What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k 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.

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

Measure	Rochester	Hampton
People
Population	33,144Highest	16,426Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43±1.8Lowest about the NH average	55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH
Kids under 18	18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2%	11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	19.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1%	30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	42.8%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%	3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Rochester and Hampton 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	$95,233±$9kHighest 4% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH	$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH	$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,334Lowest 20% below NH	$6,813Highest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2%	56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Hampton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest NH: 7.2%	5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66%Lowest NH: 72.8%	73.8%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978 1 yr older than NH	1978 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the NH average	26 minLowest 3% below NH
Work from home	11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#98 of 120 in NH	#31 of 120 in NH
School district	Rochester School District	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town	Spaulding High School	Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.2Highest	10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.