Compare

03868 vs 72916

Which is the better fit for you?

03868 — Rochester, NH
71
Area Score
Top 15% nationally
72916 — Fort Smith, AR
71
Area Score
Top 16% nationally

03868 and 72916 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.

Signals

03868
72916
Opportunity
76 · Top 12%
vs
73 · Top 16%
Growth
54 · Top 44%
vs
54 · Top 43%
Climate
60 · Bottom 14%
vs
63 · Bottom 26%
Physical resilience
63 · Top 44%
vs
58 · Top 50%
Housing affordability
97 · Top 17%
vs
100 · Top 9%
Access
77 · Bottom 19%
vs
95 · Top 43%
Economic stability
73 · Top 25%
vs
66 · Top 38%

Measured values

Metric0386872916Source period
Population6,13311,7112024 ACS 5-Year
Median household income$81,530$87,9832024 ACS 5-Year
Per capita income$39,695$70,8882024 ACS 5-Year
Population density701/sq mi311/sq mi2024 ACS 5-Year
Median home value$268,800$263,7002024 ACS 5-Year
Median gross rent$1,203$1,2422024 ACS 5-Year
Homeownership rate78.1%71.3%2024 ACS 5-Year
Unemployment rate2.2%4.2%June 2026
Employment change (year over year)-0.0%1.5%June 2026
Bachelor's degree or higher29.2%40.1%2024 ACS 5-Year
Poverty rate3.0%8.3%2024 ACS 5-Year
Housing units permitted (12 months)14635912 months ending July 2026
Permits per 1,000 residents4.44.012 months ending July 2026
Permit change (year over year)-23.6%-10.5%12 months ending July 2026
Average July high82°F94°F1991-2020 Normals
Average January low15°F30°F1991-2020 Normals
Annual precipitation41.2"47.3"1991-2020 Normals
Distance to major airport37 mi4 miNASR current cycle
Average commute24.8 min21.0 min2024 ACS 5-Year
Median age42.138.92024 ACS 5-Year
Public schools112024-25 school year
Students per teacher10.347.212024-25 school year
Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility29.7%3.0%2024-25 school year

A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.

New Hampshire and Arkansas do not give the same test. Each state writes its own assessment and sets its own passing score, so the two proficiency rows above are not directly comparable — the difference between them partly measures which standard is harder. Students per teacher and the school count are unaffected, and each profile ranks its own proficiency within its own state.

Physical risk tradeoff

03868

Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, earthquake.

72916

Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.

Your best match

Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.

03868
71
Your Score
71
Area Score
72916
73
Your Score
71
Area Score

Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.

Full profiles: 03868 — Rochester, NH · 72916 — Fort Smith, AR · How this is calculated: methodology

03868 vs 72916: Location Comparison | AreaProfile