Strafford County, NH at a glance
Median household income
$88,570$7,381 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Strafford County, NH?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Strafford County, NH? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Portsmouth-Rochester, NH HUD Metro FMR Area, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,601 | $19,212 | $64,040 | 21.7% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,677 | $20,124 | $67,080 | 22.7% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $2,194 | $26,328 | $87,760 | 29.7% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,693 | $32,316 | $107,720 | 36.5% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,941 | $35,292 | $117,640 | 39.8% |
Rent in Strafford County, NH, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Strafford County, NH
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $88,570 a year ($7,381 a month before tax).
What $88,570 leaves after New Hampshire taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and New Hampshire tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in New Hampshire
Living in Strafford County, NH: common questions
What is the median household income in Strafford County, NH?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Strafford County, NH is $88,570 per year (approximately $7,381 per month).
What is the average rent in Strafford County, NH?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,601 for a studio, $1,677 for one bedroom, $2,194 for two, $2,693 for three and $2,941 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Strafford County, NH expensive to live in?
Prices there run 8.3% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 108.3, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Strafford County, NH?
To keep a $2,194 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $87,760 a year, or $7,313 a month. That is 99% of what the typical household in Strafford County, NH earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Strafford County, NH?
On the local median income of $88,570 ($7,381 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,690 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,214 for everything else and $1,476 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $2,194 takes 59% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Strafford County, NH?
Homes in New Hampshire paid 27¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $243. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.