Compare towns
Rochester vs Augusta vs Concord
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%).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Concord has the most expensive homes ($351k 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 | Augusta | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144 |
19,077Lowest |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
40.7±1.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Augusta 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% |
18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Augusta 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% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Concord and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,836±$3k about the U.S. average |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$84,902±$5kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Concord and Rochester 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. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$350,900±$13kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,441±$43Highest about the U.S. average |
| Concord and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334 71% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$7,227Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Rochester 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% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Augusta and Concord 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 | #119 of 133 in ME | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | Cony | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2 |
17.9Highest |
13.0Lowest |
| 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.