Manchester, NH Housing Market
AI-powered market intelligence for the Manchester-Nashua, NH metro area.
PropertyIQ Scores
Manchester, NH Market Analysis
Market Overview
Manchester, NH posts a PropertyIQ Score of 70 out of 100, placing it in a moderately solid position rather than an overheated or weak market. The score is supported by a 12-month home value momentum of 5.52%, a median days on market of 44 days, and a relatively measured 16.9% share of listings with a price cut. The median home value of $523,745 is slightly above the New Hampshire average of $516,306, while the local rent index of $2,178 is substantially higher than the state average of $1,491. Median household income in Manchester is $103,545, also above the state benchmark of $99,031.
At the same time, the market shows some near-term cooling. The 3-month home value momentum is -0.73%, meaning prices have edged down in the most recent quarter even though the 12-month trend remains positive. The dataset reports home value year over year as $0, which appears to be a data gap or flat annual reading rather than a reliable appreciation signal. Population growth is also listed as N/A, so long-term demographic momentum cannot be directly measured from the available data.
Overall, Manchester’s 70/100 score reflects a market with solid annual price growth and strong rental economics, but also one where short-term momentum has softened and sellers are adjusting prices more often than in a highly competitive market.
Key Trends
The first key trend is annual price growth alongside recent cooling. The 12-month home value momentum of 5.52% shows that values have risen over the past year, but the 3-month momentum of -0.73% indicates that the most recent months have flattened or slightly declined. The 16.9% share of listings with a price cut reinforces this cooling signal, suggesting that buyers have some negotiating room even though homes are still moving at a median of 44 days.
A second trend is the rental premium in Manchester. The rent index of $2,178 is about 46% above the New Hampshire average of $1,491. That gap is notable because local income is only about 4.6% above the state average, meaning renters in Manchester may be paying a meaningful premium relative to the rest of the state. This could reflect stronger rental demand or a tighter rental supply in the local market.
A third trend is moderate inventory and market pace. With 552 homes for sale and a median of 44 days on market, Manchester is not experiencing the extreme seller’s market conditions seen in some areas, but homes are not lingering for months either. The price-cut share of 16.9% suggests that pricing discipline matters; sellers who overprice may need to adjust, while well-priced listings can likely still move within a reasonable timeframe.
A fourth trend is stable but not exceptional employment support. The unemployment rate in Manchester is 3.3%, slightly above the state average of 2.8%. Median household income of $103,545 is above the state benchmark of $99,031, which helps support the slightly above-average median home value of $523,745. However, the modest unemployment gap relative to the state is a small cautionary signal.
Who Is This Market For
Manchester is best suited for buyers with established incomes or existing home equity. The median home value of $523,745 and the median household income of $103,545 suggest that this market is more accessible to mid-career professionals, move-up buyers, and households with strong credit profiles. First-time buyers may find the price point challenging, especially with a rent index of $2,178 that can make saving for a down payment more difficult, though the data does not include first-time buyer-specific metrics.
This market may also appeal to rental property investors. The rent index of $2,178 is far above the state average of $1,491, which could support stronger rental income relative to other New Hampshire markets. However, the negative 3-month home value momentum of -0.73% and the 16.9% price-cut share suggest that near-term appreciation may be limited. Investors should likely focus on cash flow and long-term holding rather than short-term price gains.
For move-up buyers, the 12-month home value momentum of 5.52% indicates that existing homeowners have seen some equity gains over the past year. The moderate days on market of 44 allows for a more measured search than in a fast-moving seller’s market, while the inventory of 552 homes provides more selection than a tightly constrained market.
Outlook
The near-term outlook for Manchester is cautiously stable to mildly cooling. The 3-month home value momentum of -0.73% and the 16.9% share of listings with a price cut point to limited near-term price growth. However, the 12-month momentum of 5.52% and the median days on market of 44 suggest that underlying demand has not collapsed. Inventory of 552 homes gives buyers a reasonable level of choice, while the elevated rent index of $2,178 may continue to attract investor interest. Local incomes above the state average and an unemployment rate of 3.3% provide supportive but not accelerating demand. Missing population growth data and the $0 year-over-year home value figure limit longer-term projections, but the available metrics support a balanced market with softer price momentum in the near term.
AI-generated analysis based on current market data. Last updated October 2, 2026.
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Manchester, NH market data
Manchester, NH Housing Market Overview
Manchester, NH's median home value is $524K, up 5.5% over the past year. Homes here sell in a median 44 days. Its PropertyIQ Score of 70 sits well above the state average of 50, marking a market positioned to outperform its state over the next three years.
Whether you're considering buying a home, investing in rental property, or weighing entry timing in the Manchester, NH area, the PropertyIQ Score gives you a single, data-first read on relative market strength. It is validated against actual market outcomes from 2001 to 2023, with a positive score-to-return relationship in every validated year across NH and every other US state.
New England's housing market is shaped by historic density, prestigious universities, and a mature healthcare and biotech economy. Markets here tend toward stability, with slower but steady appreciation driven by constrained supply and strong institutional demand. Within the New England, Manchester, NH's PropertyIQ Score of 70 ranks among the New England's stronger demand signals.
Each month, PropertyIQ updates its score for Manchester, NH using four inputs: Zillow ZHVI twelve-month and three-month momentum, Realtor.com median days on market, and the Realtor.com share of listings with price cuts. These four signals are combined into a single 1 to 99 score computed across all metro markets and calibrated so 50 represents the state average, making it a direct read of how this market is positioned to perform relative to its state. Momentum here has been positive, with home values up 5.5% over the past year.
View Manchester, NH's complete market profile including historical price trends, score history, and AI-generated analysis. Compare this market against any other US metro to find the best opportunities for your investment strategy.
Counties in the Manchester, NH metro area
ZIP codes in the Manchester, NH metro area
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Market data through August 2026. Sourced from Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, U.S. Census Bureau, FRED, BLS, and BEA. Per-statistic source and date shown above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Manchester, NH a good place to buy real estate in 2026?
PropertyIQ doesn't label markets simply good or bad. Instead, the PropertyIQ Score measures a market's demand momentum against its own state, where 50 marks the state average. Manchester, NH currently scores 70, a rising-momentum reading that leaves it positioned to outperform its state over the next three years. For buyers, strengthening demand usually means rising competition and firmer prices, so waiting can cost you negotiating room. Backing that up, the median home value here is $524K, up 5.5% over the past year. So whether Manchester, NH is right for you comes down to your goals: a rising-momentum market can favor long-term appreciation but offers less room to negotiate, while a cooling one hands buyers more leverage. Treat the score as a timing signal to weigh alongside your budget, holding period, and plans for the property, not a verdict on the market's quality.
What is the PropertyIQ Score for Manchester, NH?
Manchester, NH's PropertyIQ Score is 70, indicating rising momentum on a 1-to-99 scale. The score distills four transparent inputs into a single number: Zillow home-value momentum over the past 12 months, Zillow home-value momentum over the past 3 months, the median days homes spend on the market from Realtor.com, and the share of listings with a price cut, also from Realtor.com. Rising values and faster sales push the score up, while slow sales and frequent price cuts pull it down. The scale is calibrated so 50 equals the state average, meaning a score above 50 predicts the market will outperform its state over the next three years and a score below 50 predicts underperformance. PropertyIQ computes the score across every US market nationally, then recenters it against each state, so 70 places Manchester, NH above its state benchmark.
Are home prices in Manchester, NH rising or falling?
Home prices in Manchester, NH are rising. Over the past year, the median home value increased 5.5%, reaching $524K. Over the latest three months, values slipped 0.7%, a sign near-term demand is softening. PropertyIQ derives these figures from Zillow's home-value index, which tracks the typical value across the market rather than only the homes that happened to sell, giving a steadier read than a raw median sale price. Both the 12-month and 3-month momentum readings feed directly into the PropertyIQ Score, so this price trend is one of the core signals behind Manchester, NH's current score. Keep in mind that appreciation can vary widely by neighborhood and price tier across the metro area, so treat these figures as the market-wide baseline rather than a guarantee for any single property.
How quickly do homes sell in Manchester, NH?
In Manchester, NH, homes sell in a median of 44 days from listing to pending sale, based on Realtor.com market data. Median days on market is one of the clearest real-time reads on local demand: when homes move quickly, buyers are competing and sellers hold the advantage, while lengthening timelines signal cooling interest and more room to negotiate. Alongside sale speed, about 17% of active listings here have taken at least one price cut — a complementary demand gauge, since a rising share of reductions often precedes slower sales and softer prices. Both median days on market and the price-cut share feed directly into the PropertyIQ Score, where faster sales and fewer cuts push the score higher. As a general guide, medians under about 30 days indicate a brisk, competitive market, while medians well beyond 60 days point to buyers regaining leverage. Actual time on market still varies by price band, property type, and season, so treat the median as a market-wide baseline.
How current is this metro area data?
This Manchester, NH market data is refreshed on a monthly cycle, with the latest figures current through August 2026. PropertyIQ ingests fresh data every month from a range of authoritative sources: home values and rents from Zillow, days on market and price-cut activity from Realtor.com, additional housing signals from Redfin, demographic and housing-stock data from the U.S. Census Bureau, mortgage and macroeconomic series from FRED, and employment figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The PropertyIQ Score itself is recomputed every month once the new source data lands, so the score and its four underlying inputs always reflect the most recent complete reporting period rather than a static snapshot. Because official housing data is typically released with a short lag, the current-through date usually trails the present by a few weeks, which is normal across the industry and not a sign the data is out of date.