Portsmouth City Employees Face Housing Affordability Crisis, Leading to Long Commutes
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is experiencing a severe housing affordability crisis, making it increasingly difficult for city employees, including firefighters, police officers, and teachers, to reside in the community they serve. Many public servants are forced to commute long distances, often 45 minutes to an an hour or more, due to the high cost of rent and homeownership in Portsmouth. For instance, a firefighter commutes nearly two hours from Keene, and a police officer shares an apartment with his brother to afford living in the city. The median home price in Portsmouth last year was $895,000, and individuals earning less than $45 an hour struggle to afford typical apartment rents. Union officials report that only a small fraction of their members, such as 6 out of 45 police officers and 5 out of 48 firefighters, live within the city limits. This situation is impacting the ability of city departments to recruit and retain essential workers.
