Fall is here, and the Seacoast rental market came through the summer stronger than it went in. One-bedroom rents rose in Portsmouth, Dover, Somersworth, and Rochester since our July 11 snapshot, and all four are at their highest level since this tracker began on March 30. Portsmouth 1-bedrooms reached $2,400. Dover posted the biggest jump, up $65 to $1,930. Somersworth crossed $2,000 for the first time at $2,006, and Rochester edged up to $1,326.
Supply thinned at the same time. Active listings fell in every city, led by Somersworth (roughly 154 down to 83) and Dover (272 down to 197). Some of that is the normal seasonal drop after the September 1 lease cycle. Firm rents and thin inventory heading into the slower winter months is a good position for owners.
The bigger story is new construction. Dover's waterfront building is filling up, Portsmouth's largest apartment project in years starts delivering units in December, and the housing bill that was waiting on the Governor's desk in July is now law. Details below.
Rent by Unit Type & Active Supply
| City | Studio | 1-BR | 2-BR | 3-BR | Listings | 1-BR YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth | $1,975 | $2,400 | $2,731 | $2,929 | ~274 | +1.9% |
| Dover | $1,472 | $1,930 | $2,130 | $3,073 | ~197 | +2.8% |
| Somersworth | $1,336 | $2,006 | $2,099 | $3,007 | ~83 | +1.4% |
| Rochester | $999 | $1,326 | $1,834 | $2,973 | ~100 | Flat |
Rent data from Apartments.com rent trend reports (updated August and September 2026); listing counts as of October 1, 2026. Year over year figures are city averages as reported by Apartments.com. Averages reflect currently listed units and shift as inventory changes.
What's Coming Onto the Market
| Project | City | Units | Type | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Truette | Dover | 220 | Apartments & townhomes | Open, leasing now |
| Prescott Post | Portsmouth | 360 | Market-rate apartments | First units Dec. 2026 |
| Rivelle | Dover | 43 | Condos | Spring 2027 |
| The Maris | Portsmouth | 45 | Condos | Under construction |
Timing per developer announcements and press coverage linked below. Delivery dates can move.
The Truette (Dover waterfront). Cathartes' 220-unit building on the Cochecho River opened this summer alongside the new 3.5-acre Nebi Park, and more than 160 residents had moved in by mid-July. The mix runs from studios to 3-bedrooms plus townhomes, with coworking, a rooftop lounge, and a restaurant on site. The building is advertising up to two months free on select apartments, which is standard practice for finishing a new building's lease-up. Next door, the 43-unit Rivelle condo building is targeted for spring 2027, and the full waterfront plan calls for more than 400 homes.
Prescott Post (Portsmouth). Eastern Real Estate and The Kane Company are building 360 market-rate apartments across 16 buildings at 100 Durgin Lane near Pease, financed with a $96.8 million construction loan. The first units are scheduled for December 2026, with full completion late in 2027. Expect lease-up specials here too through next year.
The Maris (Portsmouth). Cathartes and Chinburg are building 45 condos at 53 Green Street on North Mill Pond, with boat slips, garage parking, and ground-floor commercial space. These are for-sale units, so they add ownership inventory rather than rental supply.
HB 1588 is now law. Governor Ayotte signed HB 1588 and HB 1010 on July 15. Housing in commercial zones is now allowed by right with no density caps or special permits, parking requirements are capped at one space per unit, and developers who are wrongly blocked can recover attorney's fees. Towns can still require proof of adequate roads, water, and sewer, but a developer can now pay to fix a deficiency instead of being turned down. For anyone holding commercial or mixed-use property, the path to adding units is shorter than it has ever been.
- Demand absorbed the new supply. Dover's listing count fell by about a quarter while 220 new waterfront units leased up in town. That is the clearest sign this summer that the Seacoast still has more renters than apartments. NHPR reported on September 24 that New Hampshire permits are at a 20-year high, yet the state is still building at about a fifth of its 1980s pace and needs more than 40,000 new homes by 2030.
- New buildings compete with each other first. The Truette and Prescott Post are Class A luxury product, priced at the top of the market and leasing with concessions. Most Seacoast rentals are in 2 to 4 family buildings at lower price points, which serve a different renter. The owners who feel it are the ones whose units are overpriced or poorly presented. Well-kept units at market rent, with fast response to inquiries, keep leasing.
- List winter turnovers early. With inventory thin in all four cities, a unit coming open in November or December should go live 45 to 60 days ahead. Somersworth's listing count nearly halved since July, and its 1-bedroom average still sits above Dover's. Rochester held flat year over year and remains the value market at $1,326 for a 1-bedroom.