What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Farmington has the most people working from home (14.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rochester	Farmington
People
Population	33,144Highest	6,795Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43±1.8Lowest about the NH average	49.1±7.1Highest 13% above NH
	Farmington and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2%	16.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Rochester and Farmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1%	18.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Rochester and Farmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%	2.3%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%
	Rochester and Farmington 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 18% below NH	$66,943±$4kLowest 32% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH	$289,200±$47kHighest 28% below NH
	Farmington and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,369±$72Highest 8% below NH	$1,096±$110Lowest 26% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,334Highest 20% below NH	$4,723Lowest 29% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±7 NH: 48.2%	46.3%±16 NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	11.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66%Lowest NH: 72.8%	77.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the NH average	29 minHighest 7% above NH
Work from home	11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	14.5%±5.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Farmington 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	#106 of 120 in NH
School district	Rochester School District	Farmington School District
High school in town	Spaulding High School	Farmington Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.2Highest	5.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.