Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Rochester?

Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,290 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Concord, NH's $1,410, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Rochester?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Concord or Rochester?

Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Concord vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Concord

New Hampshire

$1,410/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,290/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Concord, NH versus $1,290 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Rochester, MN is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Concord, NH, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $83,701 in Concord, NH and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 5% higher in Rochester, MN. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Concord, NH

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

$876

$1,080

+23% in Rochester, MN

1 Bedroom

$1,134

$1,106

+2% in Concord, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,475

$1,243

+16% in Concord, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,769

$1,646

+7% in Concord, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$323,700

$287,500

+11% in Concord, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$83,701

$87,767

+5% in Rochester, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$60,620

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

36.4 yr

+4.3 yr in Concord, NH

Homeownership

57.4%

65.4%

+8.0 pp in Rochester, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.1%

50.1%

+10.0 pp in Rochester, MN

Avg Commute

23.2 min

17.2 min

+6.0 min in Concord, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

180.7

158.9

+12% in Concord, NH

Property Crime

1,251.5

1,379

+10% in Rochester, MN

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

46.4°F

45.4°F

+1.0°F in Concord, NH

Annual Precipitation

40.6 in

33.0 in

+7.6 in in Concord, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.96/gal

+0% in Rochester, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

17.5

+35% in Concord, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$14.79

+32% in Concord, NH

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Concord, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Rochester, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Concord, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Concord, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Concord, NH

Average prices — Northeast vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / MN)

None

6.875%

+6.9 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.85%

+9.8 pp in MN

Concord vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Rochester?: Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,290 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Concord, NH's $1,410, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Concord or Rochester?: Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).