record_voice_overIntroduction Introduction

Up-to-date statistics are essential to policymaking, planning, research, and advocacy. While federal agencies collect data and generate a variety of statistics about the population with disabilities in the United States (U.S.), it is often difficult for local government agencies, individuals with disabilities, and even seasoned researchers to find these statistics.

Facts & Figures is a regularly-occurring publication of the Institute on Disability (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire. This report focuses on characteristics of the population with disabilities in New Hampshire (NH), with comparisons to neighboring states and the nation. Facts & Figures and its companion piece the Annual Disability Statistics Compendium are intended to provide a comprehensive picture of important issues related to disability in NH and the U.S. as a whole.

The statistics presented here focus on four primary topics: population size (all ages), education (ages 25 and older), employment (ages 18-64), private health care coverage (ages 18-64), and public health care coverage (under age 64). Each page of this report highlights a different topic, and includes NH’s ranking among all U.S. states in terms of prevalence of or equality for people with disabilities. In addition, the arrow indicates whether that placement has improved or decreased since the last annual estimate.

The statistics in Facts & Figures are derived from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2013-2017 American Community Survey (ACS) five-year data that allow us to present county-level statistics. Counts (i.e., the number of people) and percentages are reported and are to be interpreted as annual averages over the five years. For example, there was an annual average of 1,314,875 persons living in NH over the period 2013- 2017. The rankings presented in the headings of each page are based on the 2016 ACS and 2017 ACS, and the underlying statistics may be found in the Annual Disability Statistics Compendium (opens new tab).

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Key Takeaways:

Population

About 1 out of every 8 NH residents report having a disability, which includes serious difficulties with vision, hearing, mobility, cognition, self-care, and/or independent living. In other words, 12.6% of people living in NH report a disability. This percentage is the same as the U.S. rate of 12.6%.

Employment

People with disabilities are less likely to be employed. The “employment gap” – that is, the difference between the percentage of those with no disability who are employed and those with a disability who are employed – was 40.2 percentage points in NH.

Education

Related to employment, those with disabilities are less likely to have attended college. The college education gap in NH is 19 percentage points. NH residents are more highly educated than the national average, a trend that extends to both the population with a disability and the population without. Almost half (49.1%) of NH residents with a disability have some college education compared to 43.8% of people with a disability nationwide.

Health Insurance

As might be expected with lower labor force participation, NH residents with disabilities are less likely to have private health insurance (52.2%) compared to those with no disability (83.3%). Half of NH residents with a disability are covered by a public health insurance program. This rate is just 12.8% for NH residents with no disability.


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These findings demonstrate the need for data on additional geographic areas and a variety of other topics, including poverty, earnings, vocational rehabilitation, and veterans’ issues. Readers may wish to download an electronic copy of the 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium at www.DisabilityCompendium.org

PopulationPopulation

Population statistics demonstrate that many people in NH have a disability. Understanding the size and composition of the population with disabilities is important for advocacy, policymaking, and group identity. Advocates use population statistics to highlight the breadth of disability across all communities in NH. Policymakers use population statistics to assess the adequacy of current funding and services for persons with disabilities. Statistics about the population with disabilities also show individuals with disabilities that they are not alone and are part of a large group. In sum, population statistics provide an important foundation for any work that strives to improve the lives of persons with disabilities.


Population Size

People with disabilities are 12.6% of the NH population or about 1 in 8 people in NH have a disability over the average of the five years 2013- 2017. (It is important to note that these estimates did not include people living in institutions or individuals in the Armed Forces.) This is the same as the national average of 12.6%. In 2017, NH ranked 22nd in prevalence of people with disabilities (with 1st place being the state with the lowest disability prevalence rate), one rank lower than in 2016.


Recommendations

Continue to collect and disseminate data that will highlight the diversity of disability in NH and its counties, while also exploring ways to better capture and disseminate disability prevalence data within local communities.


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US Map iconU.S. Rank: 22nd

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* Rank in U.S. by prevalence rate. Change in rank from 2016 to 2017.

Population and percent of total population of persons with and without disabilities in US and New Hampshire
Location Population with disability Population without disability Percent of total population with disability Percent of total without disability
United States 39,792,082 316,027,641 12.6% 87.4%
New Hampshire 165,149 1,314,875 12.6% 87.4%
Total population, population with disabilities, and the percent of persons with disabilities by county in the state of New Hampshire
County Total Population Total Population of Persons with Disabilities Total Percent of Persons with Disabilities
Belknap 59,629 8,858 14.9%
Carroll 47,059 7,775 16.5%
Cheshire 75,355 10,379 13.8%
Coos 30,072 6,282 20.9%
Grafton 88,326 12,355 14.0%
Hillsborough 402,033 46,080 11.5%
Merrimack 144,508 19,891 13.8%
Rockingham 300,188 31,913 10.6%
Strafford 125,124 15,705 12.6%
Sullivan 42,581 5,911 13.9%
Total population, number of population with a disability, and percent of population with a disability by state in New England and the US
Population New Hampshire Vermont Maine Massachusetts United States
Total Population (civilian noninstitutionalized) 1,314,875 618,703 1,315,654 6,713,702 316,027,641
Population with a Disability 165,149 88,112 208,646 781,740 39,792,082
Percent with a Disability 12.6% 14.2% 15.9% 11.6% 12.6%

EducationEducation

Education is an important indicator of the inclusion of youth and young adults with disabilities into an essential part of American life. Education statistics show that NH residents with disabilities have lower levels of educational attainment than people without disabilities. Such disparities are tied to lower rates of earnings and employment for people with disabilities.


Educational Attainment

In NH, of the 144,181 people with disabilities ages 25 and older in NH, 49.1% have at least some college education. In contrast, of the 780,301 people without disabilities ages 25 and older in NH, 68.3% have some college education – a difference of 19.2 percentage points. As shown in the infographic to the right, the level of educational attainment of people with disabilities in NH is higher than the level of educational attainment in the U.S. as a whole. In addition, NH ranks better than average with respect to the education gap, at 21st place among all U.S. states. This is a decrease in 3 places in the rankings compared to 2016.


Recommendations

NH policymakers and school officials should consider why some counties have a larger education gap than others. In counties and states where people with no disability have above average levels of college education, residents with a disability tend to be less likely to pursue secondary education. Consider why educational attainment is higher and how these areas can better support people with disabilities who have aspirations for a college education.


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US Map iconU.S. Rank: 21st

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* Rank in U.S. by prevalence rate. Change in rank from 2016 to 2017.

Population and Percent of total population of persons with some college education, ages 25 and older, with and without disabilities in US and New Hampshire
Location Population with disability Population without disability Percent of population with some college with a disability Percent of population with some college without a disability Education Gap
United States 34,915,916 177,302,353 43.8% 63.6% 19.8 Points
New Hampshire 144,181 780,301 49.1% 68.3% 19.2 Points
Total percent of persons, ages 25 and older, with some college experience with disabilities, without disabilities, and the college gap by point by county in the state of New Hampshire
County Percent with disability Percent without disability College gap
Belknap 49.9% 66.1% 16.2
Carroll 52.4% 66.8% 14.4
Cheshire 46.1% 65.0% 18.9
Coos n/a n/a n/a
Grafton 47.9% 69.0% 21.1
Hillsborough 47.8% 68.4% 20.6
Merrimack 51.8% 69.1% 17.3
Rockingham 54.5% 72.0% 17.5
Strafford 47.8% 68.6% 20.8
Sullivan n/a n/a n/a
Percent and percent point college gap of individuals with some college education, ages 25 and over, with and without a disability by state in New England and the US
Some College Education, Ages 25+ New Hampshire Vermont Maine Massachusetts United States
Percent Some College Education with Disability 49.1% 46.4% 42.2% 44.3% 43.8%
Percent Some College Education without Disability 68.3% 66.5% 64.4% 69.7% 63.6%
Percent Point College Gap 19.2 20.1 22.2 25.4 19.8

EmploymentEmployment

Employment statistics demonstrate that persons with disabilities fare worse on a number of employment outcomes when compared to persons without disabilities. Such data highlights the need for continued investment in employment services and supports for individuals and for employers.


Employment

Of the 83,940 people with disabilities ages 18 to 64 in NH, 42.0% were employed. (Note, this percentage is sometimes called the “employmentto- population ratio.”) By comparison, of the 756,678 people without disabilities ages 18 to 64 in NH, 82.2% were employed. The difference between the percent employed among people without disabilities and the percent employed among people with disabilities is called the “employment gap.” In NH, the employment gap is 40.2 percentage points. In the U.S. as a whole, the employment gap is about the same; it is 40.6 pts. This places NH near the middle of all U.S. states, ranking 27th on the employment gap for people with disabilities versus those without. This is an increase in one spot since 2016.


Recommendations

Federal, state and community partners need to continue to invest in evidence-based employment services and supports for individuals with disabilities while also working with NH employers to promote greater workforce diversity.


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US Map iconU.S. Rank: 27th

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* Rank in U.S. by prevalence rate. Change in rank from 2016 to 2017.

Population and Percent of total population of persons, ages 18 to 64, with and without disabilities employed, and the employment gap in US and New Hampshire
Location Population with disability Population without disability Percent of population employed with a disability Percent of population employed without a disability Employment Gap
United States 20,276,199 175,862,600 35.5% 76.1% 40.6 Points
New Hampshire 83,940 756,678 42.0% 82.2% 40.2 Points
Total percent of persons employed, ages 18-64, with disabilities, without disabilities, and the employment gap by county in the state of New Hampshire
County Percent with disability Percent without disability Gap
Belknap 38.4% 81.3% 42.9
Carroll 37.8% 80.5% 42.7
Cheshire 41.5% 80.0% 38.5
Coos 38.2% 81.7% 43.5
Grafton 41.6% 76.4% 34.8
Hillsborough 40.7% 82.5% 41.8
Merrimack 42.9% 82.2% 39.3
Rockingham 48.5% 84.7% 36.2
Strafford 41.2% 81.7% 40.5
Sullivan 33.2% 81.4% 48.2
Percent and percent point gap of employed individuals, ages 18-64, with and without a disability by state in New England and the US
Employment, Ages 18-64 New Hampshire Vermont Maine Massachusetts United States
Percent Employed with Disability 42.0% 40.4% 33.2% 36.7% 35.5%
Percent Employed without Disability 82.2% 80.8% 80.4% 79.4% 76.1%
Percent Point Employment Gap 40.2 40.4 47.2 42.7 40.6

Health Insurance - PrivateHealth Insurance - Private

Access to health insurance is an important indicator of health and financial well-being. Identifying the extent to which individuals with and without disabilities rely on publicly-funded health insurance programs (such as Medicaid, Medicare, and Veterans health insurance programs) can provide insight into the degree to which the state adequately funds the needs of its residents.


Employer-Sponsored and Other Private Health Insurance

NH residents ages 18 to 64 with and without disabilities have higher rates of private health insurance (PI) coverage (52.2% and 83.3%, respectively) compared with national averages (45.2% and 74.8%, respectively), and the gap in private insurance coverage between those with disabilities and those without is lower in NH (31.1 percentage points) than in other New England states. However, this private insurance gap has NH ranked 31st in the nation, which is one spot lower than it ranked in 2016. This high placement is in part due to the particularly large percentage of people without disabilities who have private health insurance in the state.


Recommendations

NH residents have higher private insurance coverage than many other areas of the country, regardless of disability status. However, the gap in private insurance coverage between those with disabilities and those without is higher in NH compared to many other places. This is related to the employment gap discussed earlier. As a result, NH residents with disabilities will be more impacted by changes to public health insurance programs than those without disabilities.


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US Map iconU.S. Rank: 31st

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* Rank in U.S. by prevalence rate. Change in rank from 2016 to 2017.

Population and Percent of total population of persons with and without disabilities who have private health insurance in US and New Hampshire, ages 18 to 64
Location Population with disability Population without disability % with Private Insurance with a Disability % with Private Insurance without a Disability Private Insurance Gap
United States 20,013,988 171,704,118 45.2% 74.8% 29.6 Points
New Hampshire 82,683 738,155 52.2% 83.3% 31.1 Points
Total percent of persons, ages 18-64, with disabilities and without disabilities with private insurance and the point gap by county in the state of New Hampshire
County % with disability % without disability Gap
Belknap 46.4% 78.1% 31.7
Carroll 37.1% 75.9% 38.8
Cheshire 49.7% 80.6% 30.9
Coos 39.0% 72.1% 33.1
Grafton 46.3% 80.5% 34.2
Hillsborough 51.5% 83.5% 32.0
Merrimack 53.1% 83.6% 30.5
Rockingham 66.1% 87.8% 21.7
Strafford 51.2% 84.3% 33.1
Sullivan 44.5% 77.6% 33.1
Percent and point gap of individuals with private health insurance, ages 18-64, with and without a disability by state in New England and the US
Private Health Insurance, Ages 18-64 New Hampshire Vermont Maine Massachusetts United States
Percent Private Health Insurance with Disability 52.2% 43.9% 39.4% 44.1% 45.2%
Percent Private Health Insurance without Disability 83.3% 76.2% 77.1% 80.7% 74.8%
Private Health Insurance Gap 31.1 32.3 37.7 36.6 29.6

Health Insurance - PublicHealth Insurance - Public

Publicly-funded health insurance (PHI) programs provide important levels of health care, income, and other supports to many persons with disabilities. Statistics show that most persons with disabilities in NH participate in one or more of these programs. Given the gap in private health insurance, PHI programs are one area in which residents with disabilities are disproportionately represented.


Medicade, Medicare, and Veteran's Health Insurance Programs

In NH, about half of all persons with disabilities under age 65 have a form of PHI, compared with 55.2% of persons with disabilities in all of the U.S. Those without disabilities in NH have substantially lower rates of PHI enrollment (12.8%) compared to the U.S. total (20.1%). Of all PHI enrollees under age 65 in NH, 27.6% are people with disabilities. This is one of the highest proportions in the nation, ranking NH 46th of all states, three places lower than it ranked in 2016.


Recommendations

These statistics highlight the extent to which individuals with disabilities may be disproportionately impacted by proposed changes to PHI programs at the federal or local level. While only about 10% of NH residents under age 65 have a disability, 27.6% of those with PHI in this same age range have a disability. Discussions about changes to PHI programs should consider the needs of and include input from those with disabilities due to their over-representation in these programs.


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US Map iconU.S. Rank: 46th

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* Rank in U.S. by prevalence rate. Change in rank from 2016 to 2017.

Population and percent of total population of persons, ages 0-64, with and without disabilities enrolled in publicly-funded health insurance (PHI) and the percent of enrollees in the US and in NH
Location Population with disability Population without disability % Enrolled in PHI with disability % Enrolled in PHI without disability % of Enrollees
United States 23,330,758 246,271,900 55.2% 20.1% 20.7%
New Hampshire 96,628 1,007,412 50.1% 12.8% 27.6%
Total percent of persons with disabilities and without disabilities who have publicly-funded health insurance (PHI) and the percentage of PHI enrollees with disabilities by county in the state of New Hampshire, ages 0 to 64
County % with disability % without disability % of enrollees with disabilties
Belknap 57.5% 16.6% 30.1%
Carroll 59.4% 18.8% 29.4%
Cheshire 52.7% 13.7% 28.0%
Coos 61.7% 24.6% 32.5%
Grafton 52.2% 14.7% 27.2%
Hillsborough 51.4% 12.9% 26.0%
Merrimack 50.6% 13.0% 29.6%
Rockingham 42.6% 8.9% 26.6%
Strafford 50.5% 12.2% 29.5%
Sullivan 56.8% 18.0% 24.5%
Percent of people enrolled in Public Health Insurance with and without a disability, and percent of all PHI enrollees with a disability by state in New England and the US
Public Health Insurance Enrollment, Ages 0-64 New Hampshire Vermont Maine Massachusetts United States
Percent Public Health Insurance with Disability 50.1% 65.4% 61.9% 64.1% 55.2%
Percent Public Health Insurance without Disability 12.8% 25.8% 18.2% 21.6% 20.1%
Percent of Enrollees with Disability 27.6% 22.6% 31.2% 20.3% 20.7%

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks to the following individuals who have contributed to the success of this effort: Peter Antal, Anna Brennan-Curry, Debra Brucker, Matthew Gianino, Megan Henly, and members of the Consumer Advisory Council of the Institute on Disability.

Funding for this publication is made possible by the NH Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Developmental Services and the University of New Hampshire, Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics (StatsRRTC). The StatsRRTC is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration For Community Living National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), grant number 90RT5037-03-00. The information developed by the StatsRRTC does not necessarily represent the policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government (Edgar, 75.620 (b)).


Suggested Citation

Houtenville, A., & Boege, S. (2019). Facts & Figures: The 2019 Report on Disability in New Hampshire.
Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability.


About the Institute on Disability

The Institute on Disability/UCED (IOD) was established in 1987 to provide a university-based focus for the improvement of knowledge, policies, and practices related to the lives of people with disabilities and their families and is New Hampshire’s University Center for Excellence in Disability (UCED). Located within the University of New Hampshire, the IOD is a federally designated center authorized by the Developmental Disabilities Act. Through innovative and interdisciplinary research, academic, service, and dissemination initiatives, the IOD builds local, state, and national capacities to respond to the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families.


Alternative formats for this data are available. Please contact the IOD to learn more.

No part of this copyrighted work may be modified, reproduced, or used in any form or by any means – graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, web distribution, or information storage and retrieval systems – without the written permission of the UNH Institute on Disability. For permission, please send requests to contact.iod@unh.edu.