Compare towns
Newington vs Dorchester vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Orford has the most renters (24.5% rent).
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 | Newington | Dorchester | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 939 |
410Lowest |
1,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— | 0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1Lowest 12% above NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
48.9±3.3 13% 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 | 15.7%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Newington and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11 NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Orford and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
— | $92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH |
| Newington and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$271,900±$25k 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
— | $1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
| Newington and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081Highest 9% below NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$5,836 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Dorchester and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Newington 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.