Rents are 5% below what Portsmouth'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 $2,963 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
Rent in Portsmouth is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2022.
Rent in Portsmouth changed +2.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 14 New Hampshire cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.
Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($106,219) is $2,655 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,150); a 3-bedroom is $2,660.
Kittery, ME, 5 miles away, rents for 19% less ($2,411/mo), about $6,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Portsmouth. 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
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.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Portsmouth, NH has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Portsmouth, NH has shifted from $2,400 to $2,963, up 23.5% 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.
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Can you afford rent in Portsmouth on your salary?
At $2,963/mo, how Portsmouth rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Portsmouth rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Portsmouth. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Portsmouth
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Portsmouth is $2,963/mo as of October 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 2.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Portsmouth?
Is rent going up or down in Portsmouth?
How does Portsmouth rent compare to other cities in New Hampshire?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Portsmouth?
At $2,963/mo, rent takes ~33% of Portsmouth's median household income ($106,219/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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