Compare towns
Dorset vs Salem vs Dummerston
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 expensive homes ($569k median).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k 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 | Dorset | Salem | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
30,964Highest |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Dorset 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% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Dorset 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. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Salem 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. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Salem 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. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Salem 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Salem School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.