Research » Legal Deserts » New Hampshire

New Hampshire Legal Deserts: Law Offices by County

Every one of New Hampshire’s 10 counties has at least three law offices with paid employees, according to 2023 Census data. Nationally, 27% of counties have fewer than three.

Part of Lawbamba’s national legal deserts study, based on U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns.

0 of 10counties with fewer than 3 law offices
#50among the 50 states and D.C. by number of desert counties
3.8law offices per 10,000 residents (U.S.: 4.9)
−23%change in law offices, 2013–2023
Map of New Hampshire counties shaded by number of law offices with paid employees in 2023; red areas have fewer than 3.
Law offices with paid employees, 2023: ■ fewer than 3 ■ 3–9 ■ 10–49 ■ 50 or more

What stands out in New Hampshire

  • Statewide, law offices fell 23% between 2013 and 2023 (counting areas with three or more).

Law offices in every New Hampshire county

Sorted from fewest law offices to most. “Fewer than 3” means Census reports 0, 1 or 2. 2013 uses the same cutoff.

AreaLaw offices 20232013PopulationResidents per officeSelf-employed legal businesses
Coos County 5 10 31,209 6,242 8
Sullivan County 9 9 44,006 4,890 25
Carroll County 18 29 52,373 2,910 34
Cheshire County 21 24 77,632 3,697 32
Belknap County 23 32 65,019 2,827 50
Strafford County 28 45 133,608 4,772 56
Grafton County 34 47 92,909 2,733 82
Merrimack County 84 103 157,059 1,870 147
Rockingham County 114 150 320,665 2,813 268
Hillsborough County 194 241 427,719 2,205 271

Need a lawyer in New Hampshire?

Lawyers licensed in New Hampshire can usually take cases anywhere in the state, and many offer phone or video consultations. Browse New Hampshire lawyers on Lawbamba.

About this data

Law offices are establishments in NAICS 541110 (Offices of Lawyers) with at least one paid employee, from the U.S. Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns. Solo lawyers with no staff and government lawyers are not counted. Self-employed legal businesses come from Census Nonemployer Statistics (NAICS 5411) and also include paralegal, notary and title services. Population is the July 1, 2023 Census estimate. See the full methodology or download the data for every county (CSV). Free to reuse with credit to Lawbamba and a link to this page.