KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Jessica Williams of the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute said new census data show persistent income disparities across the state and mounting pressure from housing costs during a Friday appearance on “Good Morning with Dan Mitchell.”

Williams, a policy analyst with the nonpartisan research organization, joined host Dan Mitchell to break down newly released five-year U.S. Census Bureau data covering 2020–2024. The figures provide a broader look at trends in income, poverty and housing affordability during and after the pandemic.

Stark Differences Between Counties

Williams said median household income varies sharply by region, with Rockingham County households earning nearly twice as much as those in Coös County.

While southeastern New Hampshire tends to post higher incomes, rural counties generally report lower median earnings and higher poverty rates, she said. In Coös County, about 13 percent of residents live below the federal poverty line — the highest share in the state — though more populous counties such as Hillsborough and Rockingham have larger overall numbers of residents in poverty.

“These differences reflect workforce opportunities, housing availability and broader economic patterns,” Williams said.

Poverty Rates Vary By Education, Disability And Family Structure

The data also show disparities across demographic groups.

Granite Staters without a high school diploma experience poverty rates of about 21 percent, compared to much lower rates for those with a bachelor’s degree. Residents living with disabilities face poverty rates near 16 percent, and higher rates are also seen among Hispanic or Latino residents, Black residents and multiracial residents.

Family structure plays a role as well. Households with children — especially those led by a single mother — are significantly more likely to fall below the poverty line.

The official federal poverty threshold in 2026 is roughly $16,000 annually for an individual and about $33,000 for a family of four, though eligibility for programs such as Medicaid and SNAP is often set at higher percentages of that benchmark.

Housing Costs Continue To Outpace Income

Even as wages have increased modestly, Williams said rising housing, child care and other costs have outstripped income growth.

About half of renters statewide spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing, meeting the federal definition of being “cost burdened.” Among renters earning less than $35,000 per year, roughly three out of four exceed that threshold, and 55 percent spend more than half their income on rent and utilities.

Homeowners are also affected. Williams said a median-income family purchasing a median-priced home in 2025 — factoring in mortgage rates, a 5 percent down payment and property taxes — could expect to spend nearly half of its income on housing.

Low housing inventory remains a key driver of high prices, she said, though recent construction in parts of the state could help ease pressure over time.

Medicaid Enhancement Tax At Risk

Williams also highlighted a separate Fiscal Policy Institute report warning that federal changes to provider taxes could reduce revenue from New Hampshire’s Medicaid Enhancement Tax, or MET.

The tax — a 5.4 percent assessment on hospital patient service revenue — generated about $348 million in state fiscal year 2025, making it the state’s fourth-largest revenue source.

Under recent federal law, caps on provider taxes will gradually decrease beginning in 2028. If hospital revenue continues to grow at recent rates, New Hampshire could lose nearly $1 billion in MET revenue over the next decade, Williams said, with potential ripple effects for hospital funding and Medicaid reimbursement.

Most states use similar provider taxes, though funding structures vary.

More Reports Ahead

Williams said the institute plans to release a property tax report within the next month as part of a broader tax policy series. Additional data on New Hampshire’s uninsured rate is expected from the U.S. Census Bureau later this year.

Listen to the full interview: