Compare towns

Acton vs Dunbarton vs Sutton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (29 min average).

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.

MeasureActonDunbartonSutton
People
Population
2,721
3,097Highest
2,239Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
52.9±4.2Highest
36% above U.S.
48±3.7Lowest
23% above U.S.
48.1±4.1
24% above U.S.
Acton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.1%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.2%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Acton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,750±$15kLowest
about the U.S. average
$124,348±$21k
54% above U.S.
$130,313±$31kHighest
61% above U.S.
Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$334,300±$34kLowest
about the U.S. average
$484,100±$33kHighest
46% above U.S.
$362,600±$16k
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,166±$70Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,656±$614Highest
17% above U.S.
Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,680Lowest
14% below U.S.
$8,233Highest
164% above U.S.
$7,652
145% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.7%±60.7
U.S.: 51.1%
27.6%±47.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Acton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
40 minHighest
53% above U.S.
34 min
27% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
18.2%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.8%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Acton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #43 of 133 in ME #33 of 120 in NH —
School district Acton Public Schools Dunbarton School District Kearsarge Regional School District
High school in town None in town None in town Kearsarge Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.