Compare towns
Rochester vs Atkinson vs Sandown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | Atkinson | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
7,267 |
6,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±1.8 about the NH average |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
| Atkinson and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
| Atkinson and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
| Sandown and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,918 4% above NH |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Atkinson 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.