Compare towns
Carroll vs Dorchester vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carroll has the oldest population (median age 62.4).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
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.
| Measure | Carroll | Dorchester | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 659 |
410Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH |
56±10.5 29% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below 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%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,821±$26kLowest 35% below NH |
— | $94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
| Dover 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±$42k 35% below NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$241Lowest 28% below NH |
— | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,356Lowest 50% below NH |
$3,779 43% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±47.5 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 19% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 4.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Dover School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.