Compare towns
Dover vs Orford vs Dorchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Orford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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 | Dover | Orford | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,295 |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
| Dorchester and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH |
— |
| Dover and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$271,900±$25k 32% below NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
— |
| Dover and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,836 12% below NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.5% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Dorchester 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Rivendell Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.