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County in New Hampshire

Coos County, New Hampshire

Coos County is a county in New Hampshire with 31,271 residents, No. 10 of 10 by population. In Coos County, the FHA loan limit for a one-unit home is $541,287, and a typical home is worth $188,900. To rent a 2-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent ($1,195 a month) without going over 30% of your income, you need to earn about $22.98 an hour.

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  • Typical home price

    $188,900

    −53% vs. New Hampshire −43% vs. U.S.

    Half of owner-occupied homes are worth more and half are worth less.

    • Coos
    • New Hampshire
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

  • Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms

    $1,195 a month

    −41% vs. New Hampshire −32% vs. U.S.

    HUD's reference rent for a two-bedroom apartment, with basic utilities.

    • Coos
    • New Hampshire
    • United States

    Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

  • FHA limit 2026, 1 unit

    $541,287

    FHA national floor limit

    The most you can borrow with an FHA loan for a one-unit home here.

    • Coos
    • Floor
    • Ceiling

    Source: HUD, 2026 data

  • Property tax

    1.89% of value per year

    +14% vs. New Hampshire +101% vs. U.S.

    $3,579 a year for the typical owner

    • Coos
    • New Hampshire
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$252,787
2% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,292 a month

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Data from October 2026

In short

What is housing like in Coos County today?

With an FHA loan and the minimum down payment, a typical home would cost about $1,716 a month: 36% of the typical household income here. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $73,554 a year; the typical income here is $57,677. The typical home value is 53% less than in New Hampshire overall. The typical property tax is $3,579 a year (about 1.89% of home value), lower than in New Hampshire.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

Only here

What sets Coos County apart

  1. Of the 10 counties in New Hampshire, Coos County has the lowest typical rent: $876.

  2. Of the 10 counties in New Hampshire, Coos County has the lowest typical household income: $57,677.

  3. Coos County has the lowest typical home value of the 10 counties in New Hampshire: $188,900.

  4. Coos County has the lowest typical rent in its area: $876, less than any of its 6 neighboring counties; next is Belknap County ($1,167).

  5. Coos County has the lowest typical home value in its area: $188,900, less than any of its 6 neighboring counties; next is Sullivan County ($268,700).

  6. From 2020 to 2025, home prices in Coos County rose 87% on FHFA's index, faster than in New Hampshire (66%).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); FHFA (2025 data).

The homes here

Housing in Coos County

What homes there are in Coos County, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 68% of homes here, against 63% in New Hampshire.

Mobile homes are 10% of homes in Coos County, more than in New Hampshire (5%).

Year built

The typical home in Coos County was built in 1969, 10 years before the typical one in New Hampshire.

In Coos County, 16% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 52% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 57% in New Hampshire.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 95% of owner-occupied homes in Coos County are worth less than the FHA loan limit for this county ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

About 74% of rented homes in Coos County cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for this county ($1,195).

With a mortgage

$1,464 a month

New Hampshire: $2,367 a month

Without a mortgage

$688 a month

New Hampshire: $995 a month

Owners with a mortgage

41%

New Hampshire: 62%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Coos County is $1,464 a month, less than in New Hampshire ($2,367); without one, $688.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Coos County rose 48%; in New Hampshire, it rose 54%.

The typical rent in Coos County rose 18% over the same time; in New Hampshire, it rose 34%.

To compare: typical income in Coos County rose 22%; the home, +48%; the rent, +18%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureCoos CountyNew HampshireUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate4.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.4%0.9%
More than one person per room 0.7%1.4%3.4%
People per household 2.082.442.53
Drive alone 76%72%69%
Carpool 10%7%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 4%3%3%
Work from home 8%17%15%
Other means 2%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in New Hampshire, 0.7% of households in Coos County have more than one person per room.

Households in Coos County are smaller: 2.08 people on average; in New Hampshire, 2.44.

To get to work, 76% of workers in Coos County drive alone; in New Hampshire, 72%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month in Coos County?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home of $188,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 36% of the typical household income here, which is $57,677 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $73,554 a year.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Coos County. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $6,612 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,716

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$185,478
Total interest
$266,859
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,190 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,346 a month

  • Tight

    $1,346 to $1,730 a month

    Your payment · 36%

  • Hard

    more than $1,730 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Coos County ($57,677 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,716
Principal & interest$1,256
Property tax$298
Home insurance$79
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$84

You need at least $6,612 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

Buying a home

Buying a home in Coos County

Here you'll see how prices have changed, how Coos County compares with New Hampshire and the country, and what you'd pay each month with four kinds of loans.

How have home prices changed?

According to the FHFA House Price Index, home prices in Coos County rose 135% in the 10 years through 2025. FHFA's index follows the price of the same homes over the years.

Period Here New Hampshire United States
In 2025 +4.2% +4.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +87% +66% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +135% +113% +85%
See each year's change

The index follows the prices of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals on loans bought or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Coos County compared with New Hampshire and the United States

Home value, rent and household income, side by side. "Typical" is the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Coos $188,900
  • New Hampshire $402,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical rent a month
  • Coos $876
  • New Hampshire $1,491
  • United States $1,413
Typical household income a year
  • Coos $57,677
  • New Hampshire $99,031
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Coos compared with New Hampshire and the United States
MeasureHereNew HampshireU.S.
Residents31,2711,394,868334,922,499
Typical home value$188,900$402,500$332,700
Typical household income$57,677$99,031$80,734
Typical rent$876$1,491$1,413
Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms)$1,195$2,010$1,750
Hourly wage to rent a 2-bedroom$22.98$38.65$33.65
Typical property tax$3,579$6,667$3,119
Effective tax rate1.89%1.66%0.94%
Households that own their home74%73%65%
Renters spending 30% or more on rent44%48%51%
FHA limit (1 unit)*$541,287$541,287$541,287

FHA limit: New Hampshire shows the median of its counties; the United States, the national floor. Download CSV

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Coos County

For a typical $188,900 home at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, the county's property tax, an example homeowners insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

Loan Monthly payment Down payment Loan amount Rate Mortgage insurance Cash to close Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down $1,716 $6,612 $185,479 7.18% FHA MIP · $84 $12,279 580
Conventional, 5% down $1,682 $9,445 $179,455 7.18% PMI · $90 $15,112 620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,400 $37,780 $151,120 7.18% None $43,447 620*
ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,575 $28,335 $160,565 8.18% None $34,002 Set by the lender
  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Closing costs

Loan limits

FHA loans in Coos County use the national floor limit: it isn't a high-cost area. If the loan you need is above these amounts, it doesn't fit FHA or it becomes a "jumbo" loan.

VA loans. If you have full VA entitlement, VA doesn't cap the loan amount. If you've used part of your entitlement, the calculation uses the county limit ($832,750 for one unit). VA loan limits (va.gov)

USDA loans. They're for homes in eligible rural areas and households with incomes within USDA's limit. Check whether the address and your income qualify on the official site. USDA eligibility (usda.gov)

Home type FHA limit Conforming limit
1 unit $541,287 $832,750
2 units $693,050 $1,066,250
3 units $837,700 $1,288,800
4 units $1,041,125 $1,601,750

Source: HUD, 2026 data · Source: FHFA, 2026 data

Taxes and risks

Property tax and flooding in Coos County

Two costs that change a lot from place to place and that a house payment does include: property tax and, in risk zones, flood insurance.

Property tax

In Coos County, the typical owner pays $3,579 a year: about 1.89% of the home's value. That is more than the rest of New Hampshire and more than the national average.

  • Coos 1.89%
  • New Hampshire 1.66%
  • United States 0.94%

What New Hampshire publishes Deadline to apply for exemptions and credits: April 15 (New Hampshire General Court (Revised Statutes Annotated))

Exemptions and deadlines in New Hampshire

Is there a flood risk?

According to FEMA, in Coos County 4.5% of homes (636) are in a high-risk flood zone. Of those homes, 11% have NFIP flood insurance.

  • A high-risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area) has a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year. (44 CFR 59.1)
  • If the home is in that zone and the loan comes from a regulated lender, federal law requires flood insurance for the life of the loan, in communities that take part in the NFIP. (42 U.S.C. 4012a)
  • Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. (FEMA, FloodSmart)

Source: FEMA, As of August 3, 2026

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Owning a home here

Owning a home in Coos County

The natural hazards FEMA measures in Coos County, a maintenance plan for your climate and what the trades earn in your area.

Risks to your home

FEMA, National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025)

FEMA rates the natural hazard risk in Coos County as relatively low.

To rate it, FEMA weighs the expected loss with social vulnerability and community resilience.

The loss FEMA expects each year in Coos County from all natural hazards is $27 million, counting buildings, people and crops.

Of all the hazards, FEMA expects inland flooding to do the most damage to buildings: about $15 million a year.

Loss FEMA expects each year to homes and buildings, by hazard
  1. Inland floodingRelatively moderate $15 million a year
  2. HurricaneRelatively low $1 million a year
  3. EarthquakeVery low $189,654 a year
  4. Winter weatherRelatively high $62,213 a year
  5. TornadoVery low $21,233 a year

What it means for your home

The ratings are FEMA's own. FEMA says its data is meant for planning and does not replace a local study. Drought is not shown: FEMA counts its loss in crops only.

National Risk Index, version 1.20.0 (December 2025), retrieved November 6, 2026

FEMA notice: This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Climate and upkeep

Department of Energy (PNNL), 2021 IECC zones

Coos County is climate zone 6A in the home energy code (IECC): cold.

The zone's number says how hot or cold it gets; the letter says how humid: A is moist, B is dry and C is marine.

  • Spring

    • Book the air conditioner's check-up before the heat: ENERGY STAR advises checking the cooling system in the spring, because contractors get busy once summer comes. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Clean and repair the roof gutters. EPA

  • Summer

    • Seal the air ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, basement or garage with duct mastic or foil tape, then wrap them in insulation. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Check that the ground slopes away from the house, so water does not collect around the foundation. EPA

  • Fall

    • Book the heating check-up in the fall. If it runs on gas or oil, the technician should check the connections: faulty ones are a fire hazard. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Seal air leaks and add insulation in the attic: ENERGY STAR says it lowers the chance of ice dams on the roof in snowy climates. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Winter

    • Get the house ready for the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping, and learn how to keep pipes from freezing. Ready.gov (FEMA)
    • Put clear plastic film over the windows: it is inexpensive, cuts drafts, helps the house feel warmer in winter and reduces moisture on the glass. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

All year

  • Check the air filter every month, especially in heavy-use months. If it looks dirty, change it; change it at least every 3 months. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
  • Test the smoke alarms every month and replace their batteries at least once a year. USFA (FEMA)

Each task comes from the official page beside it. The spring air-conditioning and fall heating check-ups are the timing ENERGY STAR advises; the rest is a suggested order.

Climate zones by county, 2021 IECC

What the trades charge here

BLS, wages for May 2025

TradeTypical hourly wage8 in 10 earn between
Electricians$29.70$22.23 and $43.46
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters$30.91$21.35 and $38.56
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics$34.87$24.25 and $41.49
Carpenters$29.48$21.69 and $38.49
Painters, construction and maintenance$23.62$18.31 and $30.44
Maintenance and repair workers, general$23.30$16.72 and $33.51

An electrician earns about $29.70 an hour in the Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area, and a plumber, about $30.91.

These are workers' hourly wages, not the price of a job.

BLS publishes no wages for roofers in this area.

Need help paying for a repair?

Renting

Renting in Coos County

The typical rent in Coos County is $876 a month. HUD also publishes a “fair market rent” by unit size: it's the one programs like Section 8 use.

44% of renter households in Coos County spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 19% spend half or more.

Fair market rent by size

To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $940 $18.08 $37,600
1 bedroom $946 $18.19 $37,840
2 bedrooms $1,195 $22.98 $47,800
3 bedrooms $1,587 $30.52 $63,480
4 bedrooms $1,593 $30.63 $63,720

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Free help in Coos County

Programs and counseling in Coos County

We didn't find HUD-approved agencies with an office in this county. This is the nearest one; many serve by phone or online.

Official programs for the down payment and loans for buyers. Check which ones you might qualify for with your income and your county.

A family roasts marshmallows over a campfire at a forest campsite.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

New Hampshire down payment programs

  1. New Hampshire Housing Cash Downpayment Assistance

    New Hampshire state agency cash assistance of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 for the down payment with an NH Housing mortgage; open to any buyer who qualifies, not only first-time buyers

    No first-time requirement. Run by New Hampshire Housing.

    Type not stated Verified November 5, 2026

  2. 1stGenHomeNH

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    New Hampshire state agency help of $10,000 for the down payment, closing costs and the escrow account, as a second mortgage with no interest or payments, repaid when you sell, refinance or leave the home; for first-generation buyers, people who were in foster care, or refugees or asylees

    First-time buyers only. Run by New Hampshire Housing.

    Deferred Verified November 5, 2026

Which programs do I qualify for? See all New Hampshire programs

Help in Spanish in Coos County

None of the 1 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Public housing agencies

They run public housing and Section 8 vouchers (Housing Choice Vouchers) in this county.

  • Berlin Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (603) 752-4240
  • Lancaster Housing Authority Section 8 vouchers (603) 752-4240

Free legal help

If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.

Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Housing counseling nearby

These are the nearest agencies, with the distance in miles. Many help by phone or online. Official HUD list. Confirm hours and fees with the agency before you go.

  • Affordable Housing, Education and Development, Inc. (AHEAD)

    262 Cottage St Ste 130, Littleton · 34 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 7 more
    (603) 444-1377
See every agency in New Hampshire

Places

Cities in Coos County

This site has no city pages of Coos County. The neighboring counties are below.

See all 1 cities of Coos County

Nearby counties

Each row compares its typical value, typical rent and FHA limit with Coos County.

Read next

Guides that help here

We picked them by this county's numbers: what weighs most here is what's worth understanding first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FHA loan limit in Coos County in 2026?

Coos County has an FHA limit of $541,287 for a one-unit home. For 2 units it's $693,050, for 3 it's $837,700 and for 4 it's $1,041,125. It's the national floor limit.

What is the conforming loan limit in Coos County?

Coos County has a conforming limit of $832,750 for one-unit conventional loans in 2026. A bigger loan is a “jumbo” loan.

How much does a typical home cost in Coos County?

The typical home value in Coos County is $188,900 (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). Across New Hampshire it's $402,500.

How much does it cost to rent in Coos County?

Coos County has a typical rent of $876 a month (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). HUD's fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,195 (Fiscal year 2027).

How much do you need to earn to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in Coos County?

About $22.98 an hour working full time (2,080 hours a year), or $47,800 a year, so the fair market rent of $1,195 stays under 30% of income.

Sources: American Community Survey (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (Fiscal year 2027); Income Limits (Fiscal year 2026); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (As of August 3, 2026); National Risk Index (2025 data); IECC climate zones by county (2021 data); Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025 data); Census Bureau cartographic boundary files (2024 data).