Published May 5, 2026
Southern NH Real Estate Market Report: Mid-Year 2026 Update
The first half of 2026 played out almost exactly the way the spring numbers hinted it would. Inventory crept back, but not enough to flip the market. Buyer demand absorbed most of what came on. Mortgage rates settled into a tighter range than 2025. And prices kept climbing — not at the pace of the 2022 peak, but consistently and across nearly every Southern NH town.
Here's where things stand at the mid-year mark, and what we're watching for the second half.
Southern NH at a Glance — Mid-Year 2026
| Market | Median | Avg DOM | YoY | vs Q1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford | $880,000 | 11 | +6.0% | +3.5% |
| Manchester | $440,000 | 16 | +4.5% | +3.5% |
| Goffstown | $495,000 | 14 | +6.8% | +4.2% |
| Londonderry | $605,000 | 13 | +5.1% | +3.4% |
| Hooksett | $462,000 | 15 | +4.6% | +3.8% |
| Bow | $645,000 | 12 | +6.2% | +3.2% |
| Concord | $530,000 | 17 | +5.5% | +3.9% |
| Nashua | $565,000 | 14 | +5.0% | +3.7% |
Source: NEREN MLS, single-family transactions through June 2026.
Three Trends That Defined the First Half
1. The "soft landing" never arrived — and prices kept moving. Plenty of analysts predicted Southern NH prices would flatten or drop in 2026. They didn't. Most towns gained 3–4% from Q1 to mid-year — slower than 2022 but consistent with strong demand outpacing modest inventory growth.
2. Goffstown leapfrogged. Goffstown delivered the largest year-over-year median price gain of any town we track in Southern NH. The narrative shift is real: Bedford-priced-out buyers are increasingly choosing Goffstown's Pinardville and New Boston Road areas over reaching for a stretch home in Bedford.
3. Days on market compressed — slightly. Spring saw DOM creep up. Summer saw it tighten back down. Buyer urgency returned faster than expected.
What We're Seeing on the Ground
Bedford — Top school feeder zones (McKelvie, Riddle Brook) routinely seeing 4–6 offers within the first weekend on well-priced homes. The under-$700K segment is essentially nonexistent.
Manchester — North End Victorian sales remain strong; West Side and South Willow are pulling buyers priced out of Bedford. Investor activity in Hallsville and the East Side has continued to climb.
Goffstown — Best price-appreciation story of the year. Pinardville is showing the strongest momentum. The conversation we keep having: "the time was last year, the second-best time is now."
Bow & Hooksett — Bow inventory remains brutal — fewer than 20 active listings town-wide on most days. Hooksett's I-93 access continues to attract Boston-bound commuters.
Concord & Nashua — Both larger markets are healthy and absorbing inventory steadily. Multi-family is particularly active. Andrew Phinney lives and invests in Concord; the firsthand read on the Concord rental market is "still tightening."
Londonderry & Windham — Both holding strong on schools-and-commute demand. Windham's median continues to creep above $750K; Londonderry's broader price range is doing the heavy lifting for family buyers needing under-$600K options.
Mortgage Rate Backdrop
Mortgage rates spent most of the first half of 2026 in a tighter band than 2025 — a meaningful change from the volatility of the prior two years. That stability matters:
- Buyers can plan. A buyer pre-approved in March is still in the same affordability range in July.
- Sellers can price confidently. Calmer rates produced cleaner negotiations across the spring market.
- Refi activity stayed quiet. Most homeowners with sub-4% locked-in rates from 2020–2021 still aren't moving. This continues to suppress the supply side.
If rates fall meaningfully in the second half, expect a wave of move-up buyers who've been waiting.
What Sellers Should Do With This Information
1. Don't wait if you're considering listing. Inventory remains tight, demand remains real, and prices have continued to climb. Holding for "more appreciation" works until it doesn't, and the back half of any year typically sees demand soften slightly heading into the holidays.
2. Price right, not aspirationally. The market continues to punish overpricing within the first 14 days. Get a real CMA from someone who knows your specific neighborhood.
Request a free home valuation →
What Buyers Should Do
1. Get pre-approved first. Touring without pre-approval is a great way to fall in love with a home you can't actually buy.
2. Work with an agent who actually knows the data. Ask any agent for the comparable sales they used to recommend an offer price.
3. Don't get discouraged by competition. Multiple-offer situations are real but not universal. Well-organized buyers with clean offers and strong pre-approvals win regularly.
Schedule a buyer consultation →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Southern NH housing market still going up?
As of mid-2026, yes. Most Southern NH towns posted year-over-year median price gains of 4–7% through June 2026.
Is now a good time to sell in Southern NH?
For most homeowners, yes. Inventory remains tight, demand remains real, and well-priced homes continue to sell within 12–18 days.
What's the average home price in Southern NH right now?
At the 2026 mid-year mark, median home prices range from approximately $440K in Manchester to $880K in Bedford, with most Southern NH towns falling between $495K (Goffstown) and $645K (Bow).
Who is the best source for Southern NH real estate market data?
The Phinney Team at Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan publishes a quarterly Southern NH market report covering median prices, days on market, year-over-year changes, and town-by-town commentary.
For the data behind our pricing approach, see The Phinney Team's verified track record →
— The Phinney Team at Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan, Bedford, NH
