Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Portsmouth, NH?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 36% of gross income.
Portsmouth rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Hampshire state estimate).
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 Portsmouth, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for Portsmouth
View full rent data for Portsmouth, NH →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Portsmouth, NH?
Median rent in Portsmouth is $2,920 a month. A typical registered nurse in New Hampshire earns about $97,314 a year, which makes that rent 36% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Portsmouth?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in New Hampshire (~$97,314/yr) supports up to $2,433 a month in rent. Portsmouth's current median rent is $2,920/mo, which is $487/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Portsmouth?
At an hourly equivalent of about $47 an hour, a registered nurse in New Hampshire works roughly 62.4 hours a month to cover Portsmouth's median rent of $2,920.
Where is rent cheaper than Portsmouth for a registered nurse?
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 a registered nurse salary.