Compare towns
Dorchester vs Brookfield vs Lyman
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).
Lyman has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
567Highest |
464 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Lowest 29% above NH |
58.1±9.7 34% above NH |
60.8±6.5Highest 40% above NH |
| Lyman and Brookfield 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% |
12.3%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyman 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%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
38.6%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Lyman 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% |
27.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.5%±5Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Brookfield and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $81,406±$31kHighest 18% below NH |
$71,042±$17kLowest 28% below NH |
| Brookfield and Lyman 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 |
$311,100±$66k 23% below NH |
| Brookfield and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,147±$81 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$5,926Highest 11% below NH |
$3,981 40% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
— | 58.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyman 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% |
14.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3% NH: 72.8% |
98.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
3.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookfield and Dorchester 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 | 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.