While the U.S. is one of the most educated countries in the world, it doesn’t provide the same quality elementary school or secondary school education to all students. In many states, more affluent school districts receive a greater amount of funding per student than poorer districts, with one estimate claiming that low-income districts are underfunded by around $6,700 per pupil.
Discrepancies between the rich and poor have been exacerbated even more due to the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Low-income students have suffered the greatest “learning loss” due to partial or total remote learning. One contributing factor is that people in low-income districts are less likely to have the technological resources they need.
States that provide equitable funding to all school districts can help prevent poor students from having lower graduation rates, lower rates of pursuing higher education and smaller future incomes than their wealthy peers. The difference is dramatic: College graduates have $154 - $1,115 higher median weekly earnings than people with a high school diploma and no college experience, depending on the degree.
New Hampshire has the 14th least equitable school districts in the U.S. overall, but some districts within the state are fairer than others. To find out where school funding is distributed most equitably, WalletHub scored 161 districts in New Hampshire based on two metrics: average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil.
Main Findings
Note: For visual purposes, we included only the top 7 school districts by enrollment from each category. Rank 1 on the “Expenditures Ranking” means highest expenditures and Rank 1 on “Income Ranking” means lowest income.
Most & Least Equitable School Districts in New Hampshire
| Rank* | School District | Score | Expeditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Schools per Pupil | Income by School District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wentworth School District | 0.04 | $22,594 | $77,917 |
| 2 | Profile School District | 0.05 | $24,234 | $71,215 |
| 3 | Contoocook Valley School District | 0.21 | $21,220 | $83,259 |
| 4 | Stratford School District | 0.25 | $31,448 | $42,321 |
| 5 | Hopkinton School District | 0.36 | $19,010 | $92,667 |
| 6 | Lincoln-Woodstock School District | 0.85 | $27,529 | $57,226 |
| 7 | Lebanon School District | 1.06 | $23,407 | $73,704 |
| 8 | Westmoreland School District | 1.25 | $18,948 | $93,667 |
| 9 | Stoddard School District | 1.27 | $22,221 | $78,317 |
| 10 | Piermont School District | 2.22 | $20,676 | $83,750 |
| 11 | Pelham School District | 2.57 | $15,622 | $108,223 |
| 12 | Tamworth School District | 2.82 | $26,406 | $64,865 |
| 13 | Gilford School District | 2.86 | $19,723 | $91,902 |
| 14 | Inter-Lakes School District | 3.13 | $24,982 | $70,882 |
| 15 | Timberlane Regional School District | 3.48 | $19,278 | $94,219 |
| 16 | Lempster School District | 3.55 | $23,028 | $73,125 |
| 17 | Winnacunnet Coop School District | 3.66 | $21,987 | $83,430 |
| 18 | Auburn School District | 3.78 | $13,813 | $110,163 |
| 19 | Northwood School District | 3.99 | $19,406 | $94,141 |
| 20 | John Stark Regional School District | 4.74 | $20,330 | $91,037 |
| 21 | Barrington School District | 4.80 | $16,542 | $98,275 |
| 22 | Washington School District | 5.08 | $24,636 | $73,929 |
| 23 | Hill School District | 5.41 | $20,538 | $81,613 |
| 24 | Rollinsford School District | 5.64 | $23,025 | $71,366 |
| 25 | Hillsboro Deering Coop School District | 5.78 | $20,201 | $82,665 |
| 26 | Mascoma Valley Reg School District | 6.15 | $22,316 | $73,801 |
| 27 | Harrisville School District | 6.31 | $22,431 | $83,879 |
| 28 | Oyster River Coop School District | 6.82 | $19,318 | $96,886 |
| 29 | Hudson School District | 7.00 | $16,054 | $110,227 |
| 30 | Epping School District | 7.19 | $19,051 | $86,117 |
| 31 | Hampton School District | 7.43 | $20,139 | $81,519 |
| 32 | Salem School District | 7.77 | $17,802 | $90,673 |
| 33 | Errol School District | 8.05 | $28,333 | $61,500 |
| 34 | Plainfield School District | 8.46 | $20,786 | $92,344 |
| 35 | Bartlett School District | 8.59 | $26,298 | $55,650 |
| 36 | Chesterfield School District | 8.72 | $20,148 | $80,385 |
| 37 | Sanborn Regional School District | 9.19 | $19,614 | $97,692 |
| 38 | Hampstead School District | 9.32 | $21,978 | $88,250 |
| 39 | Monroe School District | 10.06 | $26,352 | $71,207 |
| 40 | Croydon School District | 10.32 | $20,308 | $78,393 |
| 41 | Portsmouth School District | 10.62 | $20,166 | $78,712 |
| 42 | Thornton School District | 10.81 | $21,148 | $74,583 |
| 43 | Kearsarge Regional School District | 10.85 | $22,816 | $86,165 |
| 44 | Litchfield School District | 11.58 | $16,478 | $112,386 |
| 45 | Cornish School District | 11.61 | $25,567 | $75,691 |
| 46 | Wilton-Lyndeboro School District | 11.66 | $19,529 | $80,405 |
| 47 | Exeter Region Coop School District | 12.01 | $20,048 | $98,325 |
| 48 | Seabrook School District | 12.37 | $20,337 | $76,540 |
| 49 | Barnstead School District | 12.43 | $20,134 | $77,308 |
| 50 | Chichester School District | 12.74 | $19,889 | $99,583 |
| 51 | Epsom School District | 12.89 | $20,601 | $96,840 |
| 52 | Mason School District | 13.49 | $19,289 | $102,647 |
| 53 | Henniker School District | 14.23 | $18,216 | $83,538 |
| 54 | Exeter School District | 14.70 | $20,698 | $73,109 |
| 55 | Strafford School District | 14.91 | $16,444 | $115,344 |
| 56 | Marlborough School District | 15.02 | $22,665 | $64,891 |
| 57 | Campton School District | 15.08 | $20,719 | $72,700 |
| 58 | East Kingston School District | 15.18 | $22,910 | $89,444 |
| 59 | Moultonborough School District | 15.42 | $26,582 | $74,812 |
| 60 | Holderness School District | 15.68 | $26,147 | $76,786 |
| 61 | Merrimack School District | 15.90 | $18,364 | $108,422 |
| 62 | Londonderry School District | 16.83 | $17,968 | $110,810 |
| 63 | Fremont School District | 17.32 | $17,826 | $111,793 |
| 64 | Hinsdale School District | 17.46 | $23,375 | $59,961 |
| 65 | Pembroke School District | 17.49 | $16,181 | $89,000 |
| 66 | Weare School District | 17.74 | $14,452 | $95,775 |
| 67 | Hooksett School District | 18.65 | $17,686 | $81,937 |
| 68 | Gilmanton School District | 20.13 | $17,438 | $81,689 |
| 69 | Goffstown School District | 20.18 | $14,624 | $93,017 |
| 70 | Deerfield School District | 20.28 | $18,642 | $111,003 |
| 71 | Candia School District | 20.70 | $21,659 | $99,167 |
| 72 | Raymond School District | 21.80 | $18,388 | $76,437 |
| 73 | Nottingham School District | 21.94 | $16,924 | $82,229 |
| 74 | Unity School District | 22.05 | $20,000 | $69,712 |
| 75 | Sunapee School District | 22.96 | $28,724 | $72,539 |
| 76 | Derry School District | 23.17 | $17,481 | $78,943 |
| 77 | Alton School District | 23.82 | $22,927 | $96,681 |
| 78 | Bath School District | 23.86 | $21,937 | $60,357 |
| 79 | Dresden School District | 24.49 | $20,898 | $105,446 |
| 80 | Rumney School District | 24.52 | $31,844 | $61,250 |
| 81 | Stark School District | 25.78 | $25,800 | $43,125 |
| 82 | New Boston School District | 25.91 | $14,529 | $132,386 |
| 83 | Greenland School District | 25.94 | $17,642 | $119,833 |
| 84 | Pemi-Baker Regional School District | 26.43 | $20,933 | $62,235 |
| 85 | Pittsburg School District | 27.02 | $34,300 | $53,438 |
| 86 | Bow School District | 27.52 | $16,674 | $125,078 |
| 87 | Governor Wentworth Reg School District | 28.10 | $19,850 | $65,201 |
| 88 | Nelson School District | 29.01 | $16,305 | $78,750 |
| 89 | Lafayette Regional School District | 29.28 | $24,907 | $93,301 |
| 90 | Concord School District | 29.38 | $18,068 | $71,318 |
| 91 | Milford School District | 29.66 | $17,274 | $74,285 |
| 92 | Chester School District | 29.81 | $15,140 | $133,214 |
| 93 | Newport School District | 30.70 | $18,998 | $66,441 |
| 94 | Stewartstown School District | 31.08 | $24,318 | $44,625 |
| 95 | Kensington School District | 31.49 | $23,527 | $100,750 |
| 96 | Andover School District | 31.95 | $16,108 | $77,059 |
| 97 | Monadnock Regional School District | 32.01 | $19,433 | $63,574 |
| 98 | Newmarket School District | 32.07 | $16,164 | $76,731 |
| 99 | Bedford School District | 32.25 | $15,115 | $135,374 |
| 100 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | 32.46 | $19,895 | $61,328 |
| 101 | Mascenic Regional School District | 32.56 | $15,047 | $80,833 |
| 102 | Farmington School District | 32.90 | $19,223 | $63,676 |
| 103 | Merrimack Valley School District | 33.35 | $16,407 | $74,671 |
| 104 | Bethlehem School District | 34.43 | $20,701 | $56,406 |
| 105 | Winchester School District | 34.58 | $21,585 | $52,708 |
| 106 | Conway School District | 34.80 | $20,319 | $57,636 |
| 107 | Newfound Area School District | 36.03 | $17,906 | $66,345 |
| 108 | Wakefield School District | 36.24 | $15,707 | $75,050 |
| 109 | Shaker Regional School District | 36.46 | $16,736 | $70,709 |
| 110 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Coop School District | 37.82 | $19,054 | $60,197 |
| 111 | White Mountain Regional School District | 37.95 | $20,132 | $55,731 |
| 112 | Warren School District | 38.37 | $23,216 | $42,917 |
| 113 | Mont Vernon School District | 39.24 | $19,010 | $125,551 |
| 114 | Somersworth School District | 39.36 | $16,996 | $67,209 |
| 115 | Littleton School District | 39.93 | $22,360 | $45,049 |
| 116 | Hanover School District | 39.95 | $24,136 | $105,446 |
| 117 | Dunbarton School District | 40.09 | $18,013 | $130,298 |
| 118 | Allenstown School District | 40.73 | $19,087 | $57,601 |
| 119 | Madison School District | 40.77 | $29,867 | $82,984 |
| 120 | Dover School District | 40.80 | $14,808 | $74,833 |
| 121 | Nashua School District | 41.96 | $14,824 | $73,785 |
| 122 | Jaffrey-Rindge Coop School District | 42.25 | $16,211 | $67,937 |
| 123 | Brookline School District | 42.42 | $15,596 | $142,033 |
| 124 | Hollis/Brookline Coop School District | 43.95 | $16,971 | $137,773 |
| 125 | Jackson School District | 44.18 | $35,186 | $64,375 |
| 126 | Pittsfield School District | 44.57 | $18,364 | $57,277 |
| 127 | Lisbon Regional School District | 44.96 | $17,863 | $58,964 |
| 128 | Winnisquam Regional School District | 45.21 | $17,465 | $60,368 |
| 129 | Hollis School District | 45.61 | $18,811 | $131,745 |
| 130 | Plymouth School District | 45.79 | $18,021 | $57,627 |
| 131 | North Hampton School District | 46.29 | $25,825 | $103,986 |
| 132 | Marlow School District | 47.71 | $30,326 | $87,000 |
| 133 | Stratham School District | 48.74 | $20,886 | $126,009 |
| 134 | Laconia School District | 48.80 | $17,840 | $55,814 |
| 135 | Rochester School District | 49.48 | $14,971 | $66,831 |
| 136 | Haverhill Cooperative School District | 49.71 | $18,442 | $52,611 |
| 137 | Keene School District | 50.00 | $17,197 | $57,393 |
| 138 | Ashland School District | 51.02 | $19,580 | $46,905 |
| 139 | Franklin School District | 51.43 | $16,749 | $57,992 |
| 140 | Brentwood School District | 53.06 | $17,452 | $143,538 |
| 141 | Milan School District | 53.99 | $14,933 | $63,167 |
| 142 | Rye School District | 54.39 | $26,340 | $108,750 |
| 143 | Grantham School District | 56.28 | $22,391 | $126,302 |
| 144 | Claremont School District | 56.65 | $18,415 | $46,848 |
| 145 | Amherst School District | 56.79 | $20,096 | $136,006 |
| 146 | Windham School District | 61.36 | $16,592 | $154,032 |
| 147 | Colebrook School District | 62.76 | $16,982 | $47,467 |
| 148 | South Hampton School District | 63.00 | $22,952 | $129,722 |
| 149 | Northumberland School District | 63.92 | $16,708 | $47,596 |
| 150 | Manchester School District | 63.93 | $13,120 | $62,087 |
| 151 | Lyme School District | 66.69 | $24,152 | $128,000 |
| 152 | Souhegan Cooperative School District | 67.09 | $22,602 | $134,601 |
| 153 | Berlin School District | 68.10 | $17,939 | $39,091 |
| 154 | Freedom School District | 68.13 | $41,019 | $61,071 |
| 155 | Milton School District | 72.62 | $38,549 | $74,848 |
| 156 | Landaff School District | 88.66 | $11,063 | $49,479 |
| 157 | Hampton Falls School District | 106.52 | $29,132 | $141,563 |
| 158 | Newington School District | 106.70 | $30,920 | $134,494 |
| 159 | Newfields School District | 122.81 | $26,396 | $166,397 |
| 160 | New Castle School District | 150.64 | $31,950 | $167,500 |
| 161 | Waterville Valley School District | 153.45 | $55,000 | $76,750 |
*1=Most Equitable
Methodology
In order to rank the states with the most and least equitable school districts, WalletHub first scored 12,876 school districts throughout the U.S. based on two metrics: average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil.
For expenditures, for each 1 percent above the state's average we removed 1 point from a base score of 50 points for each district. For household income, for each 1 percent above the state's average we added 1 point to a base score of 50 points for each district. The inverse was true for each 1 percent below the state's average.
The final score for each district was calculated by taking the absolute difference between the score for expenditures and the score for household income. We then ranked the districts based on the total score, with the lowest value, representing the most equitable, being ranked 1.
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from of the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics.