Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Rochester, NH

    Is Rochester a good place to live?

    Watch Rochester

    Rochester ranks #1 of 5 New Hampshire cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (75/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.9% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $262,600
    +10.2% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,220
    per month
    Household income
    $79,388
    median
    Unemployment
    2.9%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Rochester

    The median home value in Rochester is $262,600 and median rent is $1,220 a month, against a median household income of $79,388. Homes cost about 3.3× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Rochester crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across New Hampshire the 2025 rate was 119 violent and 829 property crimes per 100,000 people — #49 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Rochester, NH

    Rochester has about 32,866 residents, 2.9% unemployment and 19% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Rochester with

    Rochester vs ManchesterRochester vs NashuaRochester vs ConcordRochester vs Dover

    More: Where to move in New Hampshire · Best counties in New Hampshire

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report