Compare towns
Appleton vs Dunbarton vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Appleton | Dunbarton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
3,097 |
4,306Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Dunbarton 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 | — | #33 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Dunbarton School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.