Grafton County, New Hampshire Eviction Risk: Moderate

Grafton County carries an average eviction-risk score of 4.1/10, placing it in the Moderate tier across its 15 cities and towns. Within New Hampshire, that ranking actually skews favorable: at rank 7 of 10 counties, only 3 counties in the state present lower risk, meaning the large majority of the state reads as more challenging for landlords than Grafton County does. For investors sizing up the region, the county sits in the lower-risk third of New Hampshire, not the middle of a troubled field.

The county's intra-market spread is narrow, running from 3.6 to 4.5 out of 10, which tells a practical story: operating conditions are broadly consistent here, without the dramatic hot-spots or safe-haven pockets that force landlords to cherry-pick street by street. Average rent of $1,569 per month and an average rent-burden rate of 30.1% suggest tenants are reasonably stretched but not in chronic distress, and a renter share of 44.9% across the county averages a meaningful rental market exists to support investment at scale.

The cities inside Grafton County

At the higher end of local risk, Plymouth (population 4,969), Littleton (population 4,114), and Woodsville all post scores of 4.1/10. Canaan also sits at 3.9/10. These communities have somewhat tighter tenant demographics or local economic pressure, and landlords operating there should price that risk into their underwriting. Lebanon, the county's largest city at 14,999 residents, and Bristol both score 4.1/10, essentially at the county average.

The lowest-risk markets in the county cluster around Hanover (population 8,479, score 4.5/10), Enfield (3.7/10), and Ashland (4/10). Hanover eviction risk in particular benefits from a stable institutional population anchored by Dartmouth College, which tends to keep vacancy cycles shorter and tenant quality higher. The half-point gap between the county's floor and ceiling is small enough that no single city here warrants a blanket avoid, but the 0.4-point advantage in lower-risk cities is real and worth factoring into site selection.

State-level laws that apply here

Under New Hampshire state law, specifically RSA § 540 (Actions Against Tenants), landlords must serve a 7-day notice for non-payment of rent before filing. Lease violations and no-cause terminations both require 30 days written notice. New Hampshire does not require just cause to end a tenancy, which gives landlords meaningful flexibility to exit problem leases. There is no state rent-control statute and no preemption rule limiting local ordinances, though no Grafton County municipality currently imposes rent control. Reviewing the full New Hampshire eviction process before your first filing is advisable, because court timelines vary: uncontested cases typically resolve in 30 to 50 days, while contested matters can run 60 to 120 days.

On cost, court filing fees run $130 to $195, sheriff or lockout fees add $30 to $125, and attorney fees range from $500 to $2,500 depending on case complexity. Understanding New Hampshire eviction costs up front helps landlords model the true downside of a bad tenancy rather than being surprised mid-process. Source-of-income protection is active under state law, so screening policies should be reviewed against current New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights guidance.

With an average poverty rate of 12.5% and renters making up 44.9% of households across Grafton County, the risk profile is real but manageable; review the city-by-city grid above to pinpoint where within the county your portfolio risk actually lands.