Residents Are Fleeing These 3 Fastest-Shrinking Counties in New Hampshire

Although it is the fourth largest state in New England, the state of New Hampshire has been seeing some shrinking counties. It is bordered in the north by Canada, Maine in the east, Massachusetts in the south, and Vermont in the west. Additionally, it is an absolutely gorgeous state that can be divided into three distinct regions. In the northern part of the state, you’ll find the White Mountains along with the tallest mountain in the state, Mount Washington. In fact, at 6,288 feet tall it is not only the tallest in the state but the tallest mountain in all of New England. You’ll also find hilly areas throughout the state as well as gorgeous sandy beaches by the Atlantic Ocean.

As such a beautiful state, you may be surprised to find out that some of the counties in New Hampshire have been shrinking! Although certain parts of New Hampshire have been growing, some parts have been unfortunately seeing a decrease in the population. Below, we’ve uncovered the three fastest-shrinking counties in New Hampshire.

#1. Coos County

At the top of our list of the fastest-shrinking counties in New Hampshire is Coos County. As the largest county in the state, it makes up roughly 20% of the land area in New Hampshire. It is also the only county on the Canada–United States border. Since it is located all the way in the north, this county offers residents lots of wonderful outdoor activities thanks to its proximity to the mountains, specifically the White Mountains Region. Many residents enjoy venturing out to the magical Umbagog Lake State Park. Here you can enjoy swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and more. Sadly, the county has seen a population decrease of about -5.3%.from 2010 to 2022. In fact, the population in 2020 was 31,227, which was the least out of any county in the state.

2. Sullivan County

Located in the southwest region of the state is Sullivan County. The county is comprised of fourteen different small towns and the city of Claremont. The area used to flourish thanks to the mill manufacturing region that used the energy generated by the Sugar River (pictured above). However, over the years, the county has struggled to make a new name and industry for itself. In 2020, the population of Sullivan County was 43,069, making it the second least populous county in the entire state. Throughout a ten-year period, the population has decreased by approximately -1.5%.

3. Cheshire County

Third, and last, on our list of the fastest-shrinking counties in New Hampshire is Cheshire County. This county is located in the southwestern corner of the state and is one of the original five counties of New Hampshire. Inside of this county are 22 towns and the city of Keene. Residents who live within Cheshire County note that it has a beautiful mix of picturesque landscapes and charming small towns and villages. Cheshire County is home to the stunning Mount Monadnock as well as the historic city of Keene. Over the course of ten years, the county has seen a decrease of about -0.67% from 2010 to 2020. The population in 2020 was 76,541.

Summary of the 3 Fastest-Shrinking Counties in New Hampshire