Using a simple but reliable measure, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has historically defined families paying more than 30 percent of their income for housing as “cost–burdened.” Nearly half of renters overall in the state are cost burdened, paying more than 30 percent of their income towards rent and utilities. Among renters with incomes less than $35,000, or 33 percent of total renters across New Hampshire, this percentage is even higher, with about 75 percent paying more than 30 percent of their income on rent and utilities in 2022 and around half owing more than 50 percent of their incomes for these costs.