Two weeks from now, HB 631 goes live and New Hampshire's commercial zoning landscape changes for good. But before the ink is even dry, two companion bills are already sitting on Governor Ayotte's desk that would refine how it works in practice. Meanwhile, the biggest residential project on the Seacoast, Prescott Post, is rising out of the ground in Portsmouth with 360 new apartments. And across the bridge in Kittery, a mall is about to become 107 apartments and a hotel.
On the rent side, Portsmouth 1-bedrooms pushed to $2,369 this week, the highest we've logged since launching this tracker. Dover held at $1,863. Somersworth moved up to $1,976, and Rochester stayed flat at $1,296. The supply picture shifted a bit: Dover dropped to 319 active listings from 356 a month ago, while Rochester climbed to 137 from 100. That Rochester increase is worth watching as summer turnover picks up.
Rent by Unit Type & Active Supply
| City | Studio | 1-BR | 2-BR | 3-BR | Active Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth | $1,933 | $2,369 | $2,690 | $2,847 | ~351 |
| Dover | $1,377 | $1,863 | $2,122 | $3,105 | ~319 |
| Somersworth | $1,328 | $1,976 | $2,072 | $3,011 | ~187 |
| Rochester | $993 | $1,296 | $1,799 | $2,991 | ~137 |
All rent and listing data sourced from Apartments.com (as of June 15, 2026). Averages reflect currently listed units and may shift as inventory changes.
- Prescott Post will be the largest single residential delivery on the Seacoast in years. Eastern Real Estate and The Kane Company broke ground last October on 360 market-rate apartments across 26 acres in Portsmouth. The project includes 17 three- and four-story buildings with studios through 3BRs, plus over two acres of community space (dog park, central park, pocket parks, raised viewing platform). First units are expected by December 2026, with full completion in late 2027. For landlords, the question is comp pressure: 360 Class A units entering the market over 12 months will set the ceiling for Portsmouth rents in 2027. If you own older stock, now is the time to invest in upgrades that justify your pricing against brand-new product.
- HB 1588 and HB 1010 are on Governor Ayotte's desk to refine HB 631 before it takes effect July 1. The companion bills would clarify that developers can build housing "by right" in qualifying commercial zones and would limit the restrictions municipalities can impose to frontage, setbacks, and height. Other factors like density caps would be off the table. If Ayotte signs both, commercial parcels along Route 1 and Woodbury Ave become even more attractive for residential conversion because the entitlement path gets simpler. If she vetoes, municipalities retain more discretion. Either way, the July 1 deadline for HB 631 itself is not changing.
- The Kittery Outlets are becoming apartments, and the supply will compete for Portsmouth tenants. Two International Group (a Portsmouth-based commercial real estate firm) received unanimous planning board approval to demolish the Outlets at Kittery and replace them with 107 apartments and a 119-room hotel. Phase one is the hotel; phase two razes the retail for the apartments near I-95. Kittery is a 10-minute drive from downtown Portsmouth, and at Maine tax rates (no sales tax, lower property tax), the operating economics are different. If the apartments price at even a modest discount to Portsmouth, they pull from the same tenant pool. Worth factoring into any lease renewal strategy for your Portsmouth units.