Compare towns

Dorchester vs Hampton Falls 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).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
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.

MeasureDorchesterHampton FallsCarroll
People
Population
410Lowest
2,328Highest
659
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+7.5%
NH: +4.6%
+7.5%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
56±10.5
29% above NH
49.5±7.3Lowest
14% above NH
62.4±4.8Highest
44% above NH
Carroll and Dorchester 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%
19.1%±5.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
7%±4.5Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Hampton Falls 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%
25%±3.6Lowest
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%
54.5%Highest
NH: 40.6%
35.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.5%±3.1Lowest
NH: 6%
3.8%±2.1Highest
NH: 6%
1.8%±1.2
NH: 6%
Hampton Falls and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian —
$166,157±$14kHighest
68% above NH
$64,821±$26kLowest
35% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$139,600±$133kLowest
65% below NH
$772,600±$76kHighest
92% above NH
$261,500±$42k
35% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,852±$475Highest
24% above NH
$1,078±$241Lowest
28% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,779
43% below NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$3,356Lowest
50% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
NH: 48.2%
27.2%±22.7
NH: 48.2%
28%±47.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
Carroll and Hampton Falls 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%
4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
5.5%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
86.3%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
91.6%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
6 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
32 min
21% above NH
22 minLowest
19% below NH
Work from home
12.2%±8.8
NH: 16.8%
21.8%±4.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
4.6%±3.2Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Hampton Falls and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Hampton Falls School District —
High school 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.