What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sullivan has the most homeowners (85.2%).

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	Sullivan
People
Population	33,144Highest	1,246Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±1.8Lowest 11% above U.S.	47.1±15Highest 21% above U.S.
	Sullivan 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 U.S.: 22%	18%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rochester and Sullivan 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%	22.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sullivan 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sullivan 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 about the U.S. average	$59,643±$14kLowest 26% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$279,100±$10kHighest 16% below U.S.	$222,000±$33kLowest 33% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S.	$883±$114Lowest 38% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,334Highest 71% above U.S.	$2,228Lowest 29% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	34.9%±23.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rochester and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.6%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sullivan 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	—
School district	Rochester School District	RSU 24
High school in town	Spaulding High School	Sumner Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.2Highest	10.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.