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Rochester, New Hampshire Demographics & Population 2026

5th Largest5th most populous city in New Hampshire

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Rochester, New Hampshire had a total population of 33,144, the 5th largest city in New Hampshire, with a median household income of $80,836, which is 18% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 8.3%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Rochester Quick Facts

Population 33,144
Median Household Income $80,836
Median Home Value $279,100
Poverty Rate 8.3%
Unemployment Rate 2.7%
Median Age 43.0 years
Homeownership Rate 66.0%
Affordability Ratio 3.5x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 27.1%
High School Graduation Rate 93.5%
Diversity Index 17/100
Population 33,144 5th of 100
Median Income $80,836 average
Poverty Rate 8.3% 34% lower than national
Median Home Value $279,100 average

How Rochester Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population32,86633,144+0.8%
Median household income$79,388$80,836+1.8%
Median home value$262,600$279,100+6.3%

How Rochester Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 14.0%
$25K-$50K 17.8%
$50K-$100K 27.9%
$100K+ 40.3%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.8%
$10K-$15K
4.2%
$15K-$20K
2.7%
$20K-$25K
3.3%
$25K-$30K
4.4%
$30K-$35K
4.3%
$35K-$40K
3.4%
$40K-$45K
2.7%
$45K-$50K
2.9%
$50K-$60K
7.0%
$60K-$75K
7.6%
$75K-$100K
13.3%
$100K-$125K
10.2%
$125K-$150K
8.6%
$150K-$200K
13.2%
$200K+
8.3%

Employment

2.7% Unemployment Rate State: 3.4%|National: 5.2%
67.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 66.0%
Renter 34.0%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.5x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,369/mo 20.3% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

17out of 100
Very Low Diversity

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

State average: 24 | National average: 61

Education

Rochester Rankings in New Hampshire

#5 Population of 100
#44 Median Income of 93
#67 Education of 100
#58 Home Value of 98

Other Cities in Strafford County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Dover 33,364 $94,829 8.3% $436,700
Somersworth 12,111 $74,504 11.2% $318,400
Durham 10,681 $112,070 12.4% $498,000
Farmington 3,924 $55,029 14.1% $229,600
Milton 356 $48,125 9.3% $240,400
Milton Mills 72 $250,000+ 11.1% $366,000

Cities Similar to Rochester

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

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Dover33,364$94,829$436,70052.0%8.3%
Concord44,375$84,902$350,90042.3%8.9%
Keene22,939$78,445$252,50044.1%10.1%
Derry21,339$91,673$391,20036.7%4.3%
Portsmouth22,545$106,219$688,50064.0%6.8%

Population Overview

Rochester is a mid-sized community located in New Hampshire, within Strafford County. The total population is 33,144. It ranks as the 5th most populous out of 100 Census-designated places in New Hampshire.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rochester is 43.0 years. This is about the same as the state median of 43.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rochester is $80,836. This is 18% lower than the state median of $99,031. It is also about the same as the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.3%. This is 14% higher than the state poverty rate of 7.2%. The unemployment rate is 2.7%. This is 19% lower than the state rate of 3.4%. The median home value is $279,100. Housing costs are 31% lower than the state median of $402,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 66.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 72.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Rochester has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 4.7%.

Education

27.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 33% lower than the state rate of 40.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Rochester, New Hampshire is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. 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. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

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, New Hampshire?

Rochester, New Hampshire has a population of 33,144 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Rochester, NH?

The median household income in Rochester is $80,836, which is about the same as the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Rochester, NH?

The poverty rate in Rochester is 8.3%. This means approximately 2,693 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Rochester, New Hampshire?

Rochester's population is 91.1% White, 1.1% Black, 2.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.5% Asian.

What is the median home value in Rochester, NH?

The median home value in Rochester is $279,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x.

How educated is Rochester, New Hampshire?

27.1% of adults (25+) in Rochester hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 8.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.