County FMR · HUD FY2026

Cheshire County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Cheshire County, NH - 53% above the US average.

Compiled by PlainRent Editorial, Fair Market Rent Editorial Team · May 15, 2026

$1,468
1-bedroom FMR: $1,926
2-bedroom FMR: +24.4%
YoY change: +53%
vs US avg

The verdict

Cheshire is the 5th most expensive of 10 counties in New Hampshire by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 24.4% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#5
most expensive of 10 in New Hampshire (2BR): +1%
vs the state average: $58,720
income to afford it (30% rule): +24.4%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (13.3%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (58.1%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Cheshire County, NH. Verify with HUD →

Cheshire County, New Hampshire carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,468 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,926/mo and a studio is $1,328/mo. That's 53% above the national benchmark of $959 and 1% above the New Hampshire average of $1,460.

Rent increased24.4% from FY 2025 ($1,180), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $58,720/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in New Hampshire. Population: 1,625. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.9%, Census ACS). That's slower than New Hampshire's statewide growth of +3.3% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Cheshire County

The Cheshire 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.

Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 53% above the US average of $959 and 1% higher than the New Hampshire state average of $1,460. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$1,180 in FY 2025 to $1,468 in FY 2026 - a change of +24.4%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,468, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $58,720 per year (about $4,893/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,926 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 1,625 and a county median household income of $81,001, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio

State avg: $1,340 · US avg: $893

$1,328/mo

↑ 25.2% YoY -1% vs state +49% vs US

1 Bedroom

State avg: $1,460 · US avg: $959

$1,468/mo

↑ 24.4% YoY +1% vs state +53% vs US

2 Bedroom

State avg: $1,894 · US avg: $1,175

$1,926/mo

↑ 24.4% YoY +2% vs state +64% vs US

3 Bedroom

State avg: $2,464 · US avg: $1,525

$2,518/mo

↑ 25.1% YoY +2% vs state +65% vs US

4 Bedroom

State avg: $2,665 · US avg: $1,756

$2,550/mo

↑ 24.3% YoY -4% vs state +45% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms	FY 2025	FY 2026	Change	vs State	vs US
Studio	$1,061	$1,328	+$267 (+25.2%)	-1%	+49%
1 Bedroom	$1,180	$1,468	+$288 (+24.4%)	+1%	+53%
2 Bedroom	$1,548	$1,926	+$378 (+24.4%)	+2%	+64%
3 Bedroom	$2,013	$2,518	+$505 (+25.1%)	+2%	+65%
4 Bedroom	$2,052	$2,550	+$498 (+24.3%)	-4%	+45%

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR

$58,720

$4,893/month gross

Required annual income for 2 BR

$77,040

$6,420/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Cheshire County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio

19.7%

Affordable

Need $53,120/yr for 30% rule

1 Bedroom

21.7%

Affordable

Need $58,720/yr for 30% rule

2 Bedroom

28.5%

Affordable

Need $77,040/yr for 30% rule

3 Bedroom

37.3%

Burdened

Need $100,720/yr for 30% rule

4 Bedroom

37.8%

Burdened

Need $102,000/yr for 30% rule

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.

Cheshire County 2-bedroom rent burden

County median income: $81,001 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View New Hampshire rent burden →

Where Cheshire sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$1,926 Top 5% higher than 95% 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

Rockingham

$1,730
Strafford

$1,677
Hillsborough

$1,673
Merrimack

$1,504
Cheshire

$1,468
Grafton

$1,455
Belknap

$1,425

What this shows Cheshire 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), Cheshire County (this county) ($1,468), Grafton County ($1,455), Belknap County ($1,425).

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,468/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	13.3%	Affordable
General & Operations Managers	$107,060	16.5%	Affordable
Registered Nurses	$96,830	18.2%	Affordable
Accountants & Auditors	$82,830	21.3%	Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$67,620	26.1%	Affordable
Elementary School Teachers	$64,430	27.3%	Affordable
Electricians	$61,990	28.4%	Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants	$60,640	29.1%	Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	$58,620	30.1%	Stretched
Customer Service Representatives	$46,960	37.5%	Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians	$45,300	38.9%	Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners	$37,860	46.5%	Stretched
Teaching Assistants	$37,220	47.3%	Stretched
Retail Salespersons	$35,440	49.7%	Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers	$30,320	58.1%	Unaffordable

Salaries: BLS OES (New Hampshire) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Cheshire County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Cheshire (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 82.1% overall, from $806 to $1,468. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +24.4% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

Cheshire County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026

Year	Studio	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
FY 2026 ↑24.4%	$1,328	$1,468	$1,926	$2,518	$2,550
FY 2025 ↑11.2%	$1,061	$1,180	$1,548	$2,013	$2,052
FY 2024 ↑4.9%	$945	$1,061	$1,394	$1,833	$1,888
FY 2023 ↑17.3%	$946	$1,011	$1,331	$1,860	$1,954
FY 2022 ↑4.7%	$816	$862	$1,122	$1,594	$1,805
FY 2021 ↑2.1%	$769	$823	$1,080	$1,546	$1,672
FY 2020	$725	$806	$1,062	$1,457	$1,550

Total change (6yr): +82.1%

Annualized: +10.5%/yr

1 BR: $806 → $1,468

Part of the Keene, NH Micro Area

Cheshire County is a central county of the Keene, NH micropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in New Hampshire

Largest counties by population in New Hampshire

Hillsborough County

1 BR: $1,673/mo Pop: 11,821

Strafford County

1 BR: $1,677/mo Pop: 9,420

Rockingham County

1 BR: $1,730/mo Pop: 7,222

Belknap County

1 BR: $1,425/mo Pop: 5,953

Merrimack County

1 BR: $1,504/mo Pop: 4,727

Grafton County

1 BR: $1,455/mo Pop: 1,919

Sullivan County

1 BR: $1,332/mo Pop: 854

Carroll County

1 BR: $1,343/mo Pop: 819

View all counties in New Hampshire →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Cheshire County? ▼

The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Cheshire County is $1,468 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,926 and a studio is $1,328.

How does Cheshire County rent compare to the national average? ▼

Rent in Cheshire County is 53% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,468 compared to $959 nationally.

What income do I need to afford rent in Cheshire County? ▼

Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $58,720 ($4,893/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Cheshire County.

Is rent going up or down in Cheshire County? ▼

The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Cheshire County increased by 24.4% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,180 to $1,468.

Which jobs can afford rent in Cheshire County? ▼

Based on New Hampshire BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,468/mo. 8 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.

How much has rent changed in Cheshire County over time? ▼

The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Cheshire County went from $806 in FY 2020 to $1,468 in FY 2026, a total change of +82.1% over 6 years.

How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Cheshire County? ▼

In Cheshire County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,468/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.

What does Fair Market Rent mean for Cheshire County? ▼

For Cheshire County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,468/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Cheshire'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 $1,468 implies about $58,720/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 Cheshire 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.

All federal data sources used on this page

HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

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.