What is the cost of living in Rochester, NH?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Rochester has an overall cost of living index of 103, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Hampshire, Rochester has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than New Hampshire's index of 111.
The standard of living in Rochester ranks as #2 most affordable out of the 25 places we measured in New Hampshire. By definition, that implies Rochester ranks as the #23 most expensive place in the Granite State.
For more reading on life in Rochester, check out:
Rochester Cost Of Living Vs. New Hampshire
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Rochester. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Rochester is 105.
The Groceries index in Rochester is 103.
The Health index in Rochester is 106.
The Housing index in Rochester is 103.
The Transportation index in Rochester is 105.
The Utilities index in Rochester is 105.
| Living Expense | Rochester | New Hampshire | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 103 | 111 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 105 | 100 |
| Health | 106 | 126 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 105 | 102 | 100 |
Rochester Cost Of Living Compared To New Hampshire Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around New Hampshire, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In New Hampshire
- Most Affordable Cities In New Hampshire
- Average Rent In New Hampshire
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Rochester, NH Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in New Hampshire, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Rochester is $398,491.
The Median Rent in Rochester is $1,369.
The Median Income in Rochester is $80,836.
The Home Value To Income in Rochester is 4.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Rochester is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Rochester | New Hampshire | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $398,491 | $507,347 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,369 | $1,491 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $80,836 | $99,031 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.9x | 5.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Rochester, NH Costs By Category
Detailed Rochester Services costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Rochester | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.25 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.07 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $25.44 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.58 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $67.97 | $45.56 |
Detailed Rochester Groceries costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Rochester | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.44 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.75 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.01 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.66 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.82 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.7 |
Detailed Rochester Health costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Rochester | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $115.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $164.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $136.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Rochester Transportation costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Rochester | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.33 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $86.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Rochester Utilities costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Rochester | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.72 | $192.25 |
Rochester SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Rochester
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Rochester. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Dover, NH has a cost of living index of 116, 1.1x Rochester.
Portsmouth, NH has a cost of living index of 137, 1.3x Rochester.
Somersworth, NH has a cost of living index of 110, 1.1x Rochester.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, NH | 33,364 | 116 | 1.1x |
| Portsmouth, NH | 22,545 | 137 | 1.3x |
| Somersworth, NH | 12,111 | 110 | 1.1x |
| Durham, NH | 10,681 | 127 | 1.2x |
| Newmarket, NH | 5,679 | 115 | 1.1x |
