What do New Hampshire voters think about the affordable housing crisis? Since 2020, Saint Anselm College has administered an annual statewide poll of voter attitudes on affordable housing. Findings from the 2026 poll demonstrate significant voter support for the increased supply of starter-homes on smaller lots, and pro-housing policies for New Hampshire communities..
The poll of 1293 registered New Hampshire voters was conducted by Saint Anselm College’s Survey Center from August 25-28, 2026. The survey has an overall margin of sampling error of +/- 2.7% with a confidence interval of 95%.
Nearly three-quarters (74%) of New Hampshire voters now support allowing single-family homes on smaller lots in parts of every community.
The question measures support for zoning reforms designed to enable smaller, more affordable starter homes. Support increased sharply from the prior year, rising 15 percentage points.
Similarly, nearly three-quarters (73%) of New Hampshire voters think that their communities need more affordable housing to be built.
73% of survey respondents agreed with the statement “My community needs more affordable housing to be built.” (In 2020, 63% of respondents were in agreement.)
61% of New Hampshire voters now want more affordable homes in their own neighborhoods.
61% agreed with the statement, “My neighborhood needs more affordable housing to be built.”
63% of Granite Staters think that our towns and cities should change land use regulations in order to allow more housing to be built.
63% of respondents expressed a desire for their towns and communities to loosen zoning restrictions, up 34 percentage points since 2020.
This level of support suggests that New Hampshire voters increasingly see local land use regulations as an important part of addressing the state’s housing shortage.
62% of NH voters think that the state should do more to encourage municipalities to remove barriers to housing development.
58% of homeowners support more housing in their neighborhood.
In recent years, a majority of New Hampshire homeowners have voiced support for pro-housing measures in their own neighborhoods.
A majority of Granite State voters oppose inaction on the housing crisis
The annual survey measures voter sentiment on inaction. 60% of voters continue to oppose the statement, “New Hampshire should do more to prevent housing development and keep the state the way it is.”
58% of New Hampshire voters think lawmakers should include public investments to build more affordable housing as they contemplate the next budget.
58% of respondents agree that state lawmakers should include public investments in the next state budget to build more affordable housing.
66% of New Hampshire voters support allowing people to convert large single-family houses into up to four apartments if they have water and sewer service.
66% of New Hampshire voters support allowing nonprofits and churches to build affordable housing on their property as part of their nonprofit mission.
79% of NH voters support allowing surplus state-owned land that is no longer needed for government purposes and is not designated for conservation or recreation to be used for housing development.
