Compare towns
Farmington vs Barnstead vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Farmington has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Barnstead has the highest household income ($112k).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Farmington | Barnstead | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,795 |
4,994Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.1±7.1Highest 13% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
| Farmington and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,943±$4kLowest 32% below NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$80,836±$3k 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,200±$47k 28% below NH |
$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$110Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
| Barnstead and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,723Lowest 29% below NH |
$6,003Highest 10% below NH |
$5,334 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±16Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Farmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14.5%±5.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Farmington and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #106 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Farmington School District | Barnstead School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Farmington Senior High School | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 5.5Lowest |
— | 13.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.