Compare towns
Strafford vs Farmington vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
Farmington has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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.
| Measure | Strafford | Farmington | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
6,795 |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
-0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
49.1±7.1Highest 13% above NH |
43±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Farmington and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
16.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7Highest 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+ | 19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Highest 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+ | 40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
27.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 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 | $122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$66,943±$4kLowest 32% below NH |
$80,836±$3k 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$289,200±$47k 28% below NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,096±$110Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
| Strafford and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086Highest 9% below NH |
$4,723Lowest 29% below NH |
$5,334 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±16Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Farmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.7% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.5%±5.9 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford and Farmington 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #106 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Farmington School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Farmington Senior High School | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 5.5Lowest |
13.2Highest |
| 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.