Compare towns
Dorchester vs Orford vs South Hampton
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).
Orford has the most renters (24.5% rent).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k 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 | Orford | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
1,295Highest |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
45.1±5.3Lowest 4% above NH |
| Dorchester and Orford 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% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Orford and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
| South Hampton and Orford 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 |
$271,900±$25k 32% below NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton and Orford 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 |
$5,836 12% below NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Orford and South Hampton 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% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| South Hampton and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | — | Rivendell Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.