Compare towns
Dorchester vs Durham vs Canaan vs Marlow
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).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Dorchester | Durham | Canaan | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 410Lowest |
15,080Highest |
3,811 |
855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
| Dorchester and Marlow 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Canaan 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% |
19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
30.5%±5.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Marlow 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$110,455±$12k 12% above NH |
| Durham and Marlow 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$325,400±$49k 19% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,154±$160 23% below NH |
| Durham and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,985 10% below NH |
$5,826 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Durham 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% NH: 7.2% |
13.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 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 |
30 min 12% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Canaan 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | — | Oyster River High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.