NextChapter

Counties with the lowest unemployment in the Northeast

Sullivan County has the lowest unemployment rate in the Northeast among large counties: 1.5%, against 3.5% 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%
  • 100 counties ranked in the Northeast
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 3.5% 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

    Mifflin County PA

    2.4%

    A year ago
    3.7%
    People in the labor force
    24,037
    Population
    46,074

    Based on 24,037 people in the labor force.

    Mifflin County job market

  16. 16

    Lancaster County PA

    2.5%

    A year ago
    3.5%
    People in the labor force
    297,770
    Population
    555,151

    Based on 297,770 people in the labor force.

    Lancaster County job market

  17. 17

    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

  18. 18

    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

  19. 19

    Chester County PA

    2.6%

    A year ago
    3.4%
    People in the labor force
    307,859
    Population
    540,896

    Based on 307,859 people in the labor force.

    Chester County job market

  20. 20

    Cumberland County PA

    2.6%

    A year ago
    3.6%
    People in the labor force
    142,162
    Population
    264,422

    Based on 142,162 people in the labor force.

    Cumberland County job market

  21. 21

    Centre County PA

    2.6%

    A year ago
    3.4%
    People in the labor force
    78,787
    Population
    158,041

    Based on 78,787 people in the labor force.

    Centre County job market

  22. 22

    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

  23. 23

    Montgomery County PA

    2.7%

    A year ago
    3.7%
    People in the labor force
    482,355
    Population
    861,225

    Based on 482,355 people in the labor force.

    Montgomery County job market

  24. 24

    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

  25. 25

    Butler County PA

    2.7%

    A year ago
    3.6%
    People in the labor force
    101,300
    Population
    195,870

    Based on 101,300 people in the labor force.

    Butler County job market

Full ranking

All 100 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
15Mifflin County PA2.4%24,037
16Lancaster County PA2.5%297,770
17Kent County RI2.5%94,170
18Washington County VT2.5%31,485
19Chester County PA2.6%307,859
20Cumberland County PA2.6%142,162
21Centre County PA2.6%78,787
22Windsor County VT2.6%28,481
23Montgomery County PA2.7%482,355
24Cumberland County ME2.7%178,277
25Butler County PA2.7%101,300
26Adams County PA2.7%51,927
27Perry County PA2.7%23,444
28Bedford County PA2.7%23,144
29York County ME2.8%119,821
30Franklin County PA2.8%79,406
31Lebanon County PA2.8%75,238
32Hancock County ME2.8%29,764
33Franklin County VT2.8%25,954
34Windham County VT2.8%22,905
35Bucks County PA2.9%354,013
36Westmoreland County PA2.9%175,059
37Blair County PA2.9%57,451
38Crawford County PA2.9%37,094
39Somerset County PA2.9%32,232
40Rutland County VT2.9%28,528
41Bradford County PA2.9%26,546
42Allegheny County PA3.0%651,551
43York County PA3.0%241,936
44Washington County PA3.0%105,259
45Clearfield County PA3.0%35,158
46Wayne County PA3.0%22,371
47Lycoming County PA3.1%52,951
48Northumberland County PA3.1%44,046
49Indiana County PA3.1%36,424
50Armstrong County PA3.1%30,054
51Dauphin County PA3.2%150,236
52Saratoga County NY3.2%128,127
53Erie County PA3.2%127,408
54Kennebec County ME3.2%61,561
55Lawrence County PA3.2%39,021
56Venango County PA3.2%20,355
57Providence County RI3.3%350,743
58Delaware County PA3.3%310,040
59Northampton County PA3.3%171,493
60Beaver County PA3.3%82,812
61Hunterdon County NJ3.3%68,579
62Androscoggin County ME3.3%55,605
63Mercer County PA3.3%46,061
64Columbia County NY3.3%30,937
65Genesee County NY3.3%30,881
66Washington County NY3.3%28,878
67Chenango County NY3.3%22,193
68Berks County PA3.4%222,340
69Lackawanna County PA3.4%105,925
70Penobscot County ME3.4%74,881
71Cambria County PA3.4%55,495
72Putnam County NY3.4%54,341
73Wayne County NY3.4%46,006
74Carbon County PA3.4%33,161
75Bergen County NJ3.5%540,988
76Morris County NJ3.5%276,643
77Lehigh County PA3.5%202,076
78Warren County NY3.5%32,009
79Columbia County PA3.5%31,738
80Ontario County NY3.6%56,225
81Cayuga County NY3.6%36,913
82Tioga County NY3.6%22,411
83Nassau County NY3.7%718,633
84Monmouth County NJ3.7%336,779
85Somerset County NJ3.7%195,616
86Rockland County NY3.7%165,003
87Dutchess County NY3.7%155,583
88Sussex County NJ3.7%79,575
89Fayette County PA3.7%53,754
90Pike County PA3.7%29,091
91Oxford County ME3.7%25,630
92Middlesex County MA3.8%932,913
93Suffolk County NY3.8%811,740
94Westchester County NY3.8%541,409
95Hudson County NJ3.8%427,066
96Burlington County NJ3.8%252,531
97Barnstable County MA3.8%123,123
98Ulster County NY3.8%90,042
99Hampshire County MA3.8%84,724
100Rensselaer County NY3.8%82,747

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 the northeast?
Sullivan County has the lowest unemployment rate in the Northeast among large counties: 1.5%, against 3.5% for the typical large county.
How many counties are ranked?
100 counties have at least 20,000 people in the labor force, so the list has 100 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 the Northeast,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-lowest-unemployment-in-the-northeast

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

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

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