RPC Launches Regional Housing Needs Assessment & Survey
A multi-faceted project to review current housing trends and better understand needs to plan for future housing options.
2022-02-17
Contact: Sarah Tatarczuk, Regional Planner -
statarczuk@therpc.org; (603) 658-0523
NH Regional Planning Commissions are launching regional housing needs assessments; a multi-faceted project to review current housing trends and better understand needs to plan for future housing options that meet demand and ensure a high quality of life for all New Hampshire residents. Regional Planning Commissions are a political subdivision of the state and support a local membership of municipalities in their planning and community development responsibilities. This effort is being conducted in partnership with the New Hampshire Office of Planning and Development, and is funded by a American Rescue Plan State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund grant.
Affordable housing is crucial to the New Hampshire economy. The low housing inventory, increased population and rising prices affects families who want to live and work in the state.
- October 2021, the statewide median sales price was $375,000, almost 13% higher than October 2020 (NH Housing Market Snapshot, 2021).
- 2021 two-bedroom median gross rent increased to $1,498, up 6% from the previous year.
- NH vacancy rates have fallen to under 1% (0.9%), 0.6% for two-bedroom units (NH Housing Rental Survey Report, 2021).
- To afford the statewide median cost of a typical two-bedroom apartment with utilities, a New Hampshire renter would have to earn 128% of the estimated statewide median renter income, or over $59,900 a year (NH Housing Rental Survey Report, 2021).
The year-long Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) project begins with a community survey, which will be conducted by each regional planning commission, and encourages residents to share what impact the housing situation has had on them; what has worked, and what needs to change. The link to each region’s survey is available at www.nharpc.org/rhna.
Community engagement will be critical for this project, and we are hoping to hear from you!
For more information and to participate in your region’s survey:
Rockingham Planning Commission Regional Housing Needs Assessment Project:
Strafford Regional Planning Commission Regional Housing Needs Assessment Project:
https://strafford.org/projects/rhna/
