Compare towns
Dorchester vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Carroll has the most expensive homes ($262k 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 | Carroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
3,216Highest |
659 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5 29% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% 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% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
7%±4.5Lowest 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% |
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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Lancaster and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $68,911±$23kHighest 30% below NH |
$64,821±$26kLowest 35% below NH |
| Lancaster and Carroll 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 |
$261,500±$42kHighest 35% below NH |
| Carroll and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,078±$241Highest 28% below NH |
| Carroll and Lancaster 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 |
$4,226Highest 37% below NH |
$3,356Lowest 50% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Highest NH: 48.2% |
28%±47.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
16.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
22 minLowest 19% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
4.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dorchester and Lancaster 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.