Compare towns
Dorchester vs Brookfield vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Groton has the most kids (15.4% 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.
| Measure | Dorchester | Brookfield | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
567Highest |
507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5 29% above NH |
58.1±9.7Highest 34% above NH |
51.1±16.2Lowest 18% above NH |
| Brookfield and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
8.6%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Groton and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
38.4%±3.4 NH: 20.1% |
29.4%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8% NH: 40.6% |
36.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
29.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.5%±5Highest NH: 6% |
2%±2 NH: 6% |
| Brookfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $81,406±$31kLowest 18% below NH |
$85,625±$21kHighest 14% below NH |
| Groton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$428,000±$61kHighest 6% above NH |
$269,000±$45k 33% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $2,667±$295 79% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779 43% below NH |
$5,926Highest 11% below NH |
$2,873Lowest 57% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
— | 50%±83.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Groton and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3% NH: 72.8% |
98.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.7%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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.