Compare towns
Rochester vs Farmington vs Dover
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 kids (18.2% under 18).
Farmington has the most homeowners (77.7%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k 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 | Farmington | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144 |
6,795Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±1.8 about the NH average |
49.1±7.1Highest 13% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below 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% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Rochester and Dover 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%±3.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dover 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 |
$66,943±$4kLowest 32% below NH |
$94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$289,200±$47k 28% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,096±$110Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334 20% below NH |
$4,723Lowest 29% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±16Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover 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 NH: 7.2% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66% NH: 72.8% |
77.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.5%±5.9 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Farmington 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 | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | Farmington School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | Farmington Senior High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Highest |
5.5Lowest |
12.7 |
| 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.