What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Somersworth has the most expensive homes ($318k 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	Somersworth
People
Population	33,144Highest	12,111Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43±1.8Highest about the NH average	38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH
Kids under 18	18.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Somersworth and Rochester 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%	14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	31.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6%	4.9%±2Highest NH: 6%
	Somersworth and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,836±$3kHighest 18% below NH	$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH
	Rochester and Somersworth 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	$318,400±$23kHighest 21% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH	$1,477±$134Highest about the NH average
	Somersworth 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	$6,805Highest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2%	56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Somersworth 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%	57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the NH average	26 minLowest 3% below NH
Work from home	11.8%±2.1Highest NH: 16.8%	11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Rochester and Somersworth 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	#117 of 120 in NH
School district	Rochester School District	Somersworth School District
High school in town	Spaulding High School	Somersworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.2Highest	11.4Lowest
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.