.6%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 2.6%.
Education
35.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 13% lower than the state rate of 40.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Cheshire County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against New Hampshire and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Cheshire County, New Hampshire?
Cheshire County has a population of 77,297, making it the 6th most populous county in New Hampshire.
What is the median income in Cheshire County?
The median household income in Cheshire County is $83,329 with a poverty rate of 8.7%.
How many cities are in Cheshire County, New Hampshire?
Cheshire County contains 9 Census-designated places.