Compare towns
Rochester vs Hooksett vs Farmington
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 renters (34% rent).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Farmington has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Hooksett | Farmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
15,057 |
6,795Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±1.8 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
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% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rochester and Hooksett 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.4 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% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,836±$3k 18% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$66,943±$4kLowest 32% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$289,200±$47k 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,096±$110Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334 20% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$4,723Lowest 29% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
14.5%±5.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Farmington and Hooksett 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #106 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | Hooksett School District | Farmington School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | None in town | 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 | 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.