County FMR · HUD FY2026
Carroll County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Carroll County, NH - 40% above the US average.
- $1,343
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,709
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +19.2%
- YoY change
- +40%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Carroll is the 2nd cheapest of 10 counties in New Hampshire by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 19.2% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #2
- cheapest of 10 in New Hampshire (2BR)
- -8%
- vs the state average
- $53,720
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +19.2%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (12.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (53.2%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Carroll County, NH. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Carroll County, New Hampshire at $1,343 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,709/mo and a studio is $1,190/mo. This is 40% higher than the national average of $959 and 8% below the New Hampshire average of $1,460.
Rent increased19.2% from FY 2025 ($1,127), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $53,720/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in New Hampshire. Population: 819. Population grew 7.1% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than New Hampshire's statewide growth of +3.3% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Carroll County
The Carroll County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and New Hampshire's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Carroll County's 1-bedroom rent runs 40% above the US average of $959 and 8% lower than the New Hampshire state average of $1,460. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$1,127 in FY 2025 to $1,343 in FY 2026 - a change of +19.2%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,343, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $53,720 per year (about $4,477/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,709 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 819 and a county median household income of $82,961, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $973 | $1,190 | +$217 (+22.3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,127 | $1,343 | +$216 (+19.2%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,395 | $1,709 | +$314 (+22.5%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,876 | $2,353 | +$477 (+25.4%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,328 | $2,834 | +$506 (+21.7%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Carroll County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How we calculate this
Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.
Carroll County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Carroll sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,709 Top 10% higher than 90% of 3,145 counties
Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026
How Carroll compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other New Hampshire counties
- Rockingham
Rockingham County
$1,730 1BR FMR / mo
- Strafford
Strafford County
$1,677 1BR FMR / mo
- Hillsborough
Hillsborough County
$1,673 1BR FMR / mo
- Merrimack
Merrimack County
$1,504 1BR FMR / mo
- Grafton
Grafton County
$1,455 1BR FMR / mo
- Belknap
Belknap County
$1,425 1BR FMR / mo
- Carroll
Carroll County
$1,343 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Carroll is highlighted. Nearby New Hampshire counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Rockingham County ($1,730), Strafford County ($1,677), Hillsborough County ($1,673), Merrimack County ($1,504), Grafton County ($1,455), Belknap County ($1,425), Carroll County (this county) ($1,343).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,343/mo compares to New Hampshire salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | NH Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $132,420 | 12.2% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $107,060 | 15.1% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $96,830 | 16.6% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $82,830 | 19.5% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $67,620 | 23.8% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $64,430 | 25% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $61,990 | 26% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $60,640 | 26.6% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,620 | 27.5% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $46,960 | 34.3% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $45,300 | 35.6% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $37,860 | 42.6% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $37,220 | 43.3% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,440 | 45.5% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $30,320 | 53.2% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Carroll County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Carroll (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 64.8% overall, from $815 to $1,343. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +19.2% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑19.2% | $1,190 | $1,343 | $1,709 |
| FY 2025 ↑11.7% | $973 | $1,127 | $1,395 |
| FY 2024 ↑2.6% | $866 | $1,009 | $1,241 |
| FY 2023 ↑12.9% | $802 | $983 | $1,199 |
| FY 2022 ↑2.4% | $713 | $871 | $1,073 |
| FY 2021 ↑4.4% | $693 | $851 | $1,050 |
| FY 2020 | $653 | $815 | $1,002 |
Where Carroll County Ranks in New Hampshire
Carroll County is not part of any federally-designated metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area -- an independent rental market not administratively tied to a larger urban core. By 2-bedroom FMR, it ranks #2 of 10 counties in New Hampshire. Nearest by rank: Coos County ($1,287), Carroll County (this county) ($1,709), Sullivan County ($1,747), Belknap County ($1,800), Grafton County ($1,909).
Nearby Counties in New Hampshire
Largest counties by population in New Hampshire
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Carroll County? ▼
How does Carroll County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Carroll County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Carroll County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Carroll County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Carroll County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Carroll County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Carroll County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Carroll's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,343 implies about $53,720/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
- See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Carroll can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.