County FMR · HUD FY2026
Hillsborough County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Hillsborough County, NH - 74% above the US average.
- $1,673
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $2,127
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +3.2%
- YoY change
- +74%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Hillsborough is the 3rd most expensive of 10 counties in New Hampshire by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #94 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #94
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #3
- most expensive of 10 in New Hampshire (2BR)
- +15%
- vs the state average
- $66,920
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (15.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (66.2%); only 5 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Hillsborough County, NH. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire is $1,673 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $2,127/mo and a studio is $1,467/mo. This is 74% higher than the national average of $959 and 15% above the New Hampshire average of $1,460.
Rent increased3.2% from FY 2025 ($1,621), outpacing inflation. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $66,920/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in New Hampshire. Population: 11,821. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.3%, Census ACS). That's in line with New Hampshire's statewide growth of +3.3% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Hillsborough County
HUD publishes one FMR schedule per FMR area (often the county). Local housing authorities use it as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment-standard baseline. See how FMR is calculated.
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Hillsborough County's 2-bedroom of $2,127 ranks #94 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
Hillsborough County sits in the expensive tier: 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent is 74% above the US average of $959, and 15% above the New Hampshire average of $1,460. Voucher payment standards and renter budgets both feel that premium. From FY 2025 to FY 2026 the 1-bedroom schedule moved $1,621 → $1,673 (+3.2%), widening an already-expensive gap versus national norms.
At $1,673/mo for a 1-bedroom, the 30% rule wants $66,920/year: still within reach of the county median income of $100,436, though a 2-bedroom at $2,127 raises the bar.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,458 | $1,467 | +$9 (+0.6%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,621 | $1,673 | +$52 (+3.2%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $2,126 | $2,127 | +$1 (+0.0%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,824 | $2,822 | $-2 (-0.1%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,999 | $3,001 | +$2 (+0.1%) |
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 Hillsborough 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.
Where Hillsborough sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$2,127 Top 3% higher than 97% 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 Hillsborough 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
- Cheshire
Cheshire County
$1,468 1BR FMR / mo
- Grafton
Grafton County
$1,455 1BR FMR / mo
- Belknap
Belknap County
$1,425 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Hillsborough is highlighted. Nearby New Hampshire counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Rockingham County ($1,730), Strafford County ($1,677), Hillsborough County (this county) ($1,673), Merrimack County ($1,504), Cheshire County ($1,468), Grafton County ($1,455), Belknap County ($1,425).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,673/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using New Hampshire BLS wages?
| Occupation | NH Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $132,420 | 15.2% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $107,060 | 18.8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $96,830 | 20.7% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $82,830 | 24.2% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $67,620 | 29.7% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $64,430 | 31.2% | Stretched |
| Electricians | $61,990 | 32.4% | Stretched |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $60,640 | 33.1% | Stretched |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,620 | 34.2% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $46,960 | 42.8% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $45,300 | 44.3% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $37,860 | 53% | Unaffordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $37,220 | 53.9% | Unaffordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,440 | 56.6% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $30,320 | 66.2% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Hillsborough County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Hillsborough (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 61.5% overall, from $1,036 to $1,673. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 10.7% (FY 2021).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑3.2% | $1,467 | $1,673 | $2,127 |
| FY 2025 ↑8.9% | $1,458 | $1,621 | $2,126 |
| FY 2024 ↑9.2% | $1,326 | $1,489 | $1,956 |
| FY 2023 ↑10.3% | $1,201 | $1,364 | $1,796 |
| FY 2022 ↑7.8% | $1,082 | $1,237 | $1,628 |
| FY 2021 ↑10.7% | $997 | $1,147 | $1,511 |
| FY 2020 | $889 | $1,036 | $1,365 |
Part of the Manchester-Nashua, NH Metro Area
Hillsborough County is a central county of the Manchester-Nashua, NH metropolitan statistical area.
Nearby Counties in New Hampshire
Largest counties by population in New Hampshire
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Hillsborough County? ▼
How does Hillsborough County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Hillsborough County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Hillsborough County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Hillsborough County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Hillsborough County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Hillsborough County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Hillsborough County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Hillsborough County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Hillsborough'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 $1,673 implies about $66,920/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 Hillsborough 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.