How much does it cost to rent in Portsmouth, NH?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Portsmouth, NH is $2,920. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Portsmouth cheaper than other New Hampshire cities?

Portsmouth is one of the pricier cities in New Hampshire, ranking #1 out of 18 cities tracked at $2,920/mo.

When was Portsmouth rent data last updated?

Portsmouth rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · NH

Portsmouth

Name: Average Rent Prices in Portsmouth, NH
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 22,545·1st most expensive in New Hampshire·Portsmouth rents are up 12.0% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,920/mo

Year-over-Year

+12.0%

Month-over-Month

+5.0%

vs US Median

+$955

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Portsmouth · $2,920

More expensive than 89% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

41/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 4% above what Portsmouth's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$2,920/mo

Expected by trend

$2,799/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Portsmouth's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,620

1 BR

$1,660

2 BR

$2,150

3 BR

$2,660

4 BR+

$3,100

Research median

$2,150/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$35,040/yr

At $2,920/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 12.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+12.0% YoY, +5.0% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Portsmouth, NH is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 64% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

22,545

Median income

$106,219

Median age

42.9

Renters

48.1%

Age distribution

14%

24.6%

25.2%

14.3%

21.9%

Under 1814%

18–3424.6%

35–5425.2%

55–6414.3%

65+21.9%

Gender

49.7%

50.3%

Male49.7%

Female50.3%

Race & ethnicity

86.7%

White86.7%

Hispanic3.8%

Asian4.1%

Other5.1%

Education (25+)

16.1%

17.3%

64%

No HS diploma2.6%

HS diploma16.1%

Some college17.3%

Bachelor's+64%

Housing tenure

51.9%

48.1%

Owner51.9%

Renter48.1%

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

2022 vs 2026

How Portsmouth, NH has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,192 → $2,920

up 33.2%

Income

$91,915 → $106,219

up 15.6%

Population

21,897 → 22,545

up 3.0%

Renter share

48.4% → 48.1%

-0.3 pts

Bachelor's+

62.8% → 64%

+1.2 pts

Median age

42.2 → 42.9

+0.7 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in Portsmouth, NH has shifted from $2,192 to $2,920, up 33.2% since 2022. Median household income climbed from $91,915 to $106,219 between 2021 and 2024, a 15.6% shift. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Portsmouth, NH adding about 648 residents over the five-year window, up 3.0% on net. Taken together, the five-year picture in Portsmouth, NH reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Portsmouth

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View Portsmouth rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Portsmouth on your salary?

At $2,920/mo, how Portsmouth rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $97,314/yr · Rent = 36% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $69,092/yr · Rent = 50.7% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $79,588/yr · Rent = 44% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $142,253/yr · Rent = 24.6% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $181,764/yr · Rent = 19.3% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $64,694/yr · Rent = 54.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $58,411/yr · Rent = 60% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $71,997/yr · Rent = 48.7% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Portsmouth rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Portsmouth

About renting in Portsmouth, NH

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Portsmouth is $2,920/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,620/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,150/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,660/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,660/mo.

At 33% of local median household income ($106,219/yr), Portsmouth ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 12.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Portsmouth an affordable city for renters?

Portsmouth is considered moderate for renters. At $2,920/mo, rent takes approximately 33% of the local median household income ($106,219/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Portsmouth slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Portsmouth?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $117,000/year (~$56/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,920/mo in Portsmouth. The local median household income is $106,219/yr, meaning the typical Portsmouth household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Portsmouth?

Rent in Portsmouth has increased 12.0% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

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

Portsmouth is one of the pricier cities in New Hampshire for rent, ranking #1 out of 18 tracked cities at $2,920/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Portsmouth?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Portsmouth ($2,920/mo): Somersworth ($1,926/mo), Dover ($2,267/mo), Kittery ($2,459/mo).

What percentage of Portsmouth residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 48.1% of Portsmouth households are renters, while 51.9% are owner-occupied. Portsmouth leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Portsmouth rent compare to the national average?

Portsmouth's median rent of $2,920/mo is $955 (49%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within New Hampshire, it ranks #1 out of 18 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

33%

MODERATE

At $2,920/mo, rent takes ~33% of Portsmouth's median household income ($106,219/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Portsmouth 33%Benchmark 30%

State income taxNone

Run the Portsmouth affordability calculator →

Nearby cities