Income & Poverty

Compared to other states, New Hampshire has a high median household income and a low official poverty rate. Yet nearly 100,000 Granite Staters live in poverty. In 2022, about one in four Granite State households had less than $50,000 per year in income, and about one in six had less than $35,000. Estimates of living costs in New Hampshire suggest many households are not able to make ends meet, with incomes often too limited to be able to afford the combined costs of housing, child care, transportation, and other necessities.

NHFPI aims to analyze and interpret the trends in income and poverty in the Granite State and provide insights into public policies designed to improve the economic security of New Hampshire’s residents.

What Federal Income Tax Returns Tell Us About How Granite Staters Make Money

A new NHFPI analysis of federal income tax returns data shows that Granite Staters earned money from a wide variety of sources. Of the $76.8 billion in income reported, salaries and wages were the dominant source, but pensions and retirement income mattered more for lower and middle income Granite Staters. At the top end of the scale, business income and selling assets were a larger share of income, with about 76% of all capital gain income, and 36% of all dividend income, accruing to the top 1% of filers.

Women’s Equal Pay Day Highlights Ongoing Income Disparities in New Hampshire

As Women’s Equal Pay Day approaches, new data show Granite State women working full-time earn just 81% of what men earn. Disparities are even greater for women of color and those in caregiving roles, reflecting broader inequities that affect earnings, workforce participation, and long-term economic security across New Hampshire.

This Pi Day, NHFPI Is Serving Up…Pie Charts

March 14 is Pi Day, when people across the country celebrate the mathematical constant π (3.14) with slices of their favorite pies. This Pi Day, our Research Team is sharing something they love even more than pie: pie charts.