Compare towns
Bennington vs Dunbarton vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k 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 | Bennington | Dunbarton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
3,097 |
4,306Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 | $83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
34 minLowest 25% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford and Bennington 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | Dunbarton School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.