Rents are 8% below what Manchester's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,082 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 →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
February. Asking rents in Manchester usually run 0.8% below trend in February and 0.7% above it in August, about $31 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Manchester is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Manchester changed +3.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 14 New Hampshire cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Manchester rose 51.5% while median household income rose 33.4% ($60,711 to $81,007). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Manchester is 56.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($81,007) is $2,025 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,550); a 2-bedroom is $2,030.
The priciest of 4 ZIP codes in Manchester, 03101 ($2,244/mo), costs 18% more than the cheapest, 03104 ($1,901/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Manchester. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Manchester, NH is roughly split between renters and owners, 34% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Manchester, NH has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Manchester, NH has increased from $1,475 to $2,082, a 41.2% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $66,929 to $81,007 across the same window, up 21.0% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. Renters now make up 51.3% of households, compared with 53.4% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 34% of adults here, versus 31.9% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Manchester, NH look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about Manchester
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Can you afford rent in Manchester on your salary?
At $2,082/mo, how Manchester rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Manchester rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Manchester. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Manchester
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Manchester is $2,082/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,415/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,030/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,550/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,520/mo.
At 31% of local median household income ($81,007/yr), Manchester ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Manchester rent compare to other cities in New Hampshire?
At $2,082/mo, rent takes ~31% of Manchester's median household income ($81,007/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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