Compare towns

Dorchester vs Madbury 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).
Madbury has the most kids (29% 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.

MeasureDorchesterMadburyGroton
People
Population
410Lowest
2,203Highest
507
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+8.3%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
56±10.5Highest
29% above NH
37.7±2.1Lowest
13% below NH
51.1±16.2
18% above NH
Dorchester and Groton 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%
29%±5.9Highest
NH: 18.2%
15.4%±4.6
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
39.8%±15.5Highest
NH: 20.1%
14.3%±2.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
29.4%±4.8
NH: 20.1%
Dorchester and Groton 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%
52.6%Highest
NH: 40.6%
29.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.5%±3.1Lowest
NH: 6%
3.4%±1.8Highest
NH: 6%
2%±2
NH: 6%
Madbury and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian —
$148,365±$30kHighest
50% above NH
$85,625±$21kLowest
14% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$139,600±$133kLowest
65% below NH
$476,900±$31kHighest
18% above NH
$269,000±$45k
33% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,574±$759Lowest
6% above NH
$2,667±$295Highest
79% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,779
43% below NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$2,873Lowest
57% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
NH: 48.2%
16.7%±15.2
NH: 48.2%
50%±83.6Highest
NH: 48.2%
Groton and Madbury 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%
4.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
10.5%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
82.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
91.3%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
6 yrs 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
25 minLowest
5% below NH
29 min
10% above NH
Work from home
12.2%±8.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
14%±3.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
13.7%±6.5
NH: 16.8%
Madbury and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Oyster River Coop 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.