ZIP Code · NH

ZIP 03801

Part of Portsmouth, NH

Pop. 23,484·Rockingham County·1st most expensive ZIP in New Hampshire

Median rent (all units)

$2,976/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.8%

Month-over-Month

+0.9%

vs US Median

+$1,044

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 03801 · $2,976

More expensive than 90% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,840

1 BR

$1,930

2 BR

$2,520

3 BR

$3,090

4 BR+

$3,380

Research median

$2,520/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 03801 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2022.

Past year vs. the rest of New Hampshire

Rent in ZIP 03801 changed +2.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 20 New Hampshire ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($106,756) is $2,669 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,520); a 3-bedroom is $3,090.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 03904, 5 miles away, rents for 19% less ($2,403/mo), about $6,900 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 03801. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$35,712/yr

At $2,976/mo median

Location

CityPortsmouth

StateNH

CountyRockingham County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.8% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.8% YoY, +0.9% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 03801 (Portsmouth, NH) is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 63.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

23,484

Median income

$106,756

Median age

43.3

Renters

47%

Age distribution

14%

24%

25.3%

14.4%

22.2%

Under 1814%

18–3424%

35–5425.3%

55–6414.4%

65+22.2%

Gender

49.9%

50.1%

Male49.9%

Female50.1%

Race & ethnicity

86.7%

White86.7%

Hispanic3.7%

Asian4%

Other5.2%

Education (25+)

16%

17.6%

63.9%

No HS diploma2.5%

HS diploma16%

Some college17.6%

Bachelor's+63.9%

Housing tenure

53%

47%

Owner53%

Renter47%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 03801 in Portsmouth, NH has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,410 → $2,976

up 23.5%

Income

$92,576 → $106,756

up 15.3%

Population

22,904 → 23,484

up 2.5%

Renter share

47.1% → 47%

-0.1 pts

Bachelor's+

62.7% → 63.9%

+1.2 pts

Across the past five years, the going rent in ZIP 03801 in Portsmouth, NH has shifted from $2,410 to $2,976, up 23.5% since 2022. Median household income climbed from $92,576 to $106,756 between 2021 and 2024, a 15.3% shift. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show ZIP 03801 in Portsmouth, NH adding about 580 residents over the five-year window, up 2.5% on net. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 03801 in Portsmouth, NH reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

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About renting in ZIP 03801

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 03801 covers Portsmouth, NH. The median rent here is $2,976/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,930/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,520/mo.

At 33% of local median household income ($106,756/yr), ZIP 03801 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 03801?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $119,000/year (about $57/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,976/mo in ZIP 03801. The local median household income is $106,756/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 03801?

Rent in ZIP 03801 has risen 2.8% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2022.

How does ZIP 03801 compare to other ZIPs in New Hampshire?

ZIP 03801 is one of the pricier among New Hampshire ZIP codes for rent, ranking #1 of 24 at $2,976/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 03801 changed +2.8%, against a typical +3.4% across the 20 New Hampshire ZIP codes Zillow tracks.