What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k 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	North Hampton	Rochester
People
Population	4,543Lowest	33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH	43±1.8Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2%	18.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 18.2%
	North Hampton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1%	19.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	North Hampton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%
	Rochester and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH	$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH	$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH	$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,529Highest 28% above NH	$5,334Lowest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2%	46.3%±7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Rochester and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	66%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 8% below NH	26 minHighest about the NH average
Work from home	25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8%	11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#12 of 120 in NH	#98 of 120 in NH
School district	North Hampton School District	Rochester School District
High school in town	None 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.