Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Rochester, New Hampshire
A $263,000 home here costs
$2,395per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $102,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,434. The real number is $961 higher every month, 67% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Strafford County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Rochester against Strafford County and New Hampshire
| Measure | Rochester | Strafford County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $262,600 | $332,400 |
| Median property tax | $5,244 | $6,582 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.997% | 1.980% |
| Median gross rent | $1,220 | $1,413 |
| Population | 32,866 | 131,743 |
The weather behind that power bill
Rochester sits in Strafford County, which averages a high of 81.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 15.4°F in its coldest, with 41.22" of precipitation a year and 28% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 506 cooling and 6,790 heating degree days, which is what sets the $171 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Strafford County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Strafford County
Full Strafford County cost breakdown · Every county in New Hampshire
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Rochester averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Rochester every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Rochester I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Rochester?
A $263,000 home in Rochester, New Hampshire costs approximately $2,395 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,434 principal and interest, $438 property tax, $65 homeowners insurance, $239 utilities and $219 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Rochester?
Rochester has an effective property tax rate of 1.997%, based on a median home value of $262,600 and median real estate taxes of $5,244. That is higher than the Strafford County average of 1.980%.
What is the average home price in Rochester?
The median owner-occupied home value in Rochester, New Hampshire is $262,600, against $332,400 across Strafford County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Rochester?
Median gross rent in Rochester is $1,220 a month, against $2,395 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Rochester?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Rochester, New Hampshire at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $102,500 a year. That covers the full $2,395 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Rochester, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for New Hampshire.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.