What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milford has the most expensive homes ($358k 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	Milford	Rochester
People
Population	8,956Lowest	33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.3%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	36.7±3.7Lowest 15% below NH	43±1.8Highest about the NH average
Kids under 18	23.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2%	18.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Milford and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1%	19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1%
	Rochester and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.6%Highest NH: 40.6%	27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%
	Rochester and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,684±$11kLowest 21% below NH	$80,836±$3kHighest 18% below NH
	Rochester and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,800±$16kHighest 11% below NH	$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,557±$120Highest 4% above NH	$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH
	Milford and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,978Highest 5% above NH	$5,334Lowest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.2%±10.7Highest NH: 48.2%	46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Milford and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	66%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the NH average	26 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	12.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8%	11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Milford and Rochester 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	#55 of 120 in NH	#98 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Rochester School District
High school in town	—	Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.2
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.