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 2025 poll demonstrate pro-housing attitudes across demographic groups and support for expanded initiatives to address the affordable housing shortage.
The 2025 survey also tested new questions on recently considered state legislation, finding voter support for several housing proposals, including smaller-lot starter homes, small-scale single-family conversions of up to four units, and allowing faith-based organizations to develop affordable housing.
The poll of 1209 registered New Hampshire voters was conducted by Saint Anselm College’s Survey Center from August 20 -21, 2025. The survey has an overall margin of sampling error of +/- 2.8% with a confidence interval of 95%.
78% of New Hampshire voters think that their communities need more affordable housing to be built.
Our survey results show that pro-housing attitudes remain consistently strong across all demographic categories. 78% of survey respondents agreed with the statement “My community needs more affordable housing to be built.” (In 2020, 63% of respondents were in agreement.)
62% of New Hampshire voters now want more affordable homes in their own neighborhoods.
New Hampshire continues to experience a decline in ‘not-in-my-backyard’ (NIMBY) sentiment as an increasing share of residents report recognizing the importance of expanding affordable housing within their own neighborhoods. 62% agreed with the statement, “My neighborhood needs more affordable housing to be built.” (59% were in agreement.)
61% of Granite Staters think that our towns and cities should change land use regulations in order to allow more housing to be built.
Consistent with last year’s poll, 61% of respondents expressed a desire for their towns and communities to loosen zoning restrictions. This signals a public perception that restrictive zoning is limiting housing supply.
61% of NH voters think that the state should do more to encourage municipalities to remove barriers to housing development.
Polling shows that voters want the state to do more to make regulation changes in New Hampshire communities that result in more affordable housing options.
57% of homeowners support more housing in their neighborhood.
In recent years, a majority of New Hampshire homeowners indicate support for pro-housing measures in their own neighborhoods.
A majority of Granite State voters oppose inaction on the housing crisis.
The annual survey mixes in some anti-housing statements to measure voter sentiment on inaction. 61% of voters continue to oppose the statement, “New Hampshire should do more to prevent housing development and keep the state the way it is.”
64% of New Hampshire voters think lawmakers should include public investments to build more affordable housing as they contemplate the next budget.
64% of respondents agree that state lawmakers should include public investments in the next state budget to build more affordable housing. Voters age 65 and older registered the strongest support, with 70% in favor of public funding.
59% of New Hampshire voters support a statewide policy that all towns designate where people are allowed to build single-family homes on smaller lots.
68% 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.
68% of New Hampshire voters support allowing nonprofits and churches to build affordable housing on their property as part of their nonprofit mission.
For more information on the Annual Statewide Survey of Voter Attitudes on Affordable Housing, email ihpp@anselm.edu.