Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Exeter, NH?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.2% of gross income.

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

Exeter median rent
$2,288/mo
Registered Nurse salary (New Hampshire)
$97,314/yr
Rent as % of income
28.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,110, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,433/mo in rent. Exeter's median rent of $2,288 leaves roughly $145/mo of headroom under that threshold. A registered nurse works roughly 48.9 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a registered nurse salary

Rent is the single largest fixed cost most renters carry, and the rent-to-income ratio is the simplest measure of whether a city is livable on a given salary. For renters earning a typical registered-nurse income, the 30% rule supports about $2,360 a month in rent. That margin covers comfortable one-bedroom rent in the vast majority of US metros but tightens significantly in the highest-rent coastal cities, where rent can claim 40% or more of an RN paycheck. The per-city pages below show the local rent, the local nurse-pay estimate, and where that combination sits on the affordability scale.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Hooksett, NH
$2,286/mo (28.2% of income)
Derry, NH
$2,278/mo (28.1% of income)
Dover, NH
$2,267/mo (28% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Exeter

View full rent data for Exeter, NH

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Exeter, NH?

Median rent in Exeter is $2,288 a month. A typical registered nurse in New Hampshire earns about $97,314 a year, which makes that rent 28.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Exeter?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in New Hampshire (~$97,314/yr) supports up to $2,433 a month in rent. Exeter's current median rent is $2,288/mo, which leaves a $145/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $47 an hour, a registered nurse in New Hampshire works roughly 48.9 hours a month to cover Exeter's median rent of $2,288.

Where is rent cheaper than Exeter for a registered nurse?

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 registered nurse 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.