Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Acton 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
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k 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.
| Measure | Dunbarton | Acton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
24,155Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Acton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Acton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,086Lowest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #33 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Acton-Boxborough | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.