Compare towns
Rochester vs Ogunquit vs Salem
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%).
Salem has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
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 | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
1,379Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Lowest 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Rochester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Salem 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. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S. |
— | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334 71% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #98 of 120 in NH | — | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | — | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | — | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.