What stands out worked out from the figures below

Groton has the most expensive homes ($269k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Groton	Dorchester
People
Population	507Highest	410Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4% NH: +4.6%	—
Median age	51.1±16.2Lowest 18% above NH	56±10.5Highest 29% above NH
	Dorchester and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.4%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2%	11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Groton and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.4%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Dorchester and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	35.8%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±2Highest NH: 6%	0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Groton and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,625±$21k 14% below NH	—
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$269,000±$45kHighest 33% below NH	$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH
	Groton and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,667±$295 79% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,873Lowest 57% below NH	$3,779Highest 43% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50%±83.6Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Groton and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%	18.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above NH	40 minHighest 50% above NH
Work from home	13.7%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8%	12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Groton and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.