The Town FilesRochester, New Hampshire
City in Strafford County · population 32,492 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $279,100
- Household income
- $80,836
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 43.0
Rochester is a city of 32,492 people in Strafford County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $279,100, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks more vibrant than 93% of New Hampshire towns, more walkable than 90% of New Hampshire towns, better transit than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
How Rochester ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Rochester is worth $279,100, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $80,836, which is more affordable than 65% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,369 a month. 66.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rochester | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $279,100 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,369 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $80,836 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 66.0% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Rochester
| People | Rochester | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.1% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.3% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.2% | 92.5% |
Weather in Rochester
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 15.4°F. About 41.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.4 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rochester since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 22, 1981 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 22, 1981.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 19, 2015.
Severe weather in Strafford County since 1996
Strafford County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445: Covid-19 |
| June 8, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4371: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 25, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4209: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4105: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Strafford County
Strafford County had 46,517 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,687 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Rochester itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Rochester
10 public schools with 3,807 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spaulding High School | 9-12 | 1,339 | 13.8 |
| Rochester Middle School | 6-8 | 774 | 13.6 |
| Chamberlain Street School | K-5 | 347 | 12.9 |
| McClelland School | K-5 | 303 | 11.7 |
| East Rochester School | PK-5 | 297 | 12.9 |
| William Allen School | K-5 | 292 | 13.3 |
| Gonic School | K-5 | 212 | 13.3 |
| Maple Street Magnet School | K-5 | 111 | 13.9 |
| Bud Carlson Academy | 9-12 | 77 | 15.4 |
| School Street School | K-4 | 55 | 9.2 |
Towns near Rochester
- Somersworth, NH5.5 mi · 11,855 people · home $318,400
- Farmington, NH6.4 mi · 6,722 people · home $289,200
- Barrington, NH6.5 mi · 9,326 people · home $399,100
- Berwick, ME6.8 mi · 7,950 people · home $369,100
- Lebanon, ME7.7 mi · 6,469 people · home $324,800
- Farmington, NH8.5 mi · 3,824 people · home $229,600
- Rollinsford, NH8.7 mi · 2,597 people · home $398,100
- Dover, NH9.1 mi · 32,741 people · home $436,700
Rochester questions
Is Rochester, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rochester scores better for retirees than 7% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 7%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.0).
How much does a house cost in Rochester?
The median owner-occupied home in Rochester is valued at $279,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,836, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,369 a month.
What is the weather like in Rochester?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 15.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.2 inches of precipitation a year and 50.4 inches of snow.
Does Rochester get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rochester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 22, 1981. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)