This policy brief explores problems and policy solutions regarding affordable housing in both Hanover and New Hampshire as a whole. The current standard for affordable living, set by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is that a family or individual should pay no more than 30 percent of their total income on housing in order to best afford other basic necessities such as food, transportation, and health care. While Dartmouth College and the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) remain the largest businesses in the Upper Valley area, most employees cannot afford the cost of living in Hanover and are forced to live in neighboring towns that are shouldering the "affordable housing burden."

While the Town of Hanover and Dartmouth College are working to address this growing need, as seen with proposals at Rivercrest and Grasse Road, there are other options that may complement and strengthen already existing efforts. Inclusionary zoning and Employer Assisted Housing (EAH) may serve to make Hanover a more affordable place to live for lower to middle-income households.