What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).

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	Laconia
People
Population	33,144Highest	17,085Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43±1.8Lowest about the NH average	45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH
	Laconia and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 18.2%	18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2%
	Laconia and Rochester 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%	22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Laconia 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%	27.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%	3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Rochester and Laconia 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	$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH
	Rochester and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH	$340,300±$16kHighest 15% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,369±$72Highest 8% below NH	$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH
	Rochester and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,334Highest 20% below NH	$4,484Lowest 33% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2%	54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Laconia 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%	12.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the NH average	17 minLowest 36% below NH
Work from home	11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	13.5%±3.8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Laconia 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	#105 of 120 in NH
School district	Rochester School District	Laconia School District
High school in town	Spaulding High School	Laconia High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.2Highest	10.0Lowest
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.