What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k 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	Strafford
People
Population	33,144Highest	4,306Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43±1.8Lowest about the NH average	46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH
	Strafford and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2%	17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Rochester and Strafford 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%	19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Rochester and Strafford 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%	40.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6%	5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Strafford 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±$3kLowest 18% below NH	$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH	$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH	$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH
	Strafford 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	$6,086Highest 9% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2%	76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Strafford 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%	8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the NH average	36 minHighest 34% above NH
Work from home	11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Strafford 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	#73 of 120 in NH
School district	Rochester School District	Strafford School District
High school in town	Spaulding High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.2	—
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.