Compare towns
Dorchester vs Lancaster vs Marlow
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Marlow has the most expensive homes ($325k 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 | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
3,216Highest |
855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH |
52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
| Dorchester and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Marlow 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% |
30.5%±5.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Marlow 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% |
33.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Marlow 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 |
$110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$215,700±$24k 46% below NH |
$325,400±$49kHighest 19% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,154±$160Highest 23% below NH |
| Marlow and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$4,226 37% below NH |
$5,826Highest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Highest NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Lancaster and Marlow 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% |
8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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 | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | — | None 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.