Compare towns
Dorchester vs Hampton vs Carroll vs Groton
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 has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Carroll has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Groton has the most kids (15.4% 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 | Hampton | Carroll | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 410Lowest |
16,426Highest |
659 |
507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5 29% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH |
51.1±16.2Lowest 18% 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% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
7%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Groton 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% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
29.4%±4.8Lowest 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% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.2% NH: 40.6% |
29.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2%±2 NH: 6% |
| Hampton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $95,233±$9kHighest 4% below NH |
$64,821±$26kLowest 35% below NH |
$85,625±$21k 14% below NH |
| Hampton and Groton 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 |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$261,500±$42k 35% below NH |
$269,000±$45k 33% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,078±$241Lowest 28% below NH |
$2,667±$295Highest 79% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779 43% below NH |
$6,813Highest about the NH average |
$3,356 50% below NH |
$2,873Lowest 57% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
28%±47.5 NH: 48.2% |
50%±83.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Groton 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
22 minLowest 19% below NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.7%±6.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton and Groton 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 School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — | — |
| High school 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.