New Hampshire real estate market overview - 2026

The regional housing markets within New Hampshire present varied conditions, reflecting unique economic drivers and housing demand. The following subsections provide a focused look at key areas across the state.

Southern New Hampshire

In Southern New Hampshire, places like Nashua and Salem are the most competitive in the state. Nashua's median sale price was $539,743 in September 2026, up 5.8% from a year earlier, and homes went under contract in a median of 17 days, per Redfin. Salem ($609,710) sits right on the Massachusetts line, so it draws commuters who want a shorter drive to Boston without Massachusetts prices or its income tax.

Seacoast Region

The Seacoast Region, especially Portsmouth and Hampton, has the state's highest prices. Portsmouth's median sale price was $764,636 in September 2026 and Hampton's was $619,455, according to Redfin. Both actually dipped from a year earlier (down 7.0% and 12.7%), and Portsmouth homes took 56 days to sell, so the coast is cooling faster than the rest of the state.

Central New Hampshire

Central New Hampshire, including cities like Concord and Laconia, is calmer. Concord's median sale price was $444,788 in September 2026, up 1.1% from a year earlier. Laconia ($463,779) is pricier than people expect because of the lakefront homes around Winnipesaukee, and those take longer to sell: a median of 69 days, per Redfin.

Northern New Hampshire

Lastly, Northern New Hampshire is still the most affordable region. In the Berlin area, the typical home value was $252,870 in September 2026, less than half the statewide figure, per Zillow, and values slipped 2.0% over the year. If you want lower prices in the south, Keene ($370,823 median sale price, per Redfin) is the usual pick for first-time buyers.

In the New Hampshire real estate market, buyers and sellers are navigating contrasting conditions: sellers may find opportunities within a tight inventory while buyers face challenges like escalating prices and limited choices.

Buyer market overview

Buyers in southern New Hampshire still have a hard time. With low months of supply (1.6 in Manchester and Nashua, 1.3 in Derry in September 2026), bidding wars happen a lot. In Manchester, 57% of homes sold for more than asking that month, according to Redfin. So: get pre-approved, and be ready to decide fast. Up north and on the coast, buyers have more breathing room.

Seller market trends

Sellers in most of New Hampshire are still in good shape because inventory of homes for sale stays low. In the Manchester metro, homes went under contract in an average of 21 days in September 2026, per Zillow. Seller's market conditions aren't everywhere, though. Portsmouth and Laconia homes sat for two months or more, and overpriced listings anywhere end up with price drops.

Prices in New Hampshire have climbed for years, and the pace is only now slowing. Here's where they stand.

Price fluctuations

Home prices in New Hampshire are still rising, just more slowly. The statewide typical home value was up 2.9% year over year in September 2026, per Zillow, compared with double-digit gains in 2021 and 2022. Concord's metro area was up 3.1% and Keene's 3.0%.

Appreciation rates

Appreciation over the longer run has been big. New Hampshire's typical home value is up 36% in five years, from about $375,000 in September 2021 to $510,937 in September 2026, per Zillow. Laconia has seen some of the sharpest gains: its metro median sale price hit $542,167 in August 2026, up 14.1% in a year. That's a lot of equity for owners and a high bar for new buyers.

Real estate transactions in New Hampshire offer a dynamic and informative view of the state's housing market. This section provides detailed data on recent sales activity and the status of pending and closed sales to present a comprehensive picture of the real estate transactions.

Recent sales activity

Sales volume in New Hampshire is mixed. Manchester sold 378 homes in September 2026, up 13% from a year earlier, while Nashua's sales fell 7% to 284, per Redfin. The median sale price in Manchester was flat at $459,781. For statewide monthly reports, New Hampshire REALTORS® publishes its own numbers.

• Homes Sold: Up in Manchester, Derry and Laconia; down in Nashua, Keene and Portsmouth (September 2026, Redfin).
• Median Sale Price: Up in Nashua (5.8%) and Concord (1.1%), flat in Manchester and Derry, down in Keene, Salem and on the Seacoast.

Pending and closed sales

Pending sales offer an insight into the future of the market, denoting the volume of transactions likely to become closed sales. Homes in the Manchester metro were going under contract in about 21 days in September 2026, and in about 29 days in the Concord metro, per Zillow. Both are a little slower than a year earlier. Meanwhile, the number of closed sales provides a retrospective look at completed transactions, solidifying the trends indicated by pending sales.

• Pending Sales: Homes are still going under contract within a month in the southern metros.
• Closed Sales: Up in some cities and down in others, with no big statewide swing.

Nobody can promise where prices go next, but the current numbers point to slow growth rather than a drop.

Short-term forecasts

Over the next year, expect a slight increase in home prices rather than a jump. Values were up 2.9% statewide over the past 12 months, per Zillow. Inventory is rising a bit (up 10.7% year over year in the Manchester metro), which should take some heat out of prices in the short term.

Long-term outlook

For the long-term outlook, the earlier forecasts were too rosy. Some projections called for Concord prices to rise as much as 6.7% by early 2026; the actual gain was 3.1% through September 2026, per Zillow. That's still an increase, just a smaller one. However, economic shifts, such as a potential recession or changes in the job market, may impact these forecasted trends. While the threat of a housing market crash remains a concern in various speculations, current analyses do not foresee such a downturn for New Hampshire.

For investors and buyers, the question in New Hampshire is mostly about price. Here's how it shakes out.

Real estate investing

Investors will find slower growth than a few years ago but solid rents. The Keene metro's typical home value was up 3.0% year over year in September 2026, per Zillow, and typical rent there was $1,880 a month. In the Manchester metro, typical rent was $2,165, up 3.6% in a year.

Investing factors:

• Recent Growth: Statewide values up 2.9% in the year to September 2026 (Zillow).
• Historical Performance: Up 36% over five years, so buying in now means smaller future gains are more likely.

Home affordability

The concept of affordability largely hinges on median household income in relation to the median home prices. In New Hampshire, the typical home value nearly doubled from about $263,000 in January 2018 to $510,937 in September 2026, per Zillow. Earlier reporting already flagged affordability as a problem in 2023, and prices have only gone up since. At a 7.24% mortgage rate, that's a lot of house payment.

Affordability factors:

• Median Income vs. Home Price: The gap has widened substantially.
• Buying Time: Identifying the best time to buy a house necessitates an understanding of current market conditions and trends.
• Commission Rates: The average listing commission remains a consideration in the cost of buying a home.

Bottom line: investors can still find deals in the cheaper northern and western towns, while first-time buyers in the south are fighting high prices and high rates at the same time.

Mortgage rates in New Hampshire follow national interest rates and inflation, and they matter a lot here because prices are so high. Lending standards matter too.

Mortgage rate trends

The average 30-year fixed rate was 7.24% in the week of October 29, 2026, according to Freddie Mac, down slightly from 7.40% two weeks earlier. On New Hampshire's typical $510,937 home with 20% down, that works out to roughly $2,790 a month in principal and interest before taxes and insurance.

• Current Mortgage Rate: 7.24% for a 30-year fixed (Freddie Mac, October 29, 2026)
• Recent Trend: Drifting down a little through October 2026

Lending practices

Lenders in New Hampshire have adapted their practices to accommodate the shifting financial environment, framed by the trends in mortgage rates. Mortgage applications are thoroughly reviewed with considerations such as an applicant's creditworthiness and the overall risk presented by market conditions. For potential homebuyers, this signifies that securing a mortgage could be more challenging, and could potentially lead to more competitive lending scenarios, where terms and rates are closely tied to one's financial profile.

• Loan Approval Criteria: Stricter, reflecting market risks
• Mortgage Payment Factors: Highly dependent on individual credit scores and economic context

In New Hampshire, the residential real estate market is diverse, predominantly featuring single-family homes and an array of condos and townhomes, catering to various preferences and lifestyles.

Single-family homes

The single-family home is the cornerstone of New Hampshire's residential offerings. Typically, these detached properties stand on their own parcels of land, offering privacy and space that appeal to a broad segment of buyers. In Keene, for example, the metro's typical home value rose 3.0% over the year to September 2026, per Zillow.

Condos and townhomes

Condominiums and townhomes provide a more compact and often less maintenance-intensive living situation. They are an attractive option for residents who prioritize location and convenience over larger private spaces. Multi-unit buildings and developments offer shared amenities, which contributes to the practical appeal of condos and townhomes in New Hampshire's housing landscape.

In examining the New Hampshire real estate market, demographic shifts and the evolving job market are critical elements. These factors significantly influence housing demand and the preferences of people living in or moving to the state.

Population growth

New Hampshire's population keeps growing. It reached 1,415,342 in July 2025, up about 0.5% in a year, according to the Census Bureau. The state attracts individuals and families seeking a balanced way of life, which includes access to outdoor activities, a low crime rate, and a strong sense of community. These aspects contribute to a growing demand for housing as more people consider New Hampshire a desirable place to live.

Key Statistics:

• Population Increase: About 6,800 more residents between 2024 and 2025 (Census Bureau).
• Migration: There is a notable trend of individuals moving to New Hampshire from other states, searching for a higher quality of life.

Job market changes

The job market in New Hampshire has seen transformations aligned with national economic trends. A diversified economy with growth in sectors like healthcare, technology, and manufacturing impacts the real estate market.

Recent Trends:

• Employment Rates: Unemployment was 2.6% in September 2026, compared with 4.2% nationally (BLS).
• Job Opportunities: New job opportunities are emerging, especially in the technology and healthcare sectors, attracting professionals who further stimulate the local real estate market.

In the New Hampshire real estate landscape, professionals have a wealth of resources aimed at enhancing their practice, adhering to regulations, and gleaning local market insights. Key organizations and systems such as the New Hampshire Association of Realtors (NHAR) and Multiple Listing Service (MLS) offer support and information vital to real estate agents' success.

Local agent insights

Real estate agents in New Hampshire leverage the MLS for comprehensive data on current market trends. This system facilitates an efficient exchange of information among agents, providing access to property listings, historical pricing data, and community information agents need for advising clients accurately. The NHAR also serves as a hub for knowledge sharing, with seminars and webinars detailing local economic conditions and forecasts that can influence housing markets.

Regulatory considerations

Real estate professionals must navigate a series of regulatory requirements to ensure compliance with state and federal laws. The NHAR provides up-to-date resources on ethical practices and legal frameworks that govern real estate transactions in New Hampshire. Tools and guidance on topics such as fair housing, real estate taxes, and contracts are available to help agents meet their legal obligations. Additionally, the NHAR advocates for policy changes beneficial to the real estate community and offers continuing education opportunities to maintain licensure.

Agents' success in New Hampshire's real estate market depends on their understanding of these resources and their ability to apply them effectively in their practice.

The New Hampshire real estate market displays nuanced variation across different counties, reflected in metrics like median price and days on the market. In assessing the Granite State, one observes that real estate trends are informed by such supplementary market data.

Median sales price serves as a critical indicator of the real estate climate. New Hampshire's median price offers potential buyers and investors a gauge of the market's midpoint valuation, which can be compared across different geographical territories within the state.

Inventory levels, or the number of homes available, significantly influence rent prices and the ease with which buyers can find suitable properties. A lower inventory may lead to competitive markets, where properties sell rapidly, thus reducing the median days on the market. Conversely, a higher number of homes available may denote a cooling phase, potentially increasing the median days on market and offering renters more options.

Data on foreclosures provides insights into the financial health of the market, indicating the rate at which homeowners are unable to meet their mortgage obligations. This can paint a picture of the broader economic standing of the region and can be a precursor to shifts in market dynamics.

Market experts analyze New Hampshire real estate market trends by focusing on these entities to forecast future directions and to understand the present scenario. Monthly and yearly variations can often be seen in the data, promising a comprehensive view of the market for stakeholders.

In Manchester, the state's largest city, the median sale price was $459,781 in September 2026, and homes typically spent 23 days on the market before selling. There were 561 homes listed for sale, according to Redfin.

Analyzing such data, decision-makers and consumers alike can proceed with a confident and knowledgeable approach when navigating the fluctuations and opportunities inherent in the New Hampshire real estate landscape.

In examining the New Hampshire real estate market, one notes a consistent pattern of growth in select areas combined with a tightening supply of available properties.

Key cities and neighborhoods

• Manchester: Median sale price flat at $459,781 in September 2026, but 57% of homes sold over asking (Redfin).
• Concord: Median sale price $444,788, up 1.1%, with inventory up 13% from a year earlier (Redfin).
• Portsmouth: The most expensive big market at $764,636, though prices fell 7.0% and sales dropped 17% over the year (Redfin).

Emerging opportunities

Buyers who can't win in Manchester or Nashua are finding more room in places where inventory is rising, like Concord, Laconia and the Seacoast. Prices there are softer and sellers more willing to negotiate.

This section addresses common inquiries regarding trends, predictions, and dynamics of the New Hampshire real estate market.

What are the predictions for the New Hampshire housing market in 2026?

Expect slow growth. Statewide home values rose 2.9% in the year to September 2026, per Zillow, and rising inventory in several cities should keep gains modest.

How has the New Hampshire real estate market trended over the past five years?

Prices are up about 36% over five years. The typical home value went from roughly $375,000 in September 2021 to $510,937 in September 2026 (Zillow).

What regions in New Hampshire currently have the hottest real estate markets?

The southern cities are hottest. Derry, Manchester, Nashua and Salem all had under two months of supply in September 2026, and more than half of homes there sold above asking, per Redfin.

What trends are evident in the New Hampshire real estate market according to recent data?

Inventory is rising a little in most metros while prices keep inching up, so the market is still a seller's market in the south but loosening elsewhere. Homes in the southern cities still sell quickly, often at or above asking, which points to persistent demand and competitive market conditions.

What factors are contributing to the high costs of real estate in New Hampshire?

Key factors influencing the high real estate costs in New Hampshire include limited housing supply, low unemployment, and an influx of buyers seeking properties in less urbanized areas for more space and privacy.

How does the current housing supply in New Hampshire affect the real estate market?

The present low housing supply in New Hampshire has led to an increase in competition among buyers, upward pressure on prices, and a more challenging market for first-time homebuyers.