Demographics
Coös County covers the top fifth of New Hampshire, sharing a 71-mile straight border with Maine to the east, an 85-mile border with Vermont to the west, and a 58-mile border with Canada to the north. Established in 1803, the county was named after the Indian word 'cowass' or 'kohass,' meaning 'crooked river' because of the bend in the Connecticut River. The White Mountain National Forest and Nash Stream State Forest cover a sizable portion of the county.
Coös County contains 1,801.5 square miles of land area and 29.7 square miles of inland water area. Based on the estimated 2008 population, the population density is 17.75 persons per square mile. Coös County includes one city, Berlin, 19 towns, and 23 unincorporated places, 15 of which are unpopulated. The county seat is Lancaster.
Population Trends: Coös County claims is the smallest population among New Hampshire's ten counties, but it has held that position only since the 1990 census. Prior to 1980,
Belknap, Carroll, and Sullivan Counties all had fewer residents. Population in Coös County grew between 1950 and 1960 then experienced its greatest loss of population between 1960 and 1970 decreasing by 7.7 percent. After a small gain between 1970 and 1980, the county decreased in population over the next two Decades, and that population loss has continued through 2008. Coös is the only county to decease since the 1950 Census.
| back to topPopulation |
| 2007 |
2000 |
1990 |
1980 |
1970 |
| 32,995 |
33,156 |
34,879 |
35,014 |
34,189 |
| back to topDemographics 2005 - 2007 3-Year Averages, ACS) |
|
| By Gender |
Male |
Female |
| Total |
16,203 |
16,792 |
| 18 years and over |
12,861 |
13,567 |
| 65 years and over |
2,551 |
3,571 |
|
|
|
| By Age Group |
Under age 5 |
1,548 |
|
Age 5 to 19 |
5,655 |
|
Age 20 to 34 |
5,483 |
|
Age 35 to 54 |
10,011 |
|
Age 55 to 64 |
4,176 |
|
Age 65 and over |
6,122 |
|
|
|
|
Median Age (years) |
43.2 |
| back to topLabor Force |
| Annual Average |
1997 |
2007 |
| Civilian Labor Force |
16,760 |
16,700 |
| Employed |
15,920 |
15,930 |
| Unemployed |
840 |
770 |
| Unemployment Rate |
5.0% |
4.6% |
| 2007 Annual Average Unemployment Rate by Town |
| Berlin |
5.1% |
Lancaster |
3.9% |
| Carroll |
3.2% |
Milan |
5.3% |
| Clarksville |
5.7% |
Northumberland |
4.5% |
| Colebrook |
5.0% |
Pittsburg |
4.6% |
| Columbia |
3.2% |
Randolph |
3.5% |
| Dalton |
4.7% |
Shelburne |
2.3% |
| Dummer |
5.0% |
Stark |
6.3% |
| Errol |
7.4% |
Stewartstown |
5.5% |
| Gorham |
4.2% |
Stratford |
6.4% |
| Jefferson |
3.0% |
Whitefield |
3.7% |
|
|
|
|
| Largest Businesses | Community | Product/Service | back to topEmployees |
| Androscoggin Valley Hospital |
Berlin |
Health care services |
409 |
| Mount Washington Hotel |
Carroll |
Hotel, restuarant, golf, etc. |
350 |
| Weeks Memorial Hospital |
Lancaster |
Health care services |
320 |
| Bretton Woods Ski Area |
Carroll |
Ski area |
300 |
| Balsams Corp |
Colebrook |
Resort, ski area |
300 |
| City of Berlin School System - SAU #3 |
Berlin |
Education |
280 |
| Wal-Mart |
Gorham |
Retail store |
278 |
| Fraser Paper Co. |
Gorham |
Paper making |
275 |
| Berlin City Dealerships |
Gorham |
Car sales, service |
207 |
| Santa's Village (seasonal) |
Jefferson |
Amusement |
200 |
| Mountain View Grand |
Whitefield |
Hotel |
200 |
| Northern NH Correctional Facility |
Berlin |
Correctional facility |
198 |
| Isaacson Steel |
Berlin |
Steel fabricators |
151 |
| City of Berlin |
Berlin |
Municipal services |
125 |
| White Mountain Regional High School |
Whitefield |
Education |
122 |
| Country Village Health Care |
Lancaster |
Health care services |
112 |
| Town of Gorham |
Gorham |
Municipal services |
106 |
| Northern Human Services |
Berlin |
Behavioral health services |
100 |
| Morrison Nursing Home |
Whitefield |
Nursing home |
97 |
| Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital |
Colebrook |
Health care services |
94 |
| Colebrook School District |
Colebrook |
Education |
90 |
| Androscoggin Valley Home Care Services |
Berlin |
Home care |
80 |
| Coös County Family Health Services |
Berlin |
Health Services |
80 |
| CarFreshner |
Berlin |
Manufacturing |
75 |
| Lancaster School |
Lancaster |
Education |
70 |
| Northway Bank (fka Berlin City Bank) |
Berlin |
Banking Services |
65 |
| Perras Ace/Perras Lumber |
Northumberland |
Hardware store and lumber |
60 |
| Six Gun City (seasonal) |
Jefferson |
Amusement |
60 |
| Royalty Health Club/Inn/Restaurant |
Gorham |
Health club, motel, restaurant |
60 |
| Brown Street Furniture |
Whitefield |
Manufacture of solid wood furniture |
55 |
Note: All employer information, including number of employees, was provided by individual communities.
| back to topCovered Employment and Wages (NHES-ELMI) |
| Annual Average Covered Employment |
1997 |
2007 |
|
|
|
| Goods Producing Industries |
|
|
| Average Employment |
3,311 |
2,184 |
| Average Weekly Wage |
$602 |
$759 |
|
|
|
| Service Providing Industries |
|
|
| Average Employment |
7,852 |
8,866 |
| Average Weekly Wage |
$366 |
$526 |
|
|
|
| Total Private Industry |
|
|
| Average Employment |
11,162 |
11,050 |
| Average Weekly Wage |
$436 |
$572 |
|
|
|
| Government (Federal, State, and Local) |
|
|
| Average Employment |
2,305 |
2,826 |
| Average Weekly Wage |
$436 |
$628 |
|
|
|
| Total Private Industry plus Government |
|
|
| Average Employment |
13,467 |
13,876 |
| Average Weekly Wage |
$436 |
$584 |
| back to topIncome (2005 - 2007 3-Year Averages, ACS) |
| Per Capita Income |
|
$21,563 |
| Median Family Income |
|
$51,817 |
| Median Household Income |
|
42,306 |
| Median Earnings (Full-Time Year-Round) |
Male |
$39,560 |
|
Female |
$26,886 |
|
|
|
back to topCommuting to Work
(2005 - 2007 3-Year Averages, ACS) |
| Workers, 16 years and over |
15,562 |
| Car, truck or van: drove alone |
12,132 |
| Car, truck or van: carpooled |
1,715 |
| Public transporation (excluding taxi) |
125 |
| Walked |
695 |
| Other means |
401 |
| Worked at home |
494 |
| Percent of working residents |
|
| Working in county of resident |
82.7% |
| Community to some other NH county |
10.9% |
| Commuting out-of-state/country |
6.4% |
| back to topTransportation |
| Road Access |
US Routes: 2, 3, 302 |
| |
State Routes: 16, 26, 110, 110A, 110B, 115, 115A, 116, 135, 142, 145 |
| Nearest Interstates |
I-93, Exits 35 or 36 (Franconia), Exits 40, 41 or 43 (Littleton), I-91, Exit 28 (Derby, Vermont), Aut-55 (Quebec) |
| Nearest Airports wtih Scheduled Service |
Passenger Airlines |
| Lebanon Municipal |
1 |
| Portland (Maine) International |
7 |
| Manchester-Boston Regional |
8 |
back to topEducational Attainment
(2005 - 2007 3-Year Averages, ACS) |
| Population, Age 25 and Over |
24,037 |
| Less than 9th grade |
1,124 |
| 9th to 12th grade, no diploma |
2, 619 |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) |
9,745 |
| Some college, no degree |
4,268 |
| Associate's degree |
2,289 |
| Bachelor's degree |
2,614 |
| Graduate or professional degree |
1,378 |
| Percent high school graduates or higher |
84.4% |
| Percent bachelor's degree or higher |
16.6% |
|
|
| back to topEducational and Child Care Facilities |
| School Districts |
|
| Berlin (Grades K-12) |
Stark (Grades K-6) |
| Colebrook (Grade K-12) |
Stewartstown (Grades K-8) |
| Errol (Grades K-8) |
Stratford (Grades K-12) |
| Gorham (Grades K-12) |
White Mountains Regional |
| Milan (Grades K-6) |
District - Carroll, Dalton, |
| Northumberland (Grades K-12) |
Jefferson, Lancaster, |
| Pittsburg (Grades K-12) |
Whitefield (Grades K-12) |
|
|
| Career Technology Centers |
|
| Berlin High School, Gallen Regional Vocational Center (Littleton), White Mountains Regional High School (Whitefield) |
|
|
| Nearest Community College |
White Mountains, Berlin |
|
|
| Nearest Colleges/Universities |
|
| Granite State College (Berlin or Littleton) |
| Plymouth State University |
| Lyndon State (Vermont) |
| Bishop's University (Quebec) |
|
|
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2008
(NH Bureau of Child Care Licensing) |
| Total Facilities: 22 |
Total Capacity: 1,078 |
|
|
| Hospitals (NH Hospital Assoc.) |
back to topStaffed Beds |
| Androscoggin Valley, Berlin |
25 |
| Littleton Regional, Littleton |
25 |
| Upper Connecticut Valley, Colebrook |
16 |
| Weeks Medical Center, Lancaster |
25 |
|
|
back to topHousing Supply, 2007
(NH Office of Energy & Planning) |
| Total Housing Units |
13,132 |
|
|
| Single-Family Units |
12,166 |
| Residential Permits, Net Change of Units |
84 |
| Multi-Family Units |
5,109 |
| Residential Permits, Net Change of Units |
-29 |
| Manufactured Housing Units |
1,912 |
|
|
| Northern New England Real Estate Network Statistics* |
| YTD 2008 Median Sale Price, Residential |
$100,000 |
| NHHFA Residential Rental Cost Survey** |
| 2008 Median Monthly Gross Rent, 2 Bedroom |
$639 |
back to topProperty Tax Rates, 2007
(NH Dept. of Revenue Admin.) |
| Town |
Total Tax Rate/$1000 |
Equalization Ratio |
Full Value Rate/$1000 |
| Berlin |
$30.07 |
96.7 |
$31.93 |
| Carroll |
$13.62 |
100.0 |
$13.56 |
| Clarksville |
$15.10 |
89.8 |
$12.25 |
| Colebrook |
$21.96 |
87.3 |
$19.61 |
| Columbia |
$15.25 |
109.4 |
$16.28 |
| Dalton |
$25.46 |
55.4 |
$14.65 |
| Dummer |
$15.75 |
95.7 |
$14.05 |
| Errol |
$9.97 |
70.2 |
$6.85 |
| Gorham |
$19.89 |
100.0 |
$20.50 |
| Jefferson |
$16.95 |
100.0 |
$16.79 |
| Lancaster |
$23.17 |
75.5 |
$17.58 |
| Milan |
$17.41 |
85.0 |
$14.95 |
| Northumberland |
$20.30 |
100.0 |
$21.22 |
| Pittsburg |
$13.20 |
96.6 |
$12.48 |
| Randolph |
$16.27 |
88.7 |
$13.98 |
| Shelburne |
$13.30 |
100.0 |
$12.85 |
| Stark |
$15.52 |
91.2 |
$13.64 |
| Stewartstown |
$24.83 |
60.4 |
$16.05 |
| Stratford |
$19.98 |
92.1 |
$19.44 |
| Whitefield |
$21.48 |
86.1 |
$18.68 |
| 2007 Local Assessed Valuation by Property Type, County Totals |
| Residential Land Buildings |
71.8% |
| Commercial Land and Buildings |
15.5% |
| Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other |
12.7% |
*Source: Monthly Statistics Report-December 2008 for New Hampshire. Copyright 2009 Northern New England Real Estate Network, Inc. The reproduction of these statistics is done with the permission of NNEREN. The statistics referenced herein are based solely upon listings submitted to the multiple listing service database of NNEREN and do not include all properties sold and marketed for sale. ALL INFORMATION DEEMED RELIABLE BUT NOT GUARANTEED. Any analysis or commentary related to these statistics is that of the commentator, and not that of NNEREN. www.nneren.com
**Source: 2008 Residential Rental Cost Survey, New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority. Copyright NHHFA 2008. www.nhhfa.org
| back to topFirms and Employment by Sector as a Percentage of the Total |
|
Coös County |
Five County Region |
|
Firms |
Employees |
Firms |
Employees |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting |
2.0% |
1.4% |
1.5% |
0.7% |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction |
0.1% |
0.1% |
0.1% |
0.0% |
| Utilities |
0.5% |
0.2% |
0.4% |
0.3% |
| Construction |
7.2% |
3.7% |
9.3% |
3.9% |
| Manufacturing |
3.0% |
9.0% |
3.3% |
10.1% |
| Wholesale Trde |
4.1% |
3.7% |
3.7% |
2.4% |
| Retail Trade |
16.4% |
14.1% |
16.8% |
13.4% |
| Transportation and Warehousing |
2.7% |
3.0% |
2.2% |
1.4% |
| Information |
2.2% |
0.8% |
2.4% |
1.9% |
| Finance and Insurance |
2.5% |
1.3% |
3.1% |
1.5% |
| Real Estate and Retail and Leasing |
3.0% |
1.0% |
4.3% |
1.8% |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services |
3.9% |
1.0% |
6.5% |
2.4% |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises |
0.1% |
0.7% |
0.0% |
0.2% |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management |
1.6% |
1.1% |
2.5% |
1.5% |
| Educational Services |
3.4% |
7.8% |
2.9% |
8.1% |
| Health Care and Social Assistance |
7.2% |
14.7% |
8.8% |
19.6% |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation |
2.5% |
4.6% |
2.0% |
2.8% |
| Accommodation and Food Service |
12.4% |
22.0% |
10.0% |
16.5% |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) |
13.2% |
3.9% |
11.9% |
6.8% |
| Public Administration |
9.6% |
6.0% |
6.4% |
4.4% |
| Unclassified |
2.5% |
0.1% |
1.9% |
0.3% |
Source: Info USA (as of June 2009) and Place Dynamics
| Contacts |
Address |
ZIP |
Phone/Fax* |
E--Mail/Web |
back to topOffice Hours |
| City of Berlin |
City Hall
168 Main Street
Berlin NH |
03570 |
P: 752-7532
F: 752-8550 |
bcm@ncia.net
www.berlinnh.gov |
M-F 8:30-4:30 |
| Town of Carroll, Selectmen's Office |
PO Box 146
Twin Mountain NH |
03595 |
P: 846-5754
F: 846-5713 |
info@twinmountain.com
www.twinmountain.com |
Selectmen: M-F 8-3
Town Clerk/Tax Collector: M 8:30-3 & 6-8, T-Th 8:30-3 |
| Town of Clarksville |
408 NH Route 145
Clarksville NH |
03592 |
P: 246-7751
F: 246-3480 |
N/A |
Selectmen meet Mondays 6-7
Town Clerk/Tax Collector: M 1-5, T-Th 9-4, W 12:30-60:30, F 9-12 |
| Town of Colebrook |
17 Bridge Street
Colebrook NH |
03576 |
P: 237-4142
F: 237-5069 |
donnacaron@myfairpoint.net
www.colebrook-nh.com |
M-F 8-4 |
| Columbia Board of Selectmen |
PO Box 157
Colebrook NH |
03576 |
P: 237-5255
F: 237-8270 |
towncolumbia@myfairpoint.net |
M & W 10-5, T & F 8-3, closed Th |
| Dalton Board of Selectmen |
756 Dalton Road
Dalton NH |
03598 |
P: 837-2092
F: 837-9642 |
www.townofdalton.com |
Selectmen meet M 5:30, M 11-5:15, T-Th 7-5 |
| Dummer Selectmen's Office |
75 Hill Road
Dummer NH |
03588 |
P: 449-2006
F: 449-3349 |
dummertownoffice@ncia.net |
M 8-2 & 5-9, T-Th 8-11 & 12-2 |
| Town of Errol |
33 Main Street
PO Box 100
Errol NH |
03579 |
P: 482-3351
F: 482-3804 |
errolselectmen@ncia.net |
Selectmen: M-Th 8:30-1:30
Town Clerk/Tax Collector: M 9-11, T 5-7:30, Th 8:30-11 |
| Town of Gorham |
20 Park Street
Gorham NH |
03581 |
P: 466-3322
F: 466-3100 |
info@gorhamnh.org
www.gorhamnh.org |
Selectmen/Town Manager: M-F 8-5
Town Clerk/Tax Collector: M-F 8:30-4:30 |
| Town of Jefferson |
PO Box 81
Jefferson NH |
03583 |
P: 586-4553 |
hjeffersontown@ne.rr.com |
M-Th 8-3, F 8-12 |
| Town of Lancaster |
25 Main Street
Lancaster NH |
03584 |
P: 788-3391
F: 788-2114 |
info@lancasternh.org
www.lancasternh.org |
M-Th 8:30-5, F 8:30-4:30 |
| Milan Board of Selectmen |
PO Box 300
Milan NH |
03588 |
P: 449-2484
F: 449-2142 |
townofmilan@netzero.net
www.thetownofmilan.com |
Selectmen: M 8-3 & 7-8, T-Th 8-3
Town Clerk/Tax Collector: M 9-12, 1-4, & 6-8, T-Th 9-12 & 1-4:30 |
| Town of Northumberland |
3 State Street
Groveton NH |
03582 |
P: 636-1450
F: 636-6098 |
northumberlandaa@yahoo.com |
Selectmen's Office: M-W & F 8-4
Town Clerk/Tax Collector: M F 8:30-4 |
| Town of Pittsburg |
1526 Main Street
Pittsburg NH |
03592 |
P: 538-6697
F: 538-6697 |
www.pittsburg-nh.com |
M-F 8:30-12 & 1-4:30 |
| Town of Randolph |
130 Durand Road |
03593 |
P: 466-5771
F: 466-9856 |
townclerk@randolph.nh.gov
www.randolph.nh.gov |
Selectmen's Secretary: M-F 8:30-12:30
Town Clerk: M 9-11 & W 7-9, Tax Collector: by appointment |
| Town of Shelburne |
74 Village Road
Shelburne NH |
03581 |
P: 466-2262
F: 466-5271 |
shelburn@ncia.net
www.shelburnenh.com |
Open daily by appointment |
| Stark Board of Selectmen |
1189 Stark Highway
Stark NH |
03582 |
P: 636-2118
F: 636-6199 |
starktownof@nhecwb.com |
M-T & Th 8-4, W & F 8-12 |
| Town of Stewartstown |
PO Box 119
W. Stewartstown NH |
03597 |
P: 246-3329
F: 246-3329 |
N/A |
Selectmen meeting M 4-5
Town Clerk/Tax Collector: M 9-4, T 9-2, W-F 9-4 |
| Town of Stratford |
10 Common Road
PO Box 366
N Stratford NH |
03590 |
P: 922-5533 |
stratfrd@ncia.net
www.town.stratford.nh.us |
Selectmen: M-Th 9-12 & 1-4
Town Clerk/Tax Collector: M & W 4-7, 1st Sat. each month 8-12 |
| Town of Whitefield |
38 King Square
Whitefield NH |
03598 |
P: 837-2551
F: 837-3148 |
townofwhitefield@ne.rr.com
www.whitefieldnh.org |
M & W-F 9-4, T 9-6 |
*all area codes are (603)
|
