City Report · NH

Exeter

Pop. 9,964·4th most expensive in New Hampshire·One of the pricier rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$2,552/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+4.0%
vs US Median
+$620
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Exeter · $2,552
More expensive than 81% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
35% of income
MODERATE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,552/mo, rent takes about 35% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$102,000/yr
Local median income
$87,346/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Exeter's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$2,000
1 BR
$2,140
2 BR
$2,550
3 BR
$3,080
4 BR+
$3,390
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$2,550/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,552 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($87,346) is $2,184 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,140); a 2-bedroom is $2,550.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Exeter. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$30,624/yr
At $2,552/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 0.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +4.0% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Exeter, NH is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 57.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
9,964
Median income
$87,346
Median age
43.8
Renters
38.3%
Age distribution
14.7%
24.4%
25.5%
13.4%
21.9%
Under 1814.7%
18–3424.4%
35–5425.5%
55–6413.4%
65+21.9%
Gender
43.6%
56.4%
Male43.6%
Female56.4%
Race & ethnicity
87.3%
White87.3%
Black1.1%
Hispanic3.4%
Asian5.1%
Other3.1%
Education (25+)
15.6%
24.9%
57.4%
No HS diploma2.1%
HS diploma15.6%
Some college24.9%
Bachelor's+57.4%
Housing tenure
61.7%
38.3%
Owner61.7%
Renter38.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Exeter, NH has changed in 5 years

Income
$72,456 → $87,346
up 20.6%
Population
9,908 → 9,964
up 0.6%
Renter share
38.2% → 38.3%
+0.1 pts
Bachelor's+
45% → 57.4%
+12.4 pts
Median age
45.7 → 43.8
-1.9 yrs

Census figures show median household income at $87,346 today, compared with $72,456 five years earlier. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 45% to 57.4% across the same window.

Community

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View Exeter rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Exeter on your salary?

At $2,552/mo, how Exeter rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Exeter rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Exeter. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Exeter

About renting in Exeter, NH

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Exeter is $2,552/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,000/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,550/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,140/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,080/mo.

At 35% of local median household income ($87,346/yr), Exeter ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Exeter?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $102,000/year (about $49/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,552/mo in Exeter. The local median household income is $87,346/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Exeter?

Rent in Exeter has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does Exeter rent compare to other cities in New Hampshire?

Exeter is one of the pricier among New Hampshire cities for rent, ranking #4 of 18 tracked cities at $2,552/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Exeter?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Exeter ($2,552/mo) include Hampton ($2,015/mo), Newmarket ($2,183/mo), and Amesbury ($2,500/mo).
Income Affordability
35%
MODERATE

At $2,552/mo, rent takes ~35% of Exeter's median household income ($87,346/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Exeter 35%Benchmark 30%
State income taxNone
Run the Exeter affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

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Schools nearby

Public schools near Exeter, NH

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