Compare towns
Rochester vs Appleton vs Salem
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 affordable homes ($236k median).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k 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 | Rochester | Appleton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
1,360Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Rochester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Rochester 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,836±$3k about the U.S. average |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334 71% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | Appleton Public Schools | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.