Tugboats on the Portsmouth waterfront at sunset
County in New Hampshire

Strafford County

Strafford County has the youngest population in New Hampshire (median age 38.2) and the lowest homeownership rate (67.1%).

Strafford County is home to 134,202 people (2024 estimate) on 367 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.

Key indicators

Population
134,202
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
130,897
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+2.5%
2020–2024
Land area
367 mi²
952 km²
Population density
365.2 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
1,098
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
1,320
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
−222
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+803
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$69,278
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$8.0 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$88,570
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
8.7%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
39.3%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
4.4%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$362,800
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
2.3%
BLS annual average, 2024

Historical data

Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.

Population

2000–2024
134,202▲ 19%

U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.

Data summary

IndicatorValueYear and source
Population estimate134,2022024 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 2010 Census123,1432010 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 2000112,643July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal
Change since 2000+19.1%2000–2024 · Census
International migration+2602024 · Census Vintage 2024
Domestic migration+5432024 · Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate8.2 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Death rate9.8 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Population rank in New Hampshire4th of 102024 · calculated
Per capita personal income$69,278BEA, 2024 · official
Gross domestic product$8.0 billionBEA, current dollars, 2024 · official
Median household income$88,570ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Poverty rate8.7%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Bachelor’s degree or higher39.3%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Foreign-born residents4.4%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median home value$362,800ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median gross rent$1,488/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median age38.2 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Households52,080ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Owner-occupied homes67.1%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official

Strafford County in context

Comparable indicators for Strafford County, New Hampshire and the United States.

IndicatorCountyNew HampshireU.S.Reference
Population change 2020–2024+2.5%+2.3%+2.6%Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate (per 1,000)8.28.410.62024
Death rate (per 1,000)9.810.09.12024
Net migration rate (per 1,000)6.06.58.22024
Population density (/mi²)365.2157.496.32024
Per capita personal income$69,278$83,192$73,204BEA, 2024
Median household income$88,570$99,031$80,734ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate8.7%7.2%12.5%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher39.3%40.6%35.7%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents4.4%6.1%14.1%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value$362,800$402,500$332,700ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median gross rent$1,488/month$1,491/month$1,413/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median age38.2 years43.3 years38.9 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year
Owner-occupied homes67.1%72.8%65.2%ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Cities & towns

1 city · choose how to order them

Dover
33,000 residents

Did you know? Strafford County

4th most populous of 10

With 134,202 residents in 2024, Strafford County ranks 4th by population among New Hampshire's 10 counties and is home to 9.5% of the state's residents.

A quarter century of change

Its population went from 112,643 in 2000 to 134,202 in 2024, a change of +19.1%, compared with +13.6% for New Hampshire as a whole.

Births and deaths

In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 1,098 births and 1,320 deaths, so deaths outnumbered births by 222.

Record population

Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population in 2024, at 134,202.

3rd in density

Strafford County has about 365.2 residents per square mile of land, ranking 3rd of 10 counties; New Hampshire averages 157.4.

Household income rank

With a median household income of $88,570 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 5th of 10 New Hampshire counties; the state median is $99,031.

Size of the economy

Its economy produced $8.0 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 5th largest among 10 New Hampshire counties.

Latest economic growth

Real GDP fell 2.2% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).

Sources and methodology