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City · 33,144 residents · Strafford County, New Hampshire

Rochester , New Hampshire

In Rochester, a typical home is worth $279,100 and typical rent is $1,369 a month. Compared with all of Strafford County, the typical home value is 23% lower and typical household income is 9% lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $279,100

    23% below the county

    31% below New Hampshire

    • Rochester
    • Strafford
    • New Hampshire

  • Typical rent

    $1,369a month

    8% below the county

    8% below New Hampshire

    • Rochester
    • Strafford
    • New Hampshire

  • Typical household income

    $80,836a year

    9% below the county

    18% below New Hampshire

    • Rochester
    • Strafford
    • New Hampshire

  • Households that own their home

    66%

    1 points below the county

    7 points below New Hampshire

    • Rochester
    • Strafford
    • New Hampshire

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$406,606
3.7% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,820 a month
1% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Rochester is in Strafford County. The FHA loan limit ($962,550 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Strafford County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Rochester apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. The typical home in Rochester is worth $279,100, 23% less than in Strafford County as a whole ($362,800).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Rochester

What homes there are in Rochester, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house is still the most common home in Rochester, but it weighs less than in Strafford County: 51% against 55%.

In Rochester there are many mobile homes: 16% of homes; in Strafford County, 8%.

Year built

By age, homes in Rochester look like those in Strafford County: the typical year built is 1978.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

With an FHA limit of $962,550, at least 99% of owner-occupied homes in Rochester sit below it: they are worth less than $750,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

About 88% of rented homes in Rochester cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Strafford County ($2,093).

With a mortgage

$2,044 a month

Strafford County: $2,330 a month

Without a mortgage

$904 a month

Strafford County: $975 a month

Owners with a mortgage

56%

Strafford County: 61%

In Rochester, 56% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $2,044 a month, against $2,330 in Strafford County. Without one it drops to $904.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Rochester gained value faster than in Strafford County: 62% against 54%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Rochester rose 32%, less than in Strafford County (36%).

While home values in Rochester changed +62% and rent +32%, the typical household income rose 30%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureRochesterStrafford CountyNew HampshireUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate5.1%4.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.4%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.5%1.4%3.4%
People per household 2.362.392.442.53
Drive alone 78%72%72%69%
Carpool 6%6%7%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate4%3%3%
Work from home 12%16%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

A household in Rochester has 2.36 people on average, about the same as in Strafford County (2.39).

In Rochester, 78% of workers drive alone to work; in Strafford County, 72%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Rochester?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Rochester, worth $279,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 38% of the typical household income in Rochester, which is $80,836 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $108,876 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Strafford County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Rochester. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $9,769 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,540

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$274,044
Total interest
$394,285
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,713 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,886 a month

  • Tight

    $1,886 to $2,425 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,425 a month

    Your payment · 38%

Compared with the typical household income in Rochester ($80,836 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,540
Principal & interest$1,856
Property tax$444
Home insurance$116
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$123

You need at least $9,769 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Rochester and Strafford County

Rochester is in Strafford County, New Hampshire. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Rochester's own numbers

Typical home value
$279,100
Typical monthly rent
$1,369
Typical yearly household income
$80,836
Households that own their home
66%
Effective property tax rate
1.91%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Strafford County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$962,550
Conventional limit, one unit
$962,550
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,093
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+70%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.8%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Strafford County.

Everything about Strafford County

Buying

Buying a home in Rochester

A typical home in Rochester is worth $279,100: 23% below the county and 31% below New Hampshire. With the typical household income in Rochester ($80,836 a year), a typical home costs 3.5 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Rochester 3.5 years
  • Strafford 4.1 years
  • New Hampshire 4.1 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Strafford County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Strafford County rose 120% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Strafford County.

Period County New Hampshire U.S.
Last year (2025) +5.3% +4.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +70% +66% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +120% +113% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Rochester next to Strafford County, New Hampshire and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Rochester $279,100
  • Strafford $362,800
  • New Hampshire $402,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Rochester $1,369
  • Strafford $1,488
  • New Hampshire $1,491
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Rochester $80,836
  • Strafford $88,570
  • New Hampshire $99,031
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Rochester next to Strafford County and New Hampshire
Measure Rochester Strafford County New Hampshire U.S.
Typical home value $279,100 $362,800 $402,500 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,369 $1,488 $1,491 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $80,836 $88,570 $99,031 $80,734
Households that own their home 66% 67% 73% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $5,334 $6,708 $6,667 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.91% 1.85% 1.66% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 46% 50% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Strafford County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Rochester

For a typical $279,100 home in Rochester, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Rochester's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,540a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $9,769
    Cash to close
    $18,142
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $123

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,489a month

    Down payment
    $13,955
    Cash to close
    $22,328
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $133

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,073a month

    Down payment
    $55,820
    Cash to close
    $64,193
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,331a month

    Down payment
    $41,865
    Cash to close
    $50,238
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Rochester and for Strafford County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Rochester

1.91%of the home’s value each year

$5,334 a year for the typical owner in Rochester.

  • Rochester 1.91%
  • Strafford 1.85%
  • New Hampshire 1.66%

What New Hampshire publishes Deadline to apply for exemptions and credits: April 15 (New Hampshire General Court (Revised Statutes Annotated))

Exemptions and deadlines in New Hampshire

Flood risk in Strafford County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Strafford County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.8%
635
Of those, with NFIP insurance
14%
County New Hampshire U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.8% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 14% 26% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Rochester

Typical rent in Rochester is $1,369 a month: 8% below the county. In Rochester, 46% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Strafford County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,093 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $40.25 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Strafford County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,489 $28.63 $59,560
1 bedroom $1,600 $30.77 $64,000
2 bedrooms $2,093 $40.25 $83,720
3 bedrooms $2,494 $47.96 $99,760
4 bedrooms $2,813 $54.10 $112,520

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Rochester

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Rochester has 3 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,980 in all of them.

None is above the fair market rent for Strafford County ($2,093).

  • 03839 $1,980$2,430
  • 03867 $1,980$2,430
  • 03868 $1,980$2,430

A ZIP code counts for Rochester when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Rochester

HUD lists 12 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Rochester. These are the largest.

  • Wellsweep Acres 11 Wyandotte Fls, Rochester 03867 232 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Rochester NH · Average payment: $526 a month · Average wait: 23 months · Homes at several sites (603) 332-4126
  • Punch Brook/Brookside Place 6 Punch Brook Way, Rochester 89 low-income homes · 2 bd: 89 · In service since 2004 · For families
  • Encore Liuscott 20 Columbus Ave, Rochester 58 low-income homes · 1 bd: 5 · 2 bd: 50 · 3 bd: 3 · In service since 2007 · For families
  • Laurel Terrace 21 McKinley St, Rochester 03867 55 low-income homes · For older adults
  • Rochester East 33 Highland St, Rochester 48 low-income homes · 1 bd: 48 · In service since 2004 · For older adults

See all 43 buildings in Strafford County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Rochester

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Strafford County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

An older man and his daughter go over papers with a professional.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Rochester

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Rochester or Strafford County. The ones below are statewide in New Hampshire: they work in Rochester the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in New Hampshire

  • New Hampshire Housing Cash Downpayment Assistance

    Statewide in New Hampshire

    New Hampshire state agency cash assistance of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 for the down payment with an NH Housing mortgage; open to any buyer who qualifies, not only first-time buyers. Offered by New Hampshire Housing.

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • 1stGenHomeNH

    Statewide in New Hampshire

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    New Hampshire state agency help of $10,000 for the down payment, closing costs and the escrow account, as a second mortgage with no interest or payments, repaid when you sell, refinance or leave the home; for first-generation buyers, people who were in foster care, or refugees or asylees. Offered by New Hampshire Housing.

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Rochester

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Rochester, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • The Housing Partnership

    222 International Dr Ste 165, Portsmouth · 18 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 2 more
    (603) 431-3620

  • Neighborworks of Southern New Hampshire

    801 Elm St, Manchester · 32 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 5 more
    (603) 626-4663

  • New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority

    32 Constitution Dr, Bedford · 35 miles away

    • Home improvement and repairs
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    (603) 472-8623

All counseling agencies in New Hampshire

Help in Spanish near Rochester

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Rochester

HUD’s record names them for Rochester or Strafford County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of the City of Rochester NH Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (603) 332-4126

2 other authorities have an office in Strafford County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Strafford County

These cities are also in Strafford County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Strafford County Housing in New Hampshire

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Rochester, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Strafford County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Rochester.

All guides
A mother holds her laughing daughter on a grey sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Rochester

Short answers with the numbers for Rochester and all of Strafford County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Rochester?

The typical home value in Rochester is $279,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Strafford County it is $362,800.

How much does it cost to rent in Rochester?

Typical rent in Rochester is $1,369 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Strafford County is $2,093.

What is the FHA loan limit in Rochester?

Rochester uses the FHA limit for all of Strafford County (2026): $962,550 for a one-unit home and $1,851,100 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Rochester?

The typical homeowner in Rochester pays $5,334 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.91% of the home’s value; in Strafford County, the rate is 1.85%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Rochester?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Strafford County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).