Compare towns
Dorset vs Hampton vs Thetford
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).
Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
16,426Highest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% 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% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford 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. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% 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. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% 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. |
$6,813Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% 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% |
49.7%±30.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Hampton 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 | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Thetford School District |
| 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.