Compare towns
Dorchester vs Marlow vs Canaan 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).
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Canaan has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Carroll has the shortest commute (22 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 | Marlow | Canaan | Carroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 410Lowest |
855 |
3,811Highest |
659 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.9% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5 29% above NH |
52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
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% |
20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
7%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Canaan 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% |
30.5%±5.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest 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% |
33.4% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
$81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
$64,821±$26kLowest 35% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$325,400±$49kHighest 19% below NH |
$254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$261,500±$42k 35% below NH |
| Marlow and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,154±$160Highest 23% below NH |
$1,140±$90 24% below NH |
$1,078±$241Lowest 28% below NH |
| Marlow and Canaan 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 |
$5,826 13% below NH |
$5,985Highest 10% below NH |
$3,356Lowest 50% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
28%±47.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan 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% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
13.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
22 minLowest 19% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.6%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Canaan 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 | — | — | #83 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Marlow School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.