Compare towns
Rochester vs Appleton vs Laconia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Appleton has the most homeowners (82.6%).
Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Rochester | Appleton | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
1,360Lowest |
17,085 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.3±3.9 16% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Laconia and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rochester and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,836±$3kHighest about the U.S. average |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$73,218±$12k 9% below U.S. |
| Rochester and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$340,300±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,224±$107 13% below U.S. |
| Rochester and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,484 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±10.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Laconia 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | — | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | Appleton Public Schools | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | None in town | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| 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.