NextChapter

Counties with the lowest unemployment in New England

Sullivan County has the lowest unemployment rate in New England among large counties: 1.5%, against 3.0% for the typical large county.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from public Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census data.

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Key facts

  • #1 Sullivan County, NH: 1.5%
  • #2 Grafton County, NH: 1.6%
  • #3 Merrimack County, NH: 1.7%
  • 42 counties ranked in New England
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 3.0% across the typical large county.

  1. 1Sullivan County NH1.5%
  2. 2Grafton County NH1.6%
  3. 3Merrimack County NH1.7%
  4. 4Strafford County NH1.7%
  5. 5Belknap County NH1.7%
  6. 6Carroll County NH1.7%
  7. 7Cheshire County NH1.9%
  8. 8Rockingham County NH2.1%
  9. 9Hillsborough County NH2.2%
  10. 10Chittenden County VT2.2%

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: Sullivan County leads on 1.5%, and #10 Chittenden County is at 2.2%.
  • Sullivan County reaches #1 on a sample of 21,939 people in the labor force, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • Hillsborough County is the largest market in the top ten, with 238,420 people in the labor force behind its figure.
  • Counties with fewer than 20,000 people in the labor force are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

The unemployment rate shows how much slack a county's labor market has. A low rate means employers are competing for the people who are available.

How to use it

If you are looking for work, a low-rate county is a sign that employers there are hiring. Check the county page for its largest employers and recent layoffs.

The top 25

  1. 1

    Sullivan County NH

    1.5%

    A year ago
    2.7%
    People in the labor force
    21,939
    Population
    43,529

    Based on 21,939 people in the labor force.

    Sullivan County job market

  2. 2

    Grafton County NH

    1.6%

    A year ago
    2.8%
    People in the labor force
    49,742
    Population
    91,759

    Based on 49,742 people in the labor force.

    Grafton County job market

  3. 3

    Merrimack County NH

    1.7%

    A year ago
    2.9%
    People in the labor force
    82,494
    Population
    155,018

    Based on 82,494 people in the labor force.

    Merrimack County job market

  4. 4

    Strafford County NH

    1.7%

    A year ago
    2.9%
    People in the labor force
    77,884
    Population
    131,743

    Based on 77,884 people in the labor force.

    Strafford County job market

  5. 5

    Belknap County NH

    1.7%

    A year ago
    2.8%
    People in the labor force
    33,358
    Population
    64,300

    Based on 33,358 people in the labor force.

    Belknap County job market

  6. 6

    Carroll County NH

    1.7%

    A year ago
    2.9%
    People in the labor force
    26,290
    Population
    51,259

    Based on 26,290 people in the labor force.

    Carroll County job market

  7. 7

    Cheshire County NH

    1.9%

    A year ago
    3.1%
    People in the labor force
    40,060
    Population
    76,945

    Based on 40,060 people in the labor force.

    Cheshire County job market

  8. 8

    Rockingham County NH

    2.1%

    A year ago
    3.2%
    People in the labor force
    187,440
    Population
    317,163

    Based on 187,440 people in the labor force.

    Rockingham County job market

  9. 9

    Hillsborough County NH

    2.2%

    A year ago
    3.3%
    People in the labor force
    238,420
    Population
    424,732

    Based on 238,420 people in the labor force.

    Hillsborough County job market

  10. 10

    Chittenden County VT

    2.2%

    A year ago
    2.3%
    People in the labor force
    96,362
    Population
    168,831

    Based on 96,362 people in the labor force.

    Chittenden County job market

  11. 11

    Washington County RI

    2.2%

    A year ago
    2.8%
    People in the labor force
    68,079
    Population
    130,073

    Based on 68,079 people in the labor force.

    Washington County job market

  12. 12

    Newport County RI

    2.3%

    A year ago
    3.0%
    People in the labor force
    41,772
    Population
    85,095

    Based on 41,772 people in the labor force.

    Newport County job market

  13. 13

    Addison County VT

    2.3%

    A year ago
    2.3%
    People in the labor force
    20,527
    Population
    37,497

    Based on 20,527 people in the labor force.

    Addison County job market

  14. 14

    Bristol County RI

    2.4%

    A year ago
    2.9%
    People in the labor force
    26,320
    Population
    50,568

    Based on 26,320 people in the labor force.

    Bristol County job market

  15. 15

    Kent County RI

    2.5%

    A year ago
    3.4%
    People in the labor force
    94,170
    Population
    170,658

    Based on 94,170 people in the labor force.

    Kent County job market

  16. 16

    Washington County VT

    2.5%

    A year ago
    2.4%
    People in the labor force
    31,485
    Population
    59,958

    Based on 31,485 people in the labor force.

    Washington County job market

  17. 17

    Windsor County VT

    2.6%

    A year ago
    2.5%
    People in the labor force
    28,481
    Population
    57,968

    Based on 28,481 people in the labor force.

    Windsor County job market

  18. 18

    Cumberland County ME

    2.7%

    A year ago
    2.6%
    People in the labor force
    178,277
    Population
    305,940

    Based on 178,277 people in the labor force.

    Cumberland County job market

  19. 19

    York County ME

    2.8%

    A year ago
    2.7%
    People in the labor force
    119,821
    Population
    214,731

    Based on 119,821 people in the labor force.

    York County job market

  20. 20

    Hancock County ME

    2.8%

    A year ago
    2.6%
    People in the labor force
    29,764
    Population
    56,084

    Based on 29,764 people in the labor force.

    Hancock County job market

  21. 21

    Franklin County VT

    2.8%

    A year ago
    2.5%
    People in the labor force
    25,954
    Population
    50,379

    Based on 25,954 people in the labor force.

    Franklin County job market

  22. 22

    Windham County VT

    2.8%

    A year ago
    2.8%
    People in the labor force
    22,905
    Population
    45,913

    Based on 22,905 people in the labor force.

    Windham County job market

  23. 23

    Rutland County VT

    2.9%

    A year ago
    2.8%
    People in the labor force
    28,528
    Population
    60,484

    Based on 28,528 people in the labor force.

    Rutland County job market

  24. 24

    Kennebec County ME

    3.2%

    A year ago
    3.0%
    People in the labor force
    61,561
    Population
    125,614

    Based on 61,561 people in the labor force.

    Kennebec County job market

  25. 25

    Providence County RI

    3.3%

    A year ago
    4.2%
    People in the labor force
    350,743
    Population
    658,977

    Based on 350,743 people in the labor force.

    Providence County job market

Full ranking

All 42 counties that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCountyScoreSample
1Sullivan County NH1.5%21,939
2Grafton County NH1.6%49,742
3Merrimack County NH1.7%82,494
4Strafford County NH1.7%77,884
5Belknap County NH1.7%33,358
6Carroll County NH1.7%26,290
7Cheshire County NH1.9%40,060
8Rockingham County NH2.1%187,440
9Hillsborough County NH2.2%238,420
10Chittenden County VT2.2%96,362
11Washington County RI2.2%68,079
12Newport County RI2.3%41,772
13Addison County VT2.3%20,527
14Bristol County RI2.4%26,320
15Kent County RI2.5%94,170
16Washington County VT2.5%31,485
17Windsor County VT2.6%28,481
18Cumberland County ME2.7%178,277
19York County ME2.8%119,821
20Hancock County ME2.8%29,764
21Franklin County VT2.8%25,954
22Windham County VT2.8%22,905
23Rutland County VT2.9%28,528
24Kennebec County ME3.2%61,561
25Providence County RI3.3%350,743
26Androscoggin County ME3.3%55,605
27Penobscot County ME3.4%74,881
28Oxford County ME3.7%25,630
29Middlesex County MA3.8%932,913
30Barnstable County MA3.8%123,123
31Hampshire County MA3.8%84,724
32Franklin County MA3.8%36,087
33Norfolk County MA3.9%415,556
34Berkshire County MA3.9%64,387
35Aroostook County ME4.0%27,119
36Somerset County ME4.1%21,869
37Worcester County MA4.2%470,233
38Suffolk County MA4.2%465,838
39Plymouth County MA4.2%292,998
40Essex County MA4.3%439,969
41Bristol County MA4.5%313,254
42Hampden County MA5.3%225,875

How this ranking works

A county's score is its unemployment rate, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted. The lowest rate ranks first.

Only counties with at least 20,000 people in the labor force are ranked, so small counties do not swing the list. Local rates are estimates and move from month to month.

Sample bar: counties with fewer than 20,000 people in the labor force are not ranked.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (not seasonally adjusted). Data as of November 2026.

Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.

Questions

Which county ranks first: counties with the lowest unemployment in new england?
Sullivan County has the lowest unemployment rate in New England among large counties: 1.5%, against 3.0% for the typical large county.
How many counties are ranked?
42 counties have at least 20,000 people in the labor force, so the list has 42 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
A county's score is its unemployment rate, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted. The lowest rate ranks first. Only counties with at least 20,000 people in the labor force are ranked, so small counties do not swing the list. Local rates are estimates and move from month to month.
How often is it updated?
Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.

More rankings

Cite this ranking

NextChapter, “Counties with the lowest unemployment in New England,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-lowest-unemployment-in-new-england

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-lowest-unemployment-in-new-england">Counties with the lowest unemployment in New England (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.

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