What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sullivan has the most homeowners (85.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sullivan	Rochester
People
Population	1,246Lowest	33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±15Highest 21% above U.S.	43±1.8Lowest 11% 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%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±1.7Highest 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+	22.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.6%±1.9Lowest 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+	26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	27.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Lowest 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	$59,643±$14kLowest 26% below U.S.	$80,836±$3kHighest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$222,000±$33kLowest 33% below U.S.	$279,100±$10kHighest 16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$883±$114Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,228Lowest 29% below U.S.	$5,334Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±23.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46.3%±7Highest 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	13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	12.6%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.8%±2.1Lowest 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	RSU 24	Rochester School District
High school in town	Sumner Memorial High School	Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.5Lowest	13.2Highest
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.