What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Manchester has the most expensive homes ($366k 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	Manchester
People
Population	33,144Lowest	115,643Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43±1.8Highest about the NH average	38±1Lowest 12% below NH
Kids under 18	18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2%	18%±1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Rochester and Manchester 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%	15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	34%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6%	6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH	$81,007±$2kHighest 18% below NH
	Manchester and Rochester 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	$365,600±$7kHighest 9% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH	$1,564±$37Highest 5% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,334Lowest 20% below NH	$5,922Highest 11% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2%	50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2%
	Manchester 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%	11.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66%Highest NH: 72.8%	48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the NH average	24 minLowest 10% below NH
Work from home	11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	14.1%±1.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Manchester 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	#115 of 120 in NH
School district	Rochester School District	Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District
High school in town	Spaulding High School	Manchester Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.2Lowest	14.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	6 photos →

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.