With the election behind us, our attention returns to housing! 2025 -- some progress, but nowhere near enough.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
The live model for the workforce housing Portsmouth needs is Ruth Lewin Griffin Place on Court Street, created by Portsmouth Housing Authority. It's 64 units of permanently affordable housing where qualified residents pay about 1/3 of market-rate rents. By 2030 we need over 1,000 more units like them.
Not to be confused with the Master Plan the City is currently rewriting. The Master Plan provides only broad guidance; it is not an action plan. In 2026, we'll make a case for such a plan. (If Keene, NH, can do it, we can too.)
RENTS STILL UNAFFORDABLE FOR MOST
Rents have leveled off but they are not going down. Most new market-rate rentals in the pipeline are still far beyond the means of most residents. We stand by our data.
Source: Zillow Rental Market for 03801, last updated Nov 29, 2025. All-unit monthly averages (2024-2025) follow Zillow's 'Average rent price over time' table. Dec-25 uses the current overall average rent ($3,044) as a proxy. Bedroom-level lines are modeled from all-unit monthly averages and current bedroom-specific averages.
HELP US MOVE THE NEEDLE
A quick email reminds our elected officials you're paying attention. Tell them you support more action and moving faster on housing.
