Compare towns
South Hampton 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
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Orford has the most renters (24.5% rent).
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 | South Hampton | Orford | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984 |
1,295Highest |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3Lowest 4% above 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 | 23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest 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+ | 52.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Orford and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH |
— |
| South Hampton and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$271,900±$25k 32% below NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
— |
| South Hampton and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109Highest 37% above NH |
$5,836 12% below NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Orford and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.5%Lowest 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 | 28 min 6% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8 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 | South Hampton 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.