Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Exeter, NH?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.7% of gross income.

Exeter rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Hampshire state estimate).

Exeter median rent
$2,288/mo
Carpenter salary (New Hampshire)
$62,768/yr
Rent as % of income
43.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,231, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,569/mo in rent. Exeter's median rent of $2,288 exceeds that threshold by $719/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 75.8 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a carpenter salary

Carpenter pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. Union carpenters in high-cost cities often earn well above the BLS mean. At the national-average carpenter salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,524 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These New Hampshire cities have lower median rent than Exeter, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Hooksett, NH
$2,286/mo (43.7% of income)
Derry, NH
$2,278/mo (43.6% of income)
Dover, NH
$2,267/mo (43.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Exeter

View full rent data for Exeter, NH

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Exeter, NH?

Median rent in Exeter is $2,288 a month. A typical carpenter in New Hampshire earns about $62,768 a year, which makes that rent 43.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Exeter?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in New Hampshire (~$62,768/yr) supports up to $1,569 a month in rent. Exeter's current median rent is $2,288/mo, which is $719/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Exeter?

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a carpenter in New Hampshire works roughly 75.8 hours a month to cover Exeter's median rent of $2,288.

Where is rent cheaper than Exeter for a carpenter?

Nearby New Hampshire cities with lower median rent include Hooksett ($2,286/mo), Derry ($2,278/mo), Dover ($2,267/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived New Hampshire state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Exeter, NH. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.