Based on their income levels, registered nurses can afford a two-bedroom apartment at $1,833 a month in the state’s rental market. Public school teachers and electricians make enough for a typical one-bedroom at $1,430.

Since rental costs are on the rise again, many carpenters, firefighters, construction workers, custodians, retail employees and fast food workers are priced out of New Hampshire’s rental market, according to new data from New Hampshire Housing, which promotes affordable housing across the state. 

Nearly half of New Hampshire renters are considered “rent-burdened,” which means they are spending 30% or more of their income on rent. 

Over the last decade, rental costs have steadily climbed. In 2019, median rent for a two-bedroom apartment was just over $1,300. Last year, it jumped to just over $1,700. At $1,833, the current median rent for a two-bedroom is a 36% higher than five years ago. 

New Hampshire’s housing crisis continues to plague the rental market with high costs and low availability, and inflate home prices. Last month, median home values surpassed $500,000. Rental vacancy rates remain below 1% as median rent continues to climb.

Housing projects that could begin to ease that stress are often slow to develop or rejected due to local regulations and zoning. In Concord, a project that could bring as many as 1,000 apartments and condos, including affordable units, has been halted largely because the land is zoned for industrial uses and the city won’t entertain attempts to change it.   

With soaring costs, first-time homeowners are unable to save for down payments and other purchasing costs, holding them in the rental market, according to New Hampshire Housing.

As a result, the rental market is a bottleneck, with far more demand than supply. 

In Merrimack County, the current median rent of $1,500 for a two-bedroom unit is below statewide averages but still has increased by 29% over the last five years. 

With estimates that the state needs to build 60,000 units by 2030 to alleviate housing demands, and 90,000 by 2040, new polling shows that Granite Staters are more acutely aware of the housing crisis. 

In June, one in three respondents to a University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll said that housing was the most important issue facing the state. The economy, immigration and jobs ranked in the single digits.

Voters want action from their local leaders, too.

In a Saint Anselm College Survey Center report 75% of respondents said that their community needed to build more affordable housing, 61% said there needed to be more multi-family housing available and 59% wanted to see more affordable housing. 

“These strong pro-housing attitudes, and the recognition that change at the state level can remove obstacles to housing development, are crucial,” wrote Rob Dapice, the executive director of New Hampshire Housing in the report.

In the gubernatorial race, the top four candidates have stressed housing as a top campaign issue. In the race for New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District, candidates have also unveiled housing policy plans. 

Meanwhile, in the Statehouse, some legislative efforts made it to the governor’s desk from the newly created Special Committee on Housing. As a result of that work, legislators hope the group will remain a permanent fixture in future sessions.