Compare towns
Rochester vs Unity vs Laconia
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Unity | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
1,375Lowest |
17,085 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
45.3±3.9 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Laconia and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1% NH: 40.6% |
21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Highest NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Rochester and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,836±$3k 18% below NH |
$87,500±$16kHighest 12% below NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
| Unity and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10k 31% below NH |
$276,100±$29kLowest 31% below NH |
$340,300±$16kHighest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH |
| Unity and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334 20% below NH |
$5,394Highest 19% below NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
40%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
6.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66% NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Laconia 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 | — | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | Unity School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | None in town | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.