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New Hampshire County Map with Cities and Towns [NH, US]

    New Hampshire County Map with Cities and Towns [NH, US]

    ✅New Hampshire County Map

    New Hampshire County Map
    CountyCounty seat(s)Region in NHMajor cities & townsWhat the county is known for
    Belknap CountyLaconiaLakes Region / CentralLaconia, Gilford, Meredith, Belmont, AltonLake Winnipesaukee shoreline, summer tourism, boating, Bike Week, ski areas.
    Carroll CountyOssipeeWhite Mountains & Lakes / EastConway, North Conway, Wolfeboro, Moultonborough, TamworthScenic mountain valleys, resort towns, access to the White Mountain National Forest.
    Cheshire CountyKeeneMonadnock Region / SouthwestKeene, Jaffrey, Swanzey, RindgeClassic New England downtowns, Mount Monadnock hiking, small college towns.
    Coös CountyLancasterNorth CountryBerlin, Lancaster, Gorham, Colebrook, PittsburgRemote forests, Canadian border, outdoor recreation, scenic byways.
    Grafton CountyHaverhillUpper Valley & White MountainsLebanon, Hanover, Plymouth, Littleton, LincolnCollege towns, ski areas, segments of the Appalachian Trail, Connecticut River valley.
    Hillsborough CountyManchester & NashuaSouthern / Merrimack ValleyManchester, Nashua, Merrimack, Bedford, Goffstown, AmherstMost populous county, urban centers, jobs hub, major shopping and services.
    Merrimack CountyConcordCentral / Capital RegionConcord, Franklin, Hooksett, Bow, New LondonState capital, central location, mix of small cities, villages and lakes.
    Rockingham CountyBrentwoodSeacoast & Southern BorderDerry, Portsmouth, Salem, Londonderry, Exeter, HamptonNH’s seacoast, historic ports, Boston commuter towns, busy retail corridors.
    Strafford CountyDoverEastern / Seacoast HinterlandDover, Rochester, Somersworth, DurhamThree small cities, University of New Hampshire, riverside mill towns.
    Sullivan CountyNewportWest Central / Lake SunapeeClaremont, Newport, Sunapee, CharlestownLake Sunapee region, historic mill towns, rural valleys along the Connecticut River.

    New Hampshire County Map with Cities and Towns [NH, US]

    New Hampshire may look small on the map, but its 10 counties pack in a surprising mix of oceanside villages, college towns, mill cities and quiet forest roads. A county map is your shortcut to understanding where every city and town fits inside the Granite State.

    Trying to figure out wich county your favorite NH town belongs to? Or planning a road trip from the Seacoast to the White Mountains? This guide walks you through the map, county by county, with the places you’ll actually see on road signs.

    Think of the New Hampshire county map as the state’s “backstage pass” – once you know the counties, the cities and towns suddenly make sense.

    Travel & map nerds everywhere

    Quick facts about New Hampshire

    • Region: New England, northeastern United States
    • Nickname: “The Granite State”
    • Counties: 10, from coastal Rockingham to northern Coös
    • Largest cities: Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Derry, Dover
    • Landscape: Atlantic coastline, mountains, lakes, river valleys

    How the county map helps you

    • Locate any NH town quickly by first finding its county.
    • Understand which cities act as regional hubs for jobs, shopping and hospitals.
    • Compare rural vs. urban areas at a glance.
    • Plan scenic drives across regions (Lakes, North Country, Seacoast, etc.).
    • Make sense of data maps that are drawn by county (population, elections, weather impacts).

    How New Hampshire’s Counties Fit Together on the Map

    On a state map, New Hampshire is tall and narrow. The counties stack up from south to north, and they change character as you go.

    Southern counties like Hillsborough and Rockingham hold most of the population and the two biggest cities, Manchester and Nashua. These counties sit close to Massachusetts, so you see lots of commuters, malls and busy highways.

    Move into the central belt – Merrimack and Belknap – and life slows a bit. Concord, the state capital, anchors Merrimack County, while Belknap hugs Lake Winnipesaukee and other deep-blue lakes.

    To the east, Strafford and Rockingham link the Seacoast with small cities like Dover, Rochester and Portsmouth. To the west, Cheshire and Sullivan stretch toward Vermont with mill towns, covered bridges and farm valleys.

    Finally, the northern pair – Grafton and Coös – climb into the White Mountains and up to the Canadian border. On the map these counties are much larger in area, but their cities and towns are scattered and small.

    County-by-County Guide to New Hampshire

    Belknap County – Lakes, Resorts and Ridge Views

    Belknap County sits in the heart of the Lakes Region. Its seat, Laconia, lies between Lake Winnipesaukee and Lake Winnisquam, with marinas, bike shops and old mill buildings turned into housing and offices.

    • Key towns on the map: Laconia, Gilford, Meredith, Belmont, Alton.
    • What you’ll notice: Shoreline roads, campgrounds, ski resort at Gunstock, crowds in summer.
    • Map tip: When you see small peninsulas and islands in the middle of Winnipesaukee, you’re still inside Belknap on many of them.

    Carroll County – Gateway to the White Mountains

    On the eastern side of the state, Carroll County covers many classic vacation spots: North Conway for outlets and ski slopes, Wolfeboro for lakefront strolls, and winding roads past trailheads and waterfalls.

    • County seat: Ossipee, a small town tucked between lakes and low mountains.
    • Popular towns on maps: Conway, North Conway, Wolfeboro, Moultonborough, Jackson.
    • Map tip: Look for Route 16 and Route 302; together they trace many of the busiest valleys in Carroll County.

    Cheshire County – Monadnock and Mill Town Streets

    Down in the southwest corner, Cheshire County is centered on the small city of Keene, with its brick downtown and college campus. To the east rises Mount Monadnock, a standout peak you’ll see labeled on most detailed maps.

    • Key communities: Keene, Jaffrey, Rindge, Swanzey, Winchester.
    • Landscape on the map: Rolling hills, short but steep mountains, many state forests.
    • Good for: Day hikes, small-town events, drives into neighboring Vermont and Massachusetts.

    Coös County – North Country and the Canadian Border

    Coös County (often written as “Coos”) is the largest by area and the least populated. On a county map it fills the entire upper half of the state, stretching from the White Mountains to the border with Quebec.

    • Main towns: Berlin, Lancaster, Gorham, Colebrook, Pittsburg.
    • What stands out: Long distances between settlements, vast forests, big rivers like the Androscoggin and Connecticut.
    • Map tip: Many tiny places here are unincorporated; they may appear as villages, not separate towns, even though they feel like little communities when you drive through.

    Grafton County – Colleges, Rivers and Mountain Passes

    Grafton County stretches across west-central New Hampshire. On maps you’ll spot Lebanon and Hanover on the Connecticut River, home to major hospitals and Dartmouth College, and Plymouth in the foothills farther south.

    • County seat: Haverhill (often labeled as North Haverhill on modern maps).
    • Hotspots: Hanover, Lebanon, Plymouth, Littleton, Lincoln, Franconia Notch.
    • Map tip: Interstates 89 and 93, along with the Connecticut River, are the main “backbones” running through this county.

    Hillsborough County – Manchester, Nashua and Suburban Towns

    Hillsborough County is the most populous county in New Hampshire and contains the two largest cities: Manchester and Nashua. Many travelers first meet the state here, driving up from Boston on Interstate 93 or Route 3.

    • County seats: Manchester and Nashua (a rare case of two seats).
    • Other notable towns: Merrimack, Bedford, Goffstown, Milford, Amherst, Peterborough.
    • Map tip: Expect dense road networks and more city names packed into small map panels compared to northern counties.

    Merrimack County – Capital Region Center Stage

    In the middle of the state, Merrimack County is home to Concord, the capital of New Hampshire. Highways and rivers converge here, which is exactly what you notice on any good county map.

    • Major communities: Concord, Franklin, Hooksett, Bow, Warner, New London.
    • Character: Mix of small city streets, suburban neighborhoods and rural lake towns.
    • Map tip: Look for the Merrimack River curving through the county; many towns line up along its banks.

    Rockingham County – Seacoast, Ports and Border Towns

    Rockingham County hugs the Atlantic Ocean and the Massachusetts border. It’s dotted with small beaches, historic port cities and busy shopping areas.

    • County seat: Brentwood, inland between the coast and the Merrimack Valley.
    • Key cities and towns: Portsmouth, Derry, Salem, Londonderry, Exeter, Hampton, Windham.
    • Map tip: Pay attention to the coastline: a short stretch of towns (Seabrook, Hampton, Rye) sits entirely within Rockingham County.

    Strafford County – Tri-City Cluster and Campus Life

    Strafford County packs three small cities – Dover, Rochester and Somersworth – into a compact area along the Maine border. South of Dover you’ll see Durham, home to the University of New Hampshire.

    • County seat: Dover, one of the oldest permanent settlements in New Hampshire.
    • Other towns: Durham, Lee, Madbury, Farmington, Barrington, Milton.
    • Map tip: Watch for the Salmon Falls River and the Piscataqua system – they form much of the boundary between Strafford County and Maine.

    Sullivan County – Lake Sunapee and Quiet Valleys

    West-central Sullivan County runs along part of the Connecticut River and includes the Lake Sunapee vacation area. Compared with the southern counties, town names are more spread out on the map here.

    • County seat: Newport, a small town on the Sugar River.
    • Other communities: Claremont, Sunapee, Charlestown, Grantham.
    • Map tip: Some visitors mix up Sullivan with neighboring Cheshire or Grafton; checking the county boundary lines near the river clears that up fast.

    Using a New Hampshire County Map with Cities and Towns

    A county map that also shows cities and towns is one of the most useful map layers you can have for New Hampshire. It helps in daily life, not just in geography class.

    • Trip planning: Pick a base town in each county (Portsmouth in Rockingham, Conway in Carroll, Laconia in Belknap) and build scenic loops from there.
    • Moving or relocating: Compare counties for commute options, nearby hospitals, colleges and recreation.
    • Business and logistics: See which customer addresses fall into which county for service areas or tax questions.
    • Weather and emergency info: Storm warnings, snow totals and river flood alerts are often announced by county name.
    • History and genealogy: Knowing the county is essential when you search courthouse, land or census records.

    Map reading tips

    • Zoom in until you can read both the county name and each town label.
    • Use rivers, interstate highways and big lakes as natural “anchors” to orient yourself.
    • Check the map legend to see how county seats are symbolized (stars, circles, bold type, etc.).

    Questions to ask as you look

    • Which counties have the most town names packed into a small area?
    • Where does the map show long stretches of forest or mountains with few labels?
    • How do the southern commuter towns differ from the northern villages in size and spacing?

    Short FAQ about New Hampshire Counties

    • How many counties does New Hampshire have?
      New Hampshire has 10 counties, from Rockingham on the Atlantic coast to Coös on the Canadian border.
    • Which county has the largest population?
      Hillsborough County is the most populous, thanks to Manchester and Nashua.
    • Which county covers the most land area?
      Coös County is the biggest by area and the most rural, with large sections of forest and mountains.
    • Where is the state capital on the map?
      Concord, the capital city, sits in Merrimack County, more or less in the center of the state.
    • How do I quickly find a town’s county?
      Look up the town in the map’s index or search box, then zoom out slightly until the county boundary and label become visible.

    References