Compare towns
Dorchester vs Hampton Falls vs Hampton 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 kids (19.1% under 18).
Hampton has the most renters (26.2% rent).
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 | Hampton Falls | Hampton | Carroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 410Lowest |
2,328 |
16,426Highest |
659 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5 29% above NH |
49.5±7.3Lowest 14% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% 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% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
7%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Hampton 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% |
30.9%±2.8 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% |
42.8% 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% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Hampton Falls and Hampton 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 |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$64,821±$26kLowest 35% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$261,500±$42k 35% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,078±$241Lowest 28% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Hampton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$3,356Lowest 50% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
28%±47.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Carroll 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%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 |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
22 minLowest 19% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
4.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls and Hampton 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 | — | — | #31 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Hampton Falls School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1 |
— |
| 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.