Compare towns
Dorchester vs Hancock vs Brookfield
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).
Hancock has the most kids (15.4% under 18).
Brookfield has the shortest commute (27 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 | Hancock | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
1,791Highest |
567 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5 29% above NH |
53.8±4.5Lowest 24% above NH |
58.1±9.7Highest 34% above NH |
| Brookfield 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% |
15.4%±2.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
8.6%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hancock 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% |
30.2%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
38.4%±3.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
53.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.5%±5Highest NH: 6% |
| Brookfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $95,208±$15kHighest 4% below NH |
$81,406±$31kLowest 18% below NH |
| Hancock and Brookfield 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 |
$436,700±$22kHighest 8% above NH |
$428,000±$61k 6% above NH |
| Hancock and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,208±$650 19% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$6,884Highest 3% above NH |
$5,926 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
— |
| Hancock 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% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
98.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hancock and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Contoocook Valley 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.