Dorchester offers backcountry living over 20 miles outside Lebanon
A love for nature and a small-town spirit define Dorchester. Once a bustling mill town in the 1800s, the Grafton County enclave today is much quieter. Fewer than 400 people live here, many of them retirees, enjoying an outdoorsy lifestyle far from city lights. Seclusion and the area’s recreational opportunities are its biggest draws, as most of the town is forested, undeveloped land. A beloved trail system is hidden under its thick canopy of trees. Despite the remoteness, the community stays connected through the resident-led Dorchester Grange, which organizes annual events and outreach.
Wooded lots with cabins and custom homes
Mature trees hug Dorchester’s single-family homes that rest on a mix of paved and dirt roads. Cabins and log homes are most common, but there are also custom designs and shingle-style houses. Lots typically stretch well over an acre, with some properties featuring barns and other outbuildings. Private wells and septic tanks are the norm. The median home price is around $380,000, well below the national median, and most homes fall between $330,000 and $425,000. Wildfires are possible, according to the First Street Foundation, which gives all of Grafton County a moderate level of wildfire risk.
Year-round recreation includes hiking and skiing down Tenney Mountain
Dorchester is home to the Green Woodlands Foundation, which maintains a popular trail system for cross-country skiers and mountain bikers. The trails pass by several ponds, including Cummins Pond, where anglers have the opportunity to reel in perch and trout. Nearby, hikers can climb to the summit of Cardigan Mountain, where a fire tower offers panoramic views, or traverse a portion of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail as it climbs over Smarts Mountain. Canaan Street Lake is a popular swimming spot with a sandy beach, while sailing is a summer pastime at Mascoma Lake in Enfield. “They opened up Tenney Mountain, so you have a ski mountain that’s 10 minutes away,” says Juli Kelley, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty Center Harbor who lives close by in Rumney. Tenney Mountain Resort also features a terrain park and two 9-hole disc golf courses. Those whose interests tend toward racing can head to Legion Speedway on Friday nights to watch drivers zip around its short oval dirt track.
Plymouth offers casual restaurants, fine dining and national retailers
Dorchester residents have to drive to nearby towns to pick up groceries and dine out. “You’re going to shop in Plymouth. Restaurants are there as well,” Kelley says. Plymouth, anchored by the public Plymouth State University, has a bustling downtown. Restaurants range from Lucky Dog Tavern & Grill, a relaxed spot for American fare, to Six Burner Bistro, offering fine dining in a historic farmhouse. National retailers and grocery chains, such as Market Basket, dot state Route 25, roughly 15 miles away. Lebanon is another option within driving distance, offering a more diverse selection of familiar brands.
Dorchester Old Home Day celebrates community
Residents, new and old alike, get together every August for Dorchester Old Home Day at the town common. Like a family reunion, the event offers a full day of fun with games, live music and a parade. “Vendors will set up little shops, and there’s usually a meal,” Kelley says.
Public and private school options serving Dorchester
The Mascoma Valley Regional School District earns a C overall rating from Niche. Canaan Elementary receives a C-plus and feeds into Indian River School, which also earns a C-plus. The C-rated Mascoma Valley Regional High partners with Hartford Area Career and Technical Center, and students can apply to take industry-focused courses ranging from the culinary arts to software engineering. Alternatively, Cardigan Mountain School is about 10 miles from town. The private, A-rated all-boys boarding school has a hockey team and its own ice arena.
Rural mountain roads connect to state Route 118
Without public transportation, Dorchester is car dependent. One highway weaves through its mountainous landscape, state Route 118. Lebanon, home of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, is less than 25 miles away. While Lebanon Municipal Airport offers daily flights to Boston and White Plains, New York, residents typically drive more than 80 miles to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport for a larger selection of flights.
