What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dorchester has the oldest population (median age 56).

Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dorchester	Durham
People
Population	410Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+5.8% NH: +4.6%
Median age	56±10.5Highest 29% above NH	20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH
Kids under 18	11.2%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2%	10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Dorchester and Durham 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%	11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%	75.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6%	55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	—	$124,056±$21k 25% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH	$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,429±$143 4% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,779Lowest 43% below NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2%
	Durham 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%	15.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 50% above NH	19 minLowest 27% below NH
Work from home	12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8%	19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Durham 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	—	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	—	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	51 photos →

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.