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

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Portsmouth, NH is $2,966. 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 19 cities tracked at $2,966/mo.

When was Portsmouth rent data last updated?

Portsmouth rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Portsmouth, NH?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Portsmouth, NH at $2,150 per month, which is 28% below the $2,966 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · NH

Portsmouth

Name: Average Rent Prices in Portsmouth, NH
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 22,545·1st most expensive in New Hampshire·Portsmouth rents are up 12.3% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,966/mo

Year-over-Year

+12.3%

Month-over-Month

+1.6%

vs US Median

+$1,004

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Portsmouth rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Portsmouth · $2,966

More expensive than 90% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

39/100

Overpriced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 6% above what Portsmouth's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$2,966/mo

Expected by trend

$2,810/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

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,150/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,966 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

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$35,592/yr

At $2,966/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 12.3% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+12.3% YoY, +1.6% 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 → $2,966

up 35.3%

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 $2,966, up 35.3% 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

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Portsmouth rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Portsmouth on your salary?

At $2,966/mo, how Portsmouth rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $97,314/yr · Rent = 36.6% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $69,092/yr · Rent = 51.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $79,588/yr · Rent = 44.7% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $142,253/yr · Rent = 25% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $181,764/yr · Rent = 19.6% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $64,694/yr · Rent = 55% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $58,411/yr · Rent = 60.9% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $71,997/yr · Rent = 49.4% 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: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Portsmouth is $2,966/mo as of August 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 34% of local median household income ($106,219/yr), Portsmouth ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 12.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Portsmouth an affordable city for renters?

Portsmouth is considered moderate for renters. At $2,966/mo, rent takes approximately 34% 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 $119,000/year (~$57/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,966/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 12.3% over the past year as of August 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 19 tracked cities at $2,966/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Portsmouth?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Portsmouth ($2,966/mo): Somersworth ($1,937/mo), Dover ($2,273/mo), Newmarket ($2,295/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 $2,966/mo is $1,004 (51%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within New Hampshire, it ranks #1 out of 19 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

34%

MODERATE

At $2,966/mo, rent takes ~34% of Portsmouth's median household income ($106,219/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Portsmouth 34%Benchmark 30%

State income taxNone

Run the Portsmouth affordability calculator →

Nearby cities