Coos County, New Hampshire Eviction Risk: Moderate

Coos County, New Hampshire eviction laws carries an average eviction-risk score of 4/10, placing it in the Elevated tier and squarely in the middle third of the state's 10 counties. Four New Hampshire counties score higher, and five score lower, so landlords here face conditions that are neither the state's most forgiving nor its most challenging. Across the county's 7 cities, scores range from 3.8 to 4.2, a tight band that nonetheless signals real differences in tenant-payment stability and local economic stress depending on where exactly you hold units.

The broader operating picture adds texture to that number. Average rent sits at $877, and the average rent-burden rate of 28.6% means a meaningful portion of renters are spending close to the conventional affordability threshold. With a 37.3% renter share across the county and a poverty rate of 14.7%, landlords should build underwriting assumptions around a tenant base that has limited financial cushion, which translates directly to higher-than-average collection risk during economic downturns.

The cities inside Coos County

Risk in Coos County is genuinely hyper-local. The highest-scoring cities, Whitefield, West Stewartstown, and Groveton, each land at 4.2/10, the top of the county range. Whitefield (population 1,512) and Colebrook (population 1,268) are small markets where a single building's vacancy or a spike in nonpayment notices can move the needle quickly. Groveton (population 834) is even smaller, and thin rental markets there offer landlords little pricing power if they need to re-lease quickly after an eviction.

The county seat, Berlin, scores 4.1/10 with a population of 9,383, making it both the largest rental market in the county and one of its higher-risk cities. Lancaster (population 2,230) also scores 4/10. Gorham (population 2,092) comes in at 3.8/10, a modest step down in risk. West Stewartstown, the county's smallest city at 312 residents, posts the lowest score at 5.5/10, though its extremely thin rental inventory means individual lease outcomes swing results dramatically.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord operating in Coos County works under New Hampshire eviction laws state law, specifically RSA § 540 (Actions Against Tenants). For nonpayment of rent, the required notice period is 7 days. Lease violations and end-of-term no-cause terminations both require a 30-day notice. Once in court, an uncontested case typically resolves in 30 to 50 days; a contested matter stretches to 60 to 120 days. Court filing fees run $130 to $195, sheriff lockout fees add $30 to $125, and attorney fees range from $500 to $2,500 depending on complexity. Landlords budgeting a contested eviction should account for the full $130 to $195 filing, $30 to $125 sheriff, and $500 to $2,500 attorney range as separate line items. For a fuller breakdown, the New Hampshire eviction laws eviction process guide and New Hampshire eviction costs guide cover each step in detail.

New Hampshire eviction laws does not require just cause for eviction, and no rent-control cap formula applies statewide. Source-of-income status is a protected class under state law, enforced by the New Hampshire eviction laws Commission for Human Rights, so landlords screening tenants who use housing vouchers should be aware of that exposure. No entry-notice requirement is specified under state statute.

With a county-wide poverty rate of 14.7% and a 37.3% renter share, financial stress is a baseline condition for much of the tenant pool here; use the city grid above to compare scores across all 7 cities before committing capital to any specific Coos County submarket.