Rochester, NH · standard
ZIP Code 03868
Strafford County, New Hampshire - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 5,323
- 272/sq mi High-density area
- $81,530
- Median income Near-median income area
- $268,800
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 29.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Rochester pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 36%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 39%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 272
- people per sq mi
- 78%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 03868 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 03868 (Rochester, NH) rose +3.5% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 303.6 in 2023 to 314.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 03868 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Rochester, Strafford County, New Hampshire, home to 5,323 residents across 19.6 square miles, a density of 272 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 03868 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $81,530 (20% below the average New Hampshire ZIP), while per-capita income is $39,695. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 3.0% and unemployment is 2.8%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $268,800 (34% below the average New Hampshire ZIP), and median rent is $1,203; owner occupancy is 78.1%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 29.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.1, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Strafford County, so 03868 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 03868
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Rochester, NH
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 03868.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
21 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
13 establishments
- Construction
Construction
9 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing 6
Real estate and rental and leasing
6 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 6
Accommodation and food services
6 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 03868, Rochester, NH · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
5,323
Population
19.6
Area (sq mi)
272
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 03868?
42.1
Median Age
52.1%
Male
47.9%
Female
2.4%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$81,530
Median Household Income
-20% vs state ZIP avg
$39,695
Per Capita Income
3.0%
Poverty Rate
2.8%
Unemployment Rate
23.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 03868 ranks among New Hampshire ZIPs
Rochester, NH household income vs. every New Hampshire ZIP code
Median household income among 236 reporting New Hampshire ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$81,530 27th percentile higher than 27% of 236 New Hampshire ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more New Hampshire ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
2,565housing units
2,565
Total Housing Units
2,472
Occupied Units
93
Vacant Units
2.48
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$268,800
Median Home Value
-34% vs state ZIP avg
$1,203
Median Rent
1986
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+3.5%
YoY Change (2024)
314
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+214%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 03868 have increased 3.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +214% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +8.0% | 198 |
| 2021 | +16.6% | 231 |
| 2022 | +7.8% | 249 |
| 2023 | +22.0% | 304 |
| 2024 | +3.5% | 314 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 79 business establishments in ZIP 03868, employing approximately 736 people with a combined annual payroll of $40,307,000.
79
Businesses
736
Employees
$40.3M
Annual Payroll
9
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 21 | 26.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 13 | 16.5% |
| Construction | 9 | 11.4% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 6 | 7.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 6 | 7.6% |
| Manufacturing | 5 | 6.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 5 | 6.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 3.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 3 | 3.8% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 03868 vs 03867 →
ZIP 03868 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 03820
Dover (03820)
30,039 residents
- 03867
Rochester (03867)
20,758 residents
- 03878 11,824
Somersworth (03878)
11,824 residents
- 03901 7,246
Berwick (03901)
7,246 residents
- 03835 6,786
Farmington (03835)
6,786 residents
- 04027 6,031
Lebanon (04027)
6,031 residents
- 03868 5,323
Rochester (03868)
5,323 residents
- 03851 4,040
Milton (03851)
4,040 residents
- 03839 3,735
Rochester (03839)
3,735 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 03868 ranks #7 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 03868 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 03823
Madbury (03823)
$148,365 median income
- 04027
Lebanon (04027)
$97,750 median income
- 03820
Dover (03820)
$94,897 median income
- 03901
Berwick (03901)
$94,771 median income
- 03851
Milton (03851)
$93,412 median income
- 03839
Rochester (03839)
$88,346 median income
- 03869
Rollinsford (03869)
$87,215 median income
- 03868
Rochester (03868)
$81,530 median income
- 03867
Rochester (03867)
$78,674 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 03868 ranks #8 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03867 | Rochester, NH | 20,758 | 2.6 mi |
| 03839 | Rochester, NH | 3,735 | 4.5 mi |
| 04027 | Lebanon, ME | 6,031 | 5.9 mi |
| 03901 | Berwick, ME | 7,246 | 5.1 mi |
| 03878 | Somersworth, NH | 11,824 | 5.5 mi |
| 03823 | Madbury, NH | 1,719 | 10.2 mi |
| 03835 | Farmington, NH | 6,786 | 7.4 mi |
| 03820 | Dover, NH | 30,039 | 9.5 mi |
| 03851 | Milton, NH | 4,040 | 8.8 mi |
| 03869 | Rollinsford, NH | 2,469 | 8.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 03868, both outside NH so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (5,323 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Strafford County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 03868 in?
ZIP code 03868 (Rochester) is located in Strafford County, New Hampshire. Strafford County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/strafford-nh.
What is the population of ZIP code 03868?
ZIP code 03868 in Rochester, NH has a population of 5,323 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 03868?
The median household income in ZIP 03868 is $81,530, which is 7% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 03868?
The median home value in ZIP 03868 is $268,800, which is 3% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 03868?
The largest racial group in ZIP 03868 is White at 91.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 1.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 03868?
ZIP code 03868 has 79 business establishments employing approximately 736 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 03868?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 03868 are: Retail trade (21), Other services (except public administration) (13), Construction (9). There are 9 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 03868?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 03868 increased by 3.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 214%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 03868?
In ZIP code 03868, 60.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 29.2% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 03868?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 03868 is 23.1 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 03868?
In ZIP code 03868, approximately 78.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 21.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 03868?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 03868 is 3.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 03868's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 03868 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Rochester, NH ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.