What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carroll has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Carroll	Dalton
People
Population	659Lowest	916Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	-4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH	44.5±12.9Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	7%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.6%±11.3Highest NH: 18.2%
	Dalton and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	39.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1%	17.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	20.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	5.1%±4.3Highest NH: 6%
	Dalton and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,821±$26kLowest 35% below NH	$81,429±$36kHighest 18% below NH
	Dalton and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$261,500±$42kHighest 35% below NH	$191,400±$68kLowest 52% below NH
	Carroll and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,078±$241Highest 28% below NH	$900±$825Lowest 40% below NH
	Carroll and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,356Lowest 50% below NH	$3,561Highest 47% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28%±47.5Lowest NH: 48.2%	57.7%±83.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Dalton and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%	19.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 19% below NH	20 minLowest 26% below NH
Work from home	4.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	5.9%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Dalton and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.