salaryRent is higher than in 83% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 6.0 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. It is a highly educated city: 64% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $96,200 a year. That is $46 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other New Hampshire cities?
No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of New Hampshire. It is number 24 of 26 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Portsmouth?
Share of households by yearly income. 40.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Portsmouth
| Size | Portsmouth | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,312 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,461 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,326 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,096 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,490 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Portsmouth overall?
Everyday prices in New Hampshire overall are 4% above the U.S. average (index 104.2, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Portsmouth, so the New Hampshire figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Portsmouth
Life in Portsmouth
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Portsmouth?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $2,372 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $688,500 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $68,850 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Portsmouth, NH?
Renting in Portsmouth costs a median of about $2,405 a month in 2026, including utilities. The New Hampshire median is $1,916.
How much do I need to make to live in Portsmouth?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $96,200 a year, or $46 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Portsmouth cheap or expensive?
Portsmouth is rated OK: rent takes 25.2% of the typical household income of $114,557. It ranks 24th cheapest of 26 New Hampshire cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Portsmouth?
The median homeowner in Portsmouth pays $8,018 a year in property taxes, about 1.16% of the median home value.
Is Portsmouth more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in New Hampshire are 4% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Portsmouth?
The median home value in Portsmouth is $688,500, about 6.0 times the typical yearly household income.
22,545 people live in Portsmouth. Numbers are typical (middle) values.