Quiz: Can You Guess if These New Hampshire Towns Are Real or Fictional?
New England native and comedy legend Steven Wright once said, “It’s a small world, but I’d hate to have to paint it.” The same can be said for New Hampshire.
It’s a small state, you say. You know it well, you claim.
Okay, let’s put you to the test.
Below are six New Hampshire towns. See if you can tell which are real municipalities, and which are fictional settings in television, film, or literature:
"Dixville Notch"
With a population of just four, as of the 2020 census, Dixville has one of the smallest communities on record in the U.S. and sits closer to Quebec than any major American city...
REAL!
An easy one to get you started. Dixville Notch is well known, as it is one of the first places to declare election results (and given the tenor of recent campaign ads – one could argue the town’s name is relatively apt.).
"Mandrake Falls"
This scenic town is a popular tourist getaway known for its welcoming community, but most famous for Deeds Pizza, regularly voted one of the best pizzerias in New England...
FAKE!
Sorry, but Longfellow Deeds is still just a fictional character, most recently played by New Hampshire native Adam Sandler in the 2002 comedy Mr. Deeds.
"Grover’s Corners"
This small town thrived at the turn of the 20th century, often cited as a model community during America’s Second Industrial Revolution...
FAKE!
Grover’s Corners is indeed a model town for telling the fictional but relatable of daily life, love, and ultimately, death (also known as the stage play Our Town).
"Acworth"
This small town is a source of high-quality crystals and lent its name to another town in the south...
REAL!
Not only did Acworth serve as the inspiration for the city of Acworth, Georgia, but it is also the home of a New Hampshire legend, historian Fritz Wetherbee.
"Hill"
Originally known as “New Chester,” Hill has a hill that measures nearly 2000 feet above sea level...
REAL!
Dickinson Hill sits exactly 1,910 feet (or 580 meters) above sea level.
"Dartford"
Primarily a farming town, the hole-in-the-wall breakfast spot Jim’s Diner has developed a reputation for serving some of the best pancakes in all the Northeast...
FAKE!
Perhaps that’s why Vito Caputo thought it a safe place to lay low in the Sopranos episode “Johnny Cakes.”
"Rumney"
Once known mainly for its farming, Rumney is now popular with tourists for its rock-climbing...
REAL!
It’s also known for the dreamlike – but very real – Polar Caves Park, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2022.