To take home four times the typical rent, a full-time job in New Hampshire needs to pay from $29.39 an hour in Coos County to $54.41 in Rockingham County, before taxes. The middle county is Merrimack County at $38.59.
| County | Pay needed | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| Belknap County | $36.11/hr | $1,200/mo |
| Carroll County | $34.06/hr | $1,140/mo |
| Cheshire County | $36.11/hr | $1,200/mo |
| Coos County | $29.39/hr | $990/mo |
| Grafton County | $38.95/hr | $1,280/mo |
| Hillsborough County | $46.23/hr | $1,485/mo |
| Merrimack County | $38.59/hr | $1,270/mo |
| Rockingham County | $54.41/hr | $1,715/mo |
| Strafford County | $44.99/hr | $1,450/mo |
| Sullivan County | $41.26/hr | $1,345/mo |
The Four Times Rent standard: a month of full-time work (160 hours) should take home at least four times the typical rent on a studio apartment in the county where the work is done. Rents: HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents. Taxes: 2026 federal, state and local income taxes plus Social Security and Medicare, for a single filer. Why four times rent?