Can An Auto Mechanic Afford Rent in Portsmouth, NH?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 66.4% of gross income.
Portsmouth rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Hampshire state estimate).
About rent and an auto mechanic salary
Auto mechanic pay covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost US metros and stretches thin in the highest-cost ones. Master techs and dealership flat-rate techs often earn well above the BLS figure, which expands affordability further. At the national-average mechanic salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,282 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets stay in range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These New Hampshire cities have lower median rent than Portsmouth, which improves the affordability math on an auto mechanic salary:
Compare with full rent data for Portsmouth
View full rent data for Portsmouth, NH →Frequently asked questions
Can an auto mechanic afford rent in Portsmouth, NH?
Median rent in Portsmouth is $2,920 a month. A typical auto mechanic in New Hampshire earns about $52,808 a year, which makes that rent 66.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can an auto mechanic afford in Portsmouth?
Using the 30% rule, an auto mechanic salary in New Hampshire (~$52,808/yr) supports up to $1,320 a month in rent. Portsmouth's current median rent is $2,920/mo, which is $1,600/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does an auto mechanic work to cover rent in Portsmouth?
At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, an auto mechanic in New Hampshire works roughly 115 hours a month to cover Portsmouth's median rent of $2,920.
Where is rent cheaper than Portsmouth for an auto mechanic?
Nearby New Hampshire cities with lower median rent include Bedford ($2,908/mo), Bedford ($2,899/mo), Salem ($2,895/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an auto mechanic salary.