Compare towns
Carroll vs Dorchester vs Hampton
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k 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 | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 659 |
410Lowest |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH |
56±10.5 29% above NH |
55.8±2.1Lowest 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%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
30.9%±2.8Lowest 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% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampton 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 |
— | $95,233±$9kHighest 4% below NH |
| Hampton 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 |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$241Lowest 28% below NH |
— | $1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,356Lowest 50% below NH |
$3,779 43% below NH |
$6,813Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±47.5 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 19% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 4.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton 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 | — | — | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1 |
| 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.