What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carroll has the most expensive homes ($262k median).

Dorchester has the most people working from home (12.2%).

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	Dorchester
People
Population	659Highest	410Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5% NH: +4.6%	—
Median age	62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH	56±10.5Lowest 29% above NH
	Carroll and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	7%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	11.2%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Dorchester and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	39.5%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1%	39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Dorchester and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	35.8%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6%	0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Carroll and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,821±$26k 35% below NH	—
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$261,500±$42kHighest 35% below NH	$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH
	Carroll and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,078±$241 28% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,356Lowest 50% below NH	$3,779Highest 43% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28%±47.5Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Carroll and Dorchester 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%	18.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 19% below NH	40 minHighest 50% above NH
Work from home	4.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	12.2%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Dorchester 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.