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Rochester, NH


Rochester New Hampshire Community Profile Community Contact Rochester Department of Economic Development
Karen Pollard, Deputy City Mgr/Dir Community Dev
31 Wakefield Street, City Hall
Rochester, NH 03867-1917
Telephone (603) 335-7522
Fax (603) 335-7597
E-mail karen.pollard@rochesternh.net
Web Site www.rochesternh.net

Municipal Office Hours Monday through Friday, 8 am - 5 pm

County Strafford
Labor Market Area Rochester-Dover NH-ME Metro-NECTA, NH Portion
Tourism Region Lakes
Planning Commission Strafford Regional
Regional Development Southeast Economic Development Corp.

Election Districts
US Congress District 1 (All Wards)
Executive Council District 2 (All Wards)
State Senate District 6 (All Wards)
State Representative Strafford County Districts 7, 22 (Ward 1) 9, 23 (Ward 2) 10, 23 (Ward 3) 11, 24 (Ward 4) 12, 24 (Ward 5) 8, 22 (Ward 6)

Incorporated: 1722
Origin: This town was one of four granted by Samuel Shute during his brief term as Governor of Massachusetts, which at the time included the New Hampshire province. The 1722 grant included what is now Farmington and Milton, and was named for a close friend of Governor Shute, Laurence Hyde, Earl of Rochester, who was a brother-in-law to King James II. The first settlers arrived in 1728, but due to trouble with Indians, the settlement didn't experience any growth until about 1760. Rochester was incorporated as a city in 1891. It includes the village of Gonic, named for the Indian Squamanagona, meaning day and water.
Villages and Place Names: East Rochester, Gonic
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 2,857 residents in 1790
Population Trends: Population change for Rochester, the ninth largest numeric increase among the cities and towns, totaled 14,008 over 51 years, from 15,927 in 1960 to 29,935 in 2011. The largest decennial percent change was a 24 percent increase between 1980 and 1990. The 2011 Census estimate for Rochester was 29,935 residents, which ranked sixth among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density and Land Area, 2010 (US Census Bureau): 655.3 persons per square mile of land area. Rochester contains 45.4 square miles of land area and 0.4 square miles of inland water area.

MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Council/Manager
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2013 $32,266,832
Budget: School Appropriations, 2013 $55,234,395
Zoning Ordinance 1984/07
Master Plan 2001
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board
Boards and Commissions
Elected:City Council; Police; School
Appointed:Planning; Zoning; Library; Conservation; Economic Development; Industrial Development; Arena; Historic; Utility; Arts & Culture
Public Library East Rochester Public; Rochester Public

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Municipal
Emergency Medical Service Municipal
Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Frisbie Memorial, Rochester Local 82

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier Unitil
Water Supplier Municipal
Sanitation Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Yes
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash PickupMunicipal
Pay-As-You-Throw ProgramNo
Recycling ProgramVoluntary
Telephone Company Fairpoint
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station Yes
High Speed Internet Service:
BusinessYes
ResidentialYes

(NH Dept. of Revenue Adminstration)PROPERTY TAXES
2011 Total Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $24.86
2011 Equalization Ratio 100.0
2011 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $24.38
2011 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings75.4%
Commercial Land and Buildings22.3%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other2.3%

(ACS 2007-2011)HOUSING
Total Housing Units 13,858
Single-Family Units, Detached or Attached 7,562
Units in Multiple-Family Structures:  
Two to Four Units in Structure 2,052
Five or More Units in Structure 1,205
Mobile Homes and Other Housing Units 2,339
(US Census Bureau)DEMOGRAPHICS
Total Population Community County
2011 29,935 123,857
2010 29,752 123,143
2000 28,563 112,676
1990 26,722 104,348
1980 21,560 85,408
1970 17,938 70,431
 
Demographics, American Community Survey (ACS) 2007-2011
Population by Gender
Male:   14,422 Female:   15,412
Population by Age Group
Under age 5 1,494
Age 5 to 19 5,332
Age 20 to 34 5,097
Age 35 to 54 9,247
Age 55 to 64 4,214
Age 65 and over 4,450
Median Age 42.3 years
Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher 88.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher 18.7%

(ACS 2007-2011)INCOME, 2011 INFLATION ADJUSTED $
Per capita income $27,902
Median family income $64,375
Median household income $52,536
Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male $47,483
Female $36,507
Families below the poverty level 9.0%

(NHES - ELMI)LABOR FORCE
Annual Average 2001 2011
Civilian Labor Force 15,608 16,572
Employed 15,032 15,601
Unemployed 576 971
Unemployment Rate 3.7% 5.9%

(NHES - ELMI)EMPLOYMENT & WAGES
Annual Average Covered Employment 2001 2011
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment 2,575 1,614
Average Weekly Wage $796 $1,062
     
Service Providing Industries
Average Employment 8,136 7,750
Average Weekly Wage $708 $665
     
Total Private Industry
Average Employment 10,711 9,364
Average Weekly Wage $729 $734
     
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment 1,176 1,416
Average Weekly Wage $587 $737
     
Total, Private plus Government
Average Employment 11,888 10,780
Average Weekly Wage $715 $734
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

(NH Dept. of Education)EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES
Schools students attend: Rochester operates grades K-12 SAU 54
Career Technology Center(s): Dover Voc. Center; Somersworth Reg. Voc. Center; Creteau Voc. Center, Rochester Region: 12
Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools 8 1 2 3
Grade Levels P K 1-5 6-8 9-12 K 1-12
Total Enrollment 1,952 935 1,496 167
2012 NH Licensed Child Care Facilities (Bureau of Child Care Licensing): Total Facilities: 23 Total Capacity: 963
Nearest Community/Technical College: Great Bay
Nearest Colleges or Universities: University of NH

LARGEST BUSINESSES PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
City of Rochester Municipal services 1,547 1891
Frisbie Memorial Hospital Health care services 655 1919
Albany Engineered Composites Aerospace engineered products 250
Hannaford Brothers Supermarket 464 1963
Wal-Mart Supercenter Retail store, supermarket 295 1970
Market Basket Supermarket 249 1996
Waste Management Recycling & solid waste 200 1983
Home Depot Home improvement center 176 2001
Laars Technologies Boilers & water heaters 185 1984
Eastern Propane & Oil Retail propane & oil 310 1989

(Distance estimated from city/town hall)TRANSPORTATION
Road Access US Routes 202
State Routes 11, 16, 108, 125, 202A
Nearest Interstate, Exit Spaulding Tpk., Exits 12-16; I-95, Exit 5
Distance Local access; 21 miles
Railroad NH Northcoast
Public Transportation COAST
 
Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Skyhaven, Rochester
Runway 4,001 ft. asphalt
Lighted? Yes Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Manchester-Boston Regional Distance 42 miles
Number of Passsenger Airlines Serving Airport 4
 
Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH 43 miles
Portland, ME 51 miles
Boston, MA 75 miles
New York City, NY 289 miles
Montreal, Quebec 271 miles

(ACS 2007-2011)COMMUTING TO WORK
Workers 16 years and over
Drove alone, car/truck/van 81.2%
Carpooled, car/truck/van 12.2%
Public transportation 0.9%
Walked 2.3%
Other Means 0.3%
Worked at home 3.1%
Mean Travel Time to Work 25.0 minutes
 
Percent of Working Residents: (ACS 2007-2011)
Working in community of residence 63.4%
Commuting to another NH community 27.2%
Commuting out-of-state 9.4%
RECREATION, ATTRACTIONS, AND EVENTS
X Municipal Parks
X YMCA/YWCA
Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses
Swimming: Indoor Facility
X Swimming: Outdoor Facility
Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
X Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
Bowling Facilities
X Museums
X Cinemas
X Performing Arts Facilities
X Tourists Attractions
X Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X Youth Sports: Baseball
X Youth Sports: Soccer
X Youth Sports: Football
X Youth Sports: Basketball
X Youth Sports: Hockey
X Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
X Boating/Marinas
X Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
X Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
Overnight or Day Camps
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): Gunstock
   
Other: Rochester Fair; Live Performances; Opera House; Skyhaven Airport; Farmer's Markets; Art Galleries; History Museum; Oktoberfest

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, 2013.
Community Response Received 07/11/12

All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.

 

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