Compare towns
Dorchester vs Brookfield vs Marlow vs Carroll
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).
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Carroll has the shortest commute (22 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 | Marlow | Carroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 410Lowest |
567 |
855Highest |
659 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5 29% above NH |
58.1±9.7 34% above NH |
52.8±11.7Lowest 22% above NH |
62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH |
| Carroll 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%±4 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
7%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow 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% |
30.5%±5.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±4.4 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+ | 35.8% NH: 40.6% |
36.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.5%±5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Brookfield and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $81,406±$31k 18% below NH |
$110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
$64,821±$26kLowest 35% below NH |
| Marlow 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 |
$325,400±$49k 19% below NH |
$261,500±$42k 35% below NH |
| Brookfield and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,154±$160Highest 23% below NH |
$1,078±$241Lowest 28% below NH |
| Marlow and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779 43% below NH |
$5,926Highest 11% below NH |
$5,826 13% below NH |
$3,356Lowest 50% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
— | 18.2%±95.1 NH: 48.2% |
28%±47.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Carroll and Marlow 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% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
5.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3% NH: 72.8% |
98.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
35 min 31% above NH |
22 minLowest 19% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
4.6%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookfield and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Marlow School District | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.