Compare towns
Dorchester vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
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 | Lancaster | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
3,216Highest |
567 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5 29% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% 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% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
8.6%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
5.5%±5Highest NH: 6% |
| Brookfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$81,406±$31kHighest 18% below NH |
| Brookfield and Lancaster 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 |
$215,700±$24k 46% below NH |
$428,000±$61kHighest 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,019±$263 32% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$4,226 37% below NH |
$5,926Highest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Highest NH: 48.2% |
— |
| Lancaster 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% |
16.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
98.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookfield 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | White Mountains Regional 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.