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THE AFFORDABILITY THRESHOLD
Based on a projected median rent in 2030 of $3,000 a month, and current income levels adjusted for inflation, the affordability threshold of $120,000 is the median household income necessary to afford a rental home. About 80% of the current (2025) pipeline for rental housing is for high-end or luxury units, putting them well out of reach of most singles and families with mid- to lower incomes.


Recent Housing Update Newsletters
- May 3, 2025: Co-Living Arrives in Portsmouth
- April 24, 2025: Breaking: 240 Units of Affordable Units
- April 12, 2025: #26 What Housing Is Up Against
- April 5, 2025: #25 Speak Up For Housing
- Mar 20, 2025: #24 Real Politics Is Local
- Mar 12, 2025: #23 Desperate Need For Housing
- Feb 26, 2025: #22 Housing Needs Your Support
- Jan 27, 2025: Sherburne Special
- Jan 26, 2025: #21 A Win For Co-Living
- Jan 16, 2025: #20 A Big Year Ahead
OUR AFFORDABLE HOME CRISIS
CITIZENS ADVOCATING FOR HOUSING
PROGRESS PORTSMOUTH is focussing exclusively on the city's acute housing crisis. Living in Portsmouth has become unaffordable for a wide swath of people who already live here or would like or need to, from young singles to retired seniors. As rents of market-rate units continue to rise, a single person would currently need to earn $100,000 to afford a monthly rent of $2,400. As advocates for more affordable housing, we are building this resource page to keep you informed.
The challenge: 2,897 new rental units needed by 2030. Learn more . . .
At the current rate, we're falling short. If the city finds way to accelerate permitting and construction, if it gets the expertise needed to brainstorm innovative approaches, if residents pull together as a community — then we stand a chance. Below you'll see our current pipeline. Renting even a lower-end market-rate unit will require a household income of $160,000.


We need to move faster to meet our unmet housing demand. Learn more . . .

Are we ready for zoning reform?
Take a closer look . . .
