Compare towns
Dorchester vs Grantham 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).
Grantham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Grantham | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
3,465Highest |
855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
50.4±7.5Lowest 16% above NH |
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%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Grantham 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% |
17%±6.9Lowest 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% |
59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
| Grantham and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $106,403±$54kLowest 7% above NH |
$110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
| Marlow and Grantham 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 |
$343,100±$39kHighest 15% below NH |
$325,400±$49k 19% below NH |
| Grantham and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,154±$160 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$7,605Highest 14% above NH |
$5,826 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
— | 18.2%±95.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Marlow 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% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3% NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Grantham 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 | — | #6 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Grantham School District | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.