Sullivan County, New Hampshire Eviction Risk: Moderate

Sullivan County carries an Elevated eviction-risk average of 4/10, placing it at the top of the New Hampshire risk table, rank 1 of 10 counties statewide. No other county in the state scores higher, and 9 of the 10 score lower. For landlords evaluating the market, that figure signals operating conditions where above-average tenant financial stress, rent burden, and potential for non-payment disputes combine to raise exposure across the county's 4 cities.

Risk does not sit flat across the county. City scores span from a low of 5.3/10 in Plainfield up to 3.5/10 in Claremont, a spread that matters when comparing a small rural parcel against a multi-unit building in the county seat. Renters make up roughly 40.7% of households countywide and pay an average of $1,208 per month, with an average rent burden of 33.2% of income, leaving limited cushion when income disruptions occur.

The cities inside Sullivan County

Claremont is the county's largest city with a population of 13,078 and its highest risk score of 4/10, matching the county average. A concentrated renter base in a single urban center gives landlords the densest exposure in Sullivan County. Newport, with 4,758 residents, and Charlestown, with 659 residents, both score 3.9/10, only a fraction behind Claremont and still comfortably in Elevated territory. The variation here is modest but real: each city carries distinct tenant demographics, local court dockets, and neighborhood-level vacancy dynamics that aggregate scores cannot fully capture.

Plainfield, the county's smallest tracked city at 220 residents, scores 5.3/10, a meaningful step below the others. Investors who concentrate in Plainfield will encounter a materially different risk profile than those operating in Claremont or Newport. The intra-county gap underscores why a county average is a starting point, not a verdict: hyperlocal due diligence on each city remains essential before committing capital.

State-level laws that apply here

Under New Hampshire state law, specifically RSA Section 540 (Actions Against Tenants), landlords must serve a 7-day notice for non-payment of rent before filing. Lease violations and end-of-term no-cause terminations each require a 30-day notice. Once filed, uncontested cases typically resolve in 30 to 50 days; contested matters can run 60 to 120 days. Court filing fees range from $130 to $195, sheriff lockout fees add another $30 to $125, and attorney fees commonly run $500 to $2,500 depending on case complexity. Understanding the full New Hampshire eviction process, from notice through writ of possession, is critical to projecting true holding costs during a dispute.

New Hampshire does not require just cause for termination, and there is no active rent-control statute or local preemption framework in the state. Source-of-income protections are recognized under state law, which expands the protected-class landscape landlords must navigate when screening. For a detailed breakdown of what these cases cost in practice, the New Hampshire eviction costs guide provides fee tables and realistic timelines worth reviewing before underwriting a deal in Sullivan County.

With a countywide poverty rate of 15% and renters representing 40.7% of households, the financial fragility driving Sullivan County's elevated score is real and measurable; the city grid above breaks down how that risk concentrates or eases across Claremont, Newport, Charlestown, and Plainfield.