New Hampshire Housing released a September 24 report examining how the state's shortage of affordable homes affects workers, employers and the communities where jobs are concentrated.
The agency's announcement says the median single-family home price reached a record $575,000 and that only 15 percent of New Hampshire households earned enough to afford that home. The report combines affordability figures with housing-production data and employer interviews.
The New Hampshire Bulletin's September 30 coverage described similar pressure in the rental market. In Lebanon, the hourly wage needed to afford median rent was $47.06, compared with a statewide median hourly wage of $25.29 in June 2025.
The rent calculation limits housing spending to 30 percent of income. It is an affordability benchmark, rather than an instruction that every household can obtain a rental at that price.
The Bulletin reported that median rents exceeded the statewide wage benchmark in 11 of the state's 13 cities. Berlin and Franklin were the exceptions.
The report also compares jobs with nonseasonal housing. Portsmouth had 3.37 jobs per home and Lebanon had 2.82, figures the agency uses to describe pressure for workers to commute into those communities.
New Hampshire Housing says availability affects recruitment and retention as well as household budgets. Its analysis includes regional needs and construction progress, giving municipalities and employers evidence to consider when discussing where additional homes should be built.
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