Compare towns
Rochester vs Barnstead vs Laconia
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Barnstead has the most homeowners (93.6%).
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 | Barnstead | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
4,994Lowest |
17,085 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±1.8 about the NH average |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH |
| Laconia and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Laconia and Barnstead 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 NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead 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 18% below NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH |
$340,300±$16k 15% below NH |
| Barnstead and Laconia 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 |
$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH |
| Barnstead and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334 20% below NH |
$6,003Highest 10% below NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Barnstead 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% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Laconia and Barnstead 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | Barnstead School District | 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 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.