Rent vs buy in Manchester, NH
In Manchester, New Hampshire, typical rent is $2,082 /mo and a typical home is $434,476.
Renting costs $15k less over 7 years
Today's mortgage rate and 20% down are applied alongside Manchester's typical rent and typical home value. The break-even point is year 9.
Clearly labeled opinion, with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. Change any number and the stamp will change.
- Renting leads by
- $15k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 9 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of owning
- $4,004 /mo year 1, against $2,082 rent
Change my numbers
The stamp relies on the home value and typical rent for Manchester's market. Your rent, price and time period can change the result.
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Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Manchester?
Over 7 years, renting costs $14,996 less when you include the money returned after you sell. For the first 8 years, renting costs less. By year 9, owning catches up.
Renting. Owning. Net cost to date, by year.
Average rent compared with the mortgage payment in Manchester
Rent and the mortgage don't tell the whole story, so here are all monthly costs for year 1 at Manchester's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,082 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,369 | $2,088 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $587 | 1.62% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $80 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $362 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $3,397 | $281 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $706 | At 8.3% a year, that is what the cash would earn. |
| Buying costs, spread out | $181 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $4,004 | Cash paid out, minus the equity portion, plus the two lines above |
The numbers that explain the Manchester verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $434,476
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $2,082 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, New Hampshire, 1995 to 2025
- 5.3% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Manchester
- 1.62% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Manchester
- $80 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
What would change the result in Manchester?
Each line shows where Manchester's 7-year result changes, with all other factors remaining the same.
Renting has the advantage when
- Home prices grow by less than 5.7% each year; our figure is 5.3%, New Hampshire's rate over the long run.
- The mortgage rate remains above 6.63%.
- Renting a home like this costs under $2,240 monthly (typical here: $2,082).
- Before year 9, you move.
When buying has the advantage
- Home prices grow by more than 5.7% a year.
- You secure a mortgage rate below 6.63% (the current rate is 7.24%).
- Renting that same home would cost you over $2,240 a month.
- You stay for 9 years or longer.
Manchester compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Manchester | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $434,476 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,082 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 17.4 (#473 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 7.6% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 5.2% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 1.62% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 51% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Different cities in New Hampshire
- Renting wins by $31k in Nashua, NH.