County FMR · HUD FY2026

Merrimack County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Merrimack County, NH - 57% above the US average.

$1,504
1-bedroom FMR
$1,974
2-bedroom FMR
+22.3%
YoY change
+57%
vs US avg

The verdict

Merrimack is the 4th most expensive of 10 counties in New Hampshire by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #126 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 22.3% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#126
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#4
most expensive of 10 in New Hampshire (2BR)
+3%
vs the state average
$60,160
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (13.6%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (59.5%).

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

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Merrimack County, New Hampshire at $1,504 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,974/mo and a studio is $1,361/mo. This is 57% higher than the national average of $959 and 3% above the New Hampshire average of $1,460.

Rent increased22.3% from FY 2025 ($1,230), outpacing inflation. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $60,160/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.

Observed renter burden: 41.6% of the 16,019 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in New Hampshire. Population: 4,727. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.7%, Census ACS). That's in line with New Hampshire's statewide growth of +3.3% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area MERRIMACK·COUNTY·NH·NH

Merrimack County, NH: $1,504/mo 1BR · #126 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA NH
  • 1BR-FMR $1,504
  • 2BR-FMR $1,974
  • RANK-UPPER #126
  • YOY-SURGE +22.3%
  • VSUS-HIGH +57%
  • VS-ST-NEAR +3% NH
  • INC-ROOM 19%
  • POP-SMALL 5K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Hillsborough Count
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,354–$1,654
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Hillsborough ($169 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,340 · US avg: $893
$1,361/mo
↑ 21.5% YoY +2% vs state +52% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,460 · US avg: $959
$1,504/mo
↑ 22.3% YoY +3% vs state +57% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,894 · US avg: $1,175
$1,974/mo
↑ 22.3% YoY +4% vs state +68% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $2,464 · US avg: $1,525
$2,604/mo
↑ 22.1% YoY +6% vs state +71% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,665 · US avg: $1,756
$2,614/mo
↑ 22.1% YoY -2% vs state +49% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,120
$1,361
+$241 (+21.5%)
1 Bedroom $1,230
$1,504
+$274 (+22.3%)
2 Bedroom $1,614
$1,974
+$360 (+22.3%)
3 Bedroom $2,132
$2,604
+$472 (+22.1%)
4 Bedroom $2,140
$2,614
+$474 (+22.1%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
17.4%
Affordable
Need $54,440/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
19.2%
Affordable
Need $60,160/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
25.2%
Affordable
Need $78,960/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
33.3%
Burdened
Need $104,160/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
33.4%
Burdened
Need $104,560/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.

0%100%National avg22%25.2%
Merrimack County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $93,944 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View New Hampshire rent burden →

Where Merrimack sits among every US county

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

$1,974 Top 4% higher than 96% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Below this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Below this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). This entry sits in this band. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

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 Merrimack compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other New Hampshire counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Merrimack 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 (this county) ($1,504), Cheshire County ($1,468), Grafton County ($1,455), Belknap County ($1,425).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

Against a high local FMR of $1,504/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 13.6% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $107,060 16.9% Affordable
Registered Nurses $96,830 18.6% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $82,830 21.8% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $67,620 26.7% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $64,430 28% Affordable
Electricians $61,990 29.1% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $60,640 29.8% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $58,620 30.8% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $46,960 38.4% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $45,300 39.8% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $37,860 47.7% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $37,220 48.5% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $35,440 50.9% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $30,320 59.5% 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 Merrimack County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Merrimack (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 71.9% overall, from $875 to $1,504. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +22.3% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$800$1,000$1,200$1,400$1,600 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,504
Merrimack County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑22.3% $1,361 $1,504 $1,974
FY 2025 ↑13.3% $1,120 $1,230 $1,614
FY 2024 ↑1.3% $972 $1,086 $1,427
FY 2023 ↑13.9% $963 $1,072 $1,411
FY 2022 ↑2.7% $857 $941 $1,237
FY 2021 ↑4.7% $840 $916 $1,186
FY 2020 $813 $875 $1,131
Total change (6yr): +71.9%
Annualized: +9.4%/yr
1 BR: $875 → $1,504

Part of the Concord, NH Micro Area

Merrimack County is a central county of the Concord, NH micropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Merrimack County, both outside New Hampshire so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside NH (FY2026).

Orange County
FL · 2 BR $1,972/mo
Seminole County
FL · 2 BR $1,972/mo
Osceola County
FL · 2 BR $1,972/mo
Lake County
FL · 2 BR $1,972/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside NH).

Waldo County
ME · 25.2% of income · 2 BR $1,438/mo
Klamath County
OR · 25.2% of income · 2 BR $1,247/mo
Rosebud County
MT · 25.2% of income · 2 BR $1,186/mo
Washington County
ID · 25.2% of income · 2 BR $1,127/mo

Nearby Counties in New Hampshire

Largest counties by population in New Hampshire

Showing the 8 largest of 9 other counties 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
Grafton County
1 BR: $1,455/mo Pop: 1,919
Cheshire County
1 BR: $1,468/mo Pop: 1,625
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 Merrimack County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Merrimack County is $1,504 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,974 and a studio is $1,361.
How does Merrimack County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Merrimack County is 57% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,504 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Merrimack County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Merrimack County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,974 ranks #126 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Merrimack County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $60,160 ($5,013/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Merrimack County.
Is rent going up or down in Merrimack County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Merrimack County increased by 22.3% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,230 to $1,504.
Which jobs can afford rent in Merrimack 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 $1,504/mo. 8 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Merrimack County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Merrimack County went from $875 in FY 2020 to $1,504 in FY 2026, a total change of +71.9% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Merrimack County? ▼
In Merrimack County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,504/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 Merrimack County? ▼
For Merrimack County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,504/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

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.