What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hampton	Rochester
People
Population	16,426Lowest	33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH	43±1.8Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2%	18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%	19.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.8%Highest NH: 40.6%	27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%
	Rochester and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,233±$9kHighest 4% below NH	$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH	$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH	$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,813Highest about the NH average	$5,334Lowest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2%	46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hampton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Highest NH: 72.8%	66%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978 1 yr older than NH	1978 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 3% below NH	26 minHighest about the NH average
Work from home	21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%	11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#31 of 120 in NH	#98 of 120 in NH
School district	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District	Rochester School District
High school in town	Winnacunnet High School	Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	13.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.