Compare towns
Dorset vs Hampton vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 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 | Dorset | Hampton | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
16,426Highest |
4,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
54.5±6.3 40% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Manchester and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$94,886±$23kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$454,600±$47kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,057±$76Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$5,923Lowest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±13.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Manchester 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #37 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.