Compare towns
Rochester vs Ogunquit vs Laconia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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.
| Measure | Rochester | Ogunquit | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
1,379Lowest |
17,085 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Lowest 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.3±3.9 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rochester and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,836±$3k about the U.S. average |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$73,218±$12kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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 16% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$340,300±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S. |
— | $1,224±$107Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| 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 71% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,484 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.