Compare towns
Rochester vs Walpole vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 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 | Walpole | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389 |
3,690Highest |
391Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Lowest 20% above U.S. |
53.8±3.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Pittsfield and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±8.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$65,852±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$313,300±$73k 6% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158Lowest 34% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,035±$140 27% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$5,181 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.6%±43Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.1%±24.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Pittsfield 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 | — | #27 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.