Can A Chef Afford Rent in Dover, NH?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.6% of gross income.

Dover rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Hampshire state estimate).

Dover median rent
$2,292/mo
Chef salary (New Hampshire)
$66,075/yr
Rent as % of income
41.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,506, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,652/mo in rent. Dover's median rent of $2,292 exceeds that threshold by $640/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 72.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a chef salary

Chef pay varies sharply by restaurant type, with executive chefs at high-end establishments earning materially above the BLS mean. At the national-average chef salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,604 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Nashua, NH
$2,278/mo (41.4% of income)
Nashua, NH
$2,275/mo (41.3% of income)
Derry, NH
$2,263/mo (41.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dover

View full rent data for Dover, NH →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Dover, NH?

Median rent in Dover is $2,292 a month. A typical chef in New Hampshire earns about $66,075 a year, which makes that rent 41.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a chef afford in Dover?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in New Hampshire (~$66,075/yr) supports up to $1,652 a month in rent. Dover's current median rent is $2,292/mo, which is $640/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Dover?

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in New Hampshire works roughly 72.2 hours a month to cover Dover's median rent of $2,292.

Where is rent cheaper than Dover for a chef?

Nearby New Hampshire cities with lower median rent include Nashua ($2,278/mo), Nashua ($2,275/mo), Derry ($2,263/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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