Compare towns
Rochester vs Pelham vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Pelham | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
14,449 |
9,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±1.8 about the NH average |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
| Hampstead 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% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead 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% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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 |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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 |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,425±$88Highest 4% below NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Pelham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 10% above NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | Pelham School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.