April was the first full month of spring leasing on the Seacoast, and the story was supply. Dover absorbed a wave of new apartments, Somersworth opened its biggest new building in years, and Portsmouth held steady at the top of the market. This report rolls up the four weekly snapshots we published in April into one place, with the full month of data for Portsmouth, Dover, Somersworth, and Rochester.
By the end of the month, the average listed 1 bedroom ran $2,327 in Portsmouth, $1,950 in Somersworth, $1,848 in Dover, and $1,296 in Rochester. Portsmouth and Somersworth barely moved all month. Dover and Rochester both rose, for different reasons covered below.
Portsmouth
$2,327
1BR, end of April
Dover
$1,848
1BR, end of April
Somersworth
$1,950
1BR, end of April
Rochester
$1,296
1BR, end of April
Average 1BR Rent by Week, April 2026
1BR Average Rent, Week by Week
| City | Apr 6 | Apr 13 | Apr 20 | Apr 27 | April change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth | $2,327 | $2,318 | $2,330 | $2,327 | +0.0% |
| Dover | $1,698 | $1,850 | $1,856 | $1,848 | +8.8% |
| Somersworth | $1,949 | $1,949 | $1,949 | $1,950 | +0.1% |
| Rochester | $1,252 | $1,296 | $1,296 | $1,296 | +3.5% |
Active Listings, Week by Week
| City | Apr 6 | Apr 13 | Apr 20 | Apr 27 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth | ~360 | ~352 | ~353 | ~353 |
| Dover | ~434 | ~373 | ~356 | ~354 |
| Somersworth | ~278 | ~194 | ~194 | ~278 |
| Rochester | ~111 | ~99 | ~100 | ~111 |
End of Month: Rent by Unit Type
| City | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | Active Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth | $1,817 | $2,327 | $2,480 | $2,825 | ~353 |
| Dover | $1,339 | $1,848 | $2,092 | $3,236 | ~354 |
| Somersworth | $1,518 | $1,950 | $1,981 | $2,975 | ~278 |
| Rochester | $992 | $1,296 | $1,801 | $3,000 | ~111 |
All rent and listing data sourced from Apartments.com, captured weekly on April 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2026. Averages reflect currently listed units, so they move with the mix of what is on the market that week.
What April Told Us
- Dover absorbed its new supply faster than expected. Active Dover listings fell from about 434 to about 354 over the month as units at the Cochecho Waterfront Development leased up. The 1BR average jumped from $1,698 to $1,848, but read that carefully. Much of the move is a change in what was listed, not a citywide rent increase. Early April was heavy with new, smaller units, and those were the first to go. Dover 3 bedrooms stayed the priciest of the four cities all month, above $3,200.
- The Overlook resets the Somersworth comp set. PROCON and Tidemark opened the 135 unit building in downtown Somersworth on April 22, with all utilities included. Somersworth listings jumped from about 194 back to 278 the week it launched. If you own existing Somersworth units, do the math for applicants: a $1,950 1BR with everything included is roughly comparable to $1,650 to $1,700 where the tenant pays utilities. Put that comparison in your listing, and lead with what a large new building can't easily offer, like parking, outdoor space, and a landlord who answers the phone.
- Rochester stayed the most affordable entry point, and firmed up. The 1BR average rose from $1,252 to $1,296 on a thin market of roughly 100 listings. Studios stayed under $1,000 all month.
- HB 631 dominated the policy conversation. The law requires urban municipalities, including Portsmouth, to allow multifamily and mixed use on commercially zoned parcels with municipal water and sewer, by right. It was set to take effect July 1, with the NH Municipal Association pushing amendments through April. Strip retail and office parcels along corridors like Lafayette Road and Woodbury Ave became candidates for residential underwriting. See our July update for what happened next.
- Property taxes are the biggest cost spread between markets. Portsmouth's FY26 rate came in at $11.51 per $1,000, while Dover sits at $19.68. On a $300,000 assessment, that is roughly $2,400 a year more in Dover. Build the actual local rate into every pro forma before you bid.
- ADUs are worth a fresh look. Under HB 577, one accessory dwelling unit is allowed by right on single family lots in New Hampshire, with no special exception required. At April's 1BR rents, adding a unit to a property with spare yard or garage space can pencil out well.
April Headlines Worth Reading
NH Business Review
New law requires landlords to document rental application fees
Undocumented application and background check fees must be returned within 30 days. If you charge screening fees, keep records of what they actually cost.
NH Business Review
Lawmakers advance bill allowing landlords to non-renew at end of lease
NH landlords currently need good cause to end a tenancy at lease end. This bill, along with proposals on security deposits and faster evictions, moved through the session in April.
NH Business Review
Cochecho Waterfront: what to know about Dover's new apartments
The Phase I delivery that drove most of April's Dover supply story, and the comp ceiling for Dover Class A rents going forward.
High-Profile Monthly
Governor Ayotte cuts ribbon at The Overlook in Somersworth
135 workforce apartments with all utilities included, on a former brownfield site in downtown Somersworth.
NH Municipal Association
Through the Looking Glass: 2026 Zoning Legislation
The overview of this session's land use bills, including the push to amend HB 631 before July 1.
NH Public Radio
Property tax rates and bases vary widely across NH
New Hampshire leads the nation in reliance on property taxes, which is why local rates swing carrying costs so much from town to town.
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