Studio Apartment Rent in Portsmouth, NH
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Portsmouth, New Hampshire as of October 2026. That's +45% lower than the citywide median of $2,963 and +26% above the national studio median of $1,290.
Income needed for a studio in Portsmouth
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Portsmouth
Compare Portsmouth's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a studio in New Hampshire
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Claremont | $920 |
| 2 | Laconia | $990 |
| 3 | Keene | $1,100 |
| 4 | Concord | $1,160 |
| 5 | Derry | $1,250 |
| 6 | Salem | $1,320 |
| 7 | Rochester | $1,340 |
| 8 | Somersworth | $1,360 |
| 9 | Dover | $1,370 |
| 10 | Manchester | $1,415 |
| 11 | Nashua | $1,440 |
| 12 | Lebanon | $1,480 |
| 13 | Newmarket | $1,560 |
| 14 | Hampton | $1,590 |
| 15 | Portsmouth (this page) | $1,620 |
Most expensive cities for a studio in New Hampshire
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exeter | $2,000 |
| 2 | Bedford | $1,950 |
| 3 | Merrimack | $1,670 |
| 4 | Portsmouth (this page) | $1,620 |
| 5 | Hampton | $1,590 |
| 6 | Newmarket | $1,560 |
| 7 | Lebanon | $1,480 |
| 8 | Nashua | $1,440 |
| 9 | Manchester | $1,415 |
| 10 | Dover | $1,370 |
| 11 | Somersworth | $1,360 |
| 12 | Rochester | $1,340 |
| 13 | Salem | $1,320 |
| 14 | Derry | $1,250 |
| 15 | Concord | $1,160 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Portsmouth.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kittery, ME | 5.8 mi | $1,410 | $-210 (-13%) |
| Dover, NH | 9.8 mi | $1,370 | $-250 (-15%) |
| Newmarket, NH | 9.8 mi | $1,560 | $-60 (-4%) |
| Somersworth, NH | 13.6 mi | $1,360 | $-260 (-16%) |
| Exeter, NH | 14.2 mi | $2,000 | +$380 (+23%) |
| Amesbury, MA | 18.6 mi | $2,000 | +$380 (+23%) |
| Newburyport, MA | 19 mi | $2,000 | +$380 (+23%) |
| Rochester, NH | 20.2 mi | $1,340 | $-280 (-17%) |
| Sanford, ME | 24.1 mi | $1,070 | $-550 (-34%) |
| Gloucester, MA | 32.5 mi | $2,000 | +$380 (+23%) |
| Methuen, MA | 34.5 mi | $1,360 | $-260 (-16%) |
| Derry, NH | 34.9 mi | $1,250 | $-370 (-23%) |
Studio rent in Portsmouth — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in Portsmouth?
As of October 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Portsmouth, New Hampshire is $1,620 per month. This is +45% below the citywide median of $2,963.
What income do you need to afford a studio in Portsmouth?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $64,800 ($5,400/month gross), which works out to roughly $31.15/hour at a full-time job.
Is Portsmouth expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
Portsmouth's studio median of $1,620 is +26% above the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 72th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Portsmouth rank for studio rent in New Hampshire?
Among the 18 cities in New Hampshire with studio data, Portsmouth ranks #15 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near Portsmouth?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Kittery ($1,410), Dover ($1,370), Newmarket ($1,560).