Compare towns
Dorset vs Windham 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 people working from home (29.3%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
16,038Highest |
4,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
54.5±6.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Manchester and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Dorset 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Manchester 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% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Manchester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$94,886±$23kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$454,600±$47kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,057±$76Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,923Lowest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Manchester 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #37 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Windham School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.