FMR Lookup › New Hampshire › Portsmouth-Rochester
Section 8 Fair Market Rent in Portsmouth-Rochester, NH (FY2026)
HUD's official FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Portsmouth-Rochester, NH HUD Metro FMR Area, by bedroom count. These figures set the baseline for what the Housing Choice Voucher program pays landlords in this area.
| Unit size | FY2026 FMR | Payment standard range (90–110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / efficiency | $1,601 | $1,441 – $1,761 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,677 | $1,509 – $1,845 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,194 | $1,975 – $2,413 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,693 | $2,424 – $2,962 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,941 | $2,647 – $3,235 |
Source: HUD User — FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. FY2026 FMRs are effective October 1, 2025. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
How this market compares
The 2-bedroom FMR here is $2,194 — 13% above the New Hampshire median of $1,950 across all 14 FMR areas in the state.
Counties and towns covered
The Portsmouth-Rochester, NH FMR area is a metro area covering: Brentwood town (Rockingham County), East Kingston town (Rockingham County), Epping town (Rockingham County), Exeter town (Rockingham County), Greenland town (Rockingham County), Hampton town (Rockingham County), Hampton Falls town (Rockingham County), Kensington town (Rockingham County), New Castle town (Rockingham County), Newfields town (Rockingham County), Newington town (Rockingham County), Newmarket town (Rockingham County), North Hampton town (Rockingham County), Portsmouth city (Rockingham County), Rye town (Rockingham County), Stratham town (Rockingham County), Barrington town (Strafford County), Dover city (Strafford County), Durham town (Strafford County), Farmington town (Strafford County), Lee town (Strafford County), Madbury town (Strafford County), Middleton town (Strafford County), Milton town (Strafford County), New Durham town (Strafford County), Rochester city (Strafford County), Rollinsford town (Strafford County), Somersworth city (Strafford County), Strafford town (Strafford County). One FMR applies across the whole area — HUD does not publish separate figures per city or ZIP here (some large metros have Small Area FMRs by ZIP; check with the local housing authority).
What a landlord actually collects
FMR is the baseline, not the contract rent. The local housing authority sets a payment standard between 90% and 110% of FMR (the range in the table above), and your unit must pass a rent-reasonableness comparison against similar unassisted rentals nearby. The voucher then covers the gap between the tenant's share (roughly 30% of their income) and the approved rent.
Run the numbers for a deal in Portsmouth-Rochester: Section 8 vs market rent, DSCR, or cash-on-cash return.
Comparable New Hampshire markets by 2BR FMR
| FMR area | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Rockingham County | $1,692 | $2,220 | $3,069 |
| Nashua | $1,673 | $2,127 | $2,822 |
| Lawrence | $1,730 | $2,270 | $2,722 |
| Manchester | $1,552 | $2,037 | $2,442 |
| Merrimack County | $1,504 | $1,974 | $2,604 |
| Cheshire County | $1,468 | $1,926 | $2,518 |
All 14 New Hampshire FMR areas →
Informational only — not financial, legal, or lending advice. Confirm current payment standards with the housing authority serving Portsmouth-Rochester.