Compare towns
Franklin vs Rochester vs Brooks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most homeowners (76.8%).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
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 | Franklin | Rochester | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628 |
33,144Highest |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43±1.8Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.9±6.6 18% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Rochester and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooks and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,455±$16k 19% below U.S. |
$80,836±$3kHighest about the U.S. average |
$59,130±$10kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rochester and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,800±$59k 26% below U.S. |
$279,100±$10kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$196,700±$33kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rochester and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S. |
$1,116±$112 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,231 28% below U.S. |
$5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
$2,096Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brooks and Franklin 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 | — | #98 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Rochester School District | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.