Compare towns

Dalton vs Stoddard vs Lunenburg

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dalton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k median).

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.

MeasureDaltonStoddardLunenburg
People
Population
916Lowest
1,072
1,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.5±12.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
53±4Highest
36% above U.S.
51.2±4.2
32% above U.S.
Stoddard and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.6%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dalton and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.8%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.1%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Stoddard and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
14.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
2.6%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dalton and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,429±$36k
about the U.S. average
$94,904±$11kHighest
18% above U.S.
$53,125±$9kLowest
34% below U.S.
Stoddard and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$191,400±$68k
42% below U.S.
$330,300±$20kHighest
about the U.S. average
$164,000±$11kLowest
51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$900±$825
36% below U.S.
$895±$751Lowest
37% below U.S.
$1,025±$172Highest
27% below U.S.
Lunenburg and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,561
14% above U.S.
$4,316Highest
38% above U.S.
$2,702Lowest
13% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.7%±83.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.6%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
52.5%±57.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dalton and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
Work from home
5.9%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
4.9%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stoddard and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Stoddard School District Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
High school 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.