RANK #422 / 1001 NAT · POP 92,120
1YR FORECAST: +1.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +30%
Grafton County, New Hampshire, stands out for its mountainous terrain, encompassing a significant portion of the White Mountain National Forest. Dartmouth College in Hanover is a notable institution within the county. Located in western New Hampshire, bordering Vermont, the county is characterized by dense forests, rolling hills, and pristine lakes. Commuting primarily involves driving, with an average travel time of about 39 minutes. The community offers a blend of small-town living and access to extensive outdoor recreation, including hiking trails, ski slopes, and various water activities on lakes like Newfound Lake and Grafton Pond. Franconia Notch State Park is a key outdoor amenity, featuring gorges and mountain passes.
Life in Grafton County offers a balance of tranquility and community. The public schools are above average, with Hanover High School, Lafayette Regional School, and Bernice A. Ray School among the top-ranked. The economy, while historically impacted by declines in natural resource and manufacturing jobs, has seen recent investment in sectors like substance abuse treatment facilities and trail infrastructure, often in collaboration with institutions like Dartmouth College. Housing costs have been a concern, with median home prices increasing in the past year. Residents often express a strong sense of community and optimism about the quality of life.
Grafton County is one of 35 U.S. counties in this market profile — near the profile average on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +2.9% runs above the profile's typical +1.4%.
See all 35 Secondary Market Surge counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.5x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Groton Wind Farm
Avangrid (formerly Iberdrola Renovables)
|
$120M | Operating |
|
Grafton County Middle Mile Project
Grafton County
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Grafton County Proposed Courthouse Project
Grafton County
|
$50M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Grafton County scores 58/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#422). Median household income is $88,261 and job growth is running at +0.5%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Grafton County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $344,500 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.26, with rents averaging $1,301/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Grafton County are both close to flat — population +0.4% YoY and jobs +0.5%. Home values shifted +2.9% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.02% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Grafton County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.