What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).

Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Hanover
People
Population	33,144Highest	11,685Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43±1.8Highest about the NH average	28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH
Kids under 18	18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2%	14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Rochester and Hanover 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%	19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Hanover 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 NH: 40.6%	88.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6%	36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH	$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH	$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH	$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,334Lowest 20% below NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2%
	Hanover 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%	73.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the NH average	20 minLowest 27% below NH
Work from home	11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#98 of 120 in NH	#1 of 120 in NH
School district	Rochester School District	Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town	Spaulding High School	Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.2Highest	10.7Lowest
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.