Compare towns
Newington vs Orford vs Dorchester vs South Hampton
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).
Orford has the most renters (24.5% rent).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | Orford | Dorchester | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939 |
1,295Highest |
410Lowest |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
45.1±5.3Lowest 4% 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%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest 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% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 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±$46k 47% above NH |
$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH |
— | $152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
| South Hampton and Newington 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 |
$271,900±$25k 32% below NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
— | $1,889±$489 27% above NH |
| Newington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081 9% below NH |
$5,836 12% below NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 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% NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% NH: 72.8% |
75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| South Hampton and Dorchester 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 | — | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.