Compare towns
Franconia 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
Franconia has the most expensive homes ($530k median).
Orford has the youngest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Franconia | Orford | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060 |
1,295Highest |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
0%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 55.6±7 28% above NH |
48.9±3.3Lowest 13% above NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
| Dorchester and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Franconia and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 36.6%±6.7 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$92,571±$24kHighest 7% below NH |
— |
| Orford and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $530,300±$96kHighest 32% above NH |
$271,900±$25k 32% below NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$278Highest 14% below NH |
$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
— |
| Franconia and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,451Highest 12% above NH |
$5,836 12% below NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Dorchester and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.