Compare towns
Dorset vs Sunapee 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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 | Sunapee | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
3,416Highest |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest 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%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Dummerston 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% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee 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. |
$101,393±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Sunapee 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. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest 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 | — | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Sunapee School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.