What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Milford has the most expensive homes ($399k 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	Milford
People
Population	33,144Highest	16,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+6.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43±1.8Highest about the NH average	36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH
Kids under 18	18.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 18.2%	23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1%	15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	37.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%	4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%
	Rochester and Milford 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	$97,768±$14kHighest about the NH average
	Milford 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	$398,800±$20kHighest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH	$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,334Lowest 20% below NH	$7,522Highest 13% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2%	49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2%
	Milford 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%	3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the NH average	27 minHighest about the NH average
Work from home	11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Milford 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	#55 of 120 in NH
School district	Rochester School District	Milford School District
High school in town	Spaulding High School	Milford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.2Highest	10.7Lowest
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.