FY2027 Fair Market Rent · New Hampshire
Belknap County Fair Market Rent & Income Limits
HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Belknap County, NH is $1,620 a month, down 10.0% from FY2026. The area median family income is $116,700, and a family of four counts as low income up to $94,100 a year.
Fair Market Rent by unit size
FY2027 FY2026
Fair Market Rents are gross rents: rent plus the cost of all utilities except phone, cable and internet.
Check your household
Enter your household size and total yearly income before taxes to see which HUD income category it falls in for Belknap County, NH.
Low income (80% limit)
A household of 4 earning $92,100 is under the 80% limit of $94,100 for this area. At 30% of income it could pay about $2,302 a month for rent and utilities.
This is a quick comparison with HUD's published limits, not an eligibility decision. Programs count income in their own ways and many have waiting lists; the local housing agency or property decides.
Income limits in Belknap County
HUD's FY2026 income limits for Belknap County, NH are based on a median family income of $116,700. Programs such as Housing Choice Vouchers, public housing and HOME use the 30%, 50% and 80% columns; Low-Income Housing Tax Credit properties use the 50% and 60% Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project limits.
| People | Extremely low30% / poverty | Very low50% | 60% (LIHTC)MTSP | Low income80% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $24,750 | $41,200 | $49,440 | $65,900 |
| 2 | $28,250 | $47,050 | $56,460 | $75,300 |
| 3 | $31,800 | $52,950 | $63,540 | $84,700 |
| 4 | $35,300 | $58,800 | $70,560 | $94,100 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $63,550 | $76,260 | $101,650 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $68,250 | $81,900 | $109,200 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $72,950 | $87,540 | $116,700 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $77,650 | $93,180 | $124,250 |
Rent history
Since FY2017 the two-bedroom FMR here has gone from $981 to $1,620, up 65.1% over ten years. HUD has published a two-bedroom FMR for this area since FY1983, when it was $403.
What it takes to afford the rent
To keep a two-bedroom rent of $1,620 at no more than 30% of income, the usual affordability rule, a household needs about $64,800 a year. That is 56% of the area median family income of $116,700, so a typical family can afford it with room to spare.
| Unit | FY2027 | FY2026 | FY2025 | Income to affordat 30% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,117 | $1,241 | $1,019 | $44,700 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,283 | $1,425 | $1,182 | $51,300 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,620 | $1,800 | $1,479 | $64,800 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,136 | $2,219 | $1,864 | $85,400 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,409 | $2,676 | $2,221 | $96,400 |
Fair Market Rents by town in Belknap County
In New England HUD sets Fair Market Rents and income limits by town, not by county. The 11 towns of Belknap County fall into 1 HUD area; the figures at the top of this page are for Belknap County, NH, the area with the most residents. Find your town below.
| HUD area | 2 BR FMR | Median income | Towns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belknap County, NH | $1,620 | $116,700 | Alton, Barnstead, Belmont, Center Harbor, Gilford, Gilmanton, Laconia, Meredith, New Hampton, Sanbornton, Tilton |
How Belknap County compares
Belknap County is outside any metropolitan area, so HUD calculates a separate non-metro Fair Market Rent and income limits for the county itself.
Belknap County has the 7th highest two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of the 10 counties in New Hampshire; the population-weighted average across New Hampshire is $2,046 and the nationwide average is $1,751.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code
HUD also publishes Small Area Fair Market Rents for each ZIP code. In Belknap County the two-bedroom figure ranges from $1,620 to $1,980 across 15 ZIP codes, against the area-wide $1,620. This area is not on HUD's list of mandatory Small Area FMR areas, so most agencies here use the area-wide FMR; an agency may still opt in to ZIP-level rents.
| ZIP | Place | 2 BR SAFMR | 110% payment std. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03809 | Alton | $1,980 | $2,178 |
| 03226 | Center Harbor | $1,980 | $2,178 |
| 03218 | Barnstead | $1,950 | $2,145 |
| 03220 | Belmont | $1,780 | $1,958 |
| 03237 | Gilmanton | $1,780 | $1,958 |
| 03249 | Gilford | $1,740 | $1,914 |
| 03253 | Meredith | $1,720 | $1,892 |
| 03269 | Sanbornton | $1,700 | $1,870 |
| 03225 | Center Barnstead | $1,690 | $1,859 |
| 03256 | New Hampton | $1,680 | $1,848 |
| 03246 | Laconia | $1,620 | $1,782 |
| 03252 | Lochmere | $1,620 | $1,782 |
| 03289 | Winnisquam | $1,620 | $1,782 |
| 03810 | Alton Bay | $1,620 | $1,782 |
| 03837 | Gilmanton Iron Works | $1,620 | $1,782 |
Questions
What is the Fair Market Rent in Belknap County, NH for 2027?
For FY2027 (October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027) HUD's Fair Market Rents in Belknap County, NH are $1,117 for a studio, $1,283 for one bedroom, $1,620 for two bedrooms, $2,136 for three and $2,409 for four bedrooms, per month including utilities.
What is the area median income in Belknap County, NH?
HUD's FY2026 median family income for the area is $116,700, down 3.0% from $120,300 in FY2025.
What is 80% of AMI in Belknap County, NH for a family of 4?
The FY2026 low-income limit (80%) for a household of four is $94,100 a year. The very low-income limit (50%) is $58,800 and the extremely low-income limit is $35,300.
What is the 60% AMI limit for tax credit housing in Belknap County, NH?
Under HUD's FY2026 Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project limits, the 60% limit is $49,440 for one person and $70,560 for four.
Is the Fair Market Rent the same as the Section 8 payment standard?
No. Housing agencies set their payment standard between 90% and 110% of the FMR (for a two-bedroom here: $1,458 to $1,782), and can ask HUD for exceptions. Check the payment standard with your local housing agency.