Skip to main content

Rochester city, New Hampshire Demographics & Population 2026

5th Largest5th most populous city in New Hampshire

As of 2026, Rochester city, New Hampshire has a total population of 32,866, the 5th largest city in New Hampshire, with a median household income of $79,388, which is 17% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 8.5%.

Key Takeaways

Rochester city Quick Facts

Population 32,866
Median Household Income $79,388
Median Home Value $262,600
Poverty Rate 8.5%
Unemployment Rate 2.9%
Median Age 43.4 years
Homeownership Rate 65.5%
Affordability Ratio 3.3x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 26.7%
High School Graduation Rate 93.4%
Diversity Index 15/100
Population 32,866 5th of 100
Median Income $79,388 average
Poverty Rate 8.5% 32% lower national
Median Home Value $262,600 average

How Rochester city Compares

Economy & Housing

Employment

2.9% Unemployment Rate State: 3.4% | National: 5.2%
67.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 65.5%
Renter 34.5%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.3x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

15out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 23 | National average: 60

Education

Rochester city Rankings in New Hampshire

#5 Population of 100
#40 Median Income of 100
#60 Education of 100
#56 Home Value of 100

Other Cities in Strafford County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Dover city 33,070 $92,748 8.1% $398,500
Somersworth city 12,060 $79,677 11.4% $295,800

Cities Similar to Rochester city

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Dover city33,070$92,748$398,50049.2%8.1%
Concord city44,219$83,701$323,70040.1%8.7%
Keene city22,923$78,183$232,50043.4%9.9%
Derry CDP21,668$88,901$356,70034.0%5.1%
Portsmouth city22,332$105,756$640,60063.4%5.5%

Population Overview

Rochester city is a mid-sized community located in New Hampshire, within Strafford County. The total population is 32,866. It ranks as the 5th most populous out of 100 cities and towns in New Hampshire.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rochester city is 43.4 years. This is about average than the state median of 43.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rochester city is $79,388. This is 17% lower than the state median of $95,628. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 1% higher. The poverty rate stands at 8.5%. This is 18% higher than the state poverty rate of 7.2%. The unemployment rate is 2.9%. This is 14% lower than the state rate of 3.4%. The median home value is $262,600. Housing costs are 28% lower than the state median of $367,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 65.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% lower than the state average of 72.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Rochester city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.3% of all residents. Asian residents account for 1.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 4.5%.

Education

26.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 33% lower than the state rate of 39.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Rochester city, New Hampshire is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against New Hampshire state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 100 Census-designated places in New Hampshire. For official data, visit data.census.gov.

Free data download: Get all New Hampshire city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Rochester city, New Hampshire?

Rochester city, New Hampshire has a population of 32,866 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Rochester city, NH?

The median household income in Rochester city is $79,388, which is 1% higher the national median of $78,538.

What is the poverty rate in Rochester city, NH?

The poverty rate in Rochester city is 8.5%. This means approximately 2,734 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Rochester city, New Hampshire?

Rochester city's population is 92.3% White, 0.8% Black, 1.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.8% Asian.

What is the median home value in Rochester city, NH?

The median home value in Rochester city is $262,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x.

How educated is Rochester city, New Hampshire?

26.7% of adults (25+) in Rochester city hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 7.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.