Compare towns
Rochester vs Windham 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
16,038 |
9,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±1.8 about the NH average |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | Windham School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Highest |
12.8Lowest |
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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.