RANK #707 / 1001 NAT · POP 132,575
1YR FORECAST: +1.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +16%
Durham, home to the University of New Hampshire, stands out as a notable town within Strafford County. The county, located in southeastern New Hampshire, borders Maine and is about an hour's drive from Boston, Massachusetts. Its landscape features lowlands, rivers like the Cocheco and Lamprey, and access to Little and Great Bays, offering opportunities for outdoor recreation such as hiking, boating, and wildlife viewing. The community feel varies, with some towns like Strafford offering a quiet, rural atmosphere. Commuting within the county and to nearby cities is common, with resources like TripLink providing transportation information and services.
Life in Strafford County blends natural beauty with community amenities. Many residents own their homes, and the area attracts young professionals. The economy is influenced by education and healthcare, with the University of New Hampshire in Durham being a significant institution. Efforts are underway to address housing availability and affordability, and regional planning focuses on economic growth and infrastructure improvements. The Strafford Economic Development Corporation works to support local businesses through financing and technical assistance.
Strafford County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +3.0% runs above the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 15.3x — 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: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Strafford County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Community Solar Portfolio (multiple projects)
Various
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Residential New Construction (multiple developments)
Various Home Builders
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 29/100, Strafford County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $88,570 combined with job growth of +0.2% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Strafford County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $362,800 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.24 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,488/month on average.
Strafford County's population is growing — up +0.6% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.2%). Home values shifted +3.0% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.86% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Strafford County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.