Compare towns

Dunbarton vs Acton vs Weare

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 expensive homes ($807k median).
Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k 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.

MeasureDunbartonActonWeare
People
Population
3,097Lowest
24,155Highest
9,170
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48±3.7Highest
23% above U.S.
44.5±0.8Lowest
14% above U.S.
45.6±4
17% above U.S.
Dunbarton and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±4
U.S.: 22%
Acton and Weare 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%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
13.5%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dunbarton and Acton 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%
41.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Acton and Weare 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.
$118,271±$17kLowest
46% 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.
$396,300±$26kLowest
19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,166±$70Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,986±$155Highest
41% above U.S.
$1,541±$214
9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,233
164% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,272Lowest
101% 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%
62.2%±24.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Weare and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
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.
1986
6 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
35% above U.S.
Work from home
12.6%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
35.9%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #33 of 120 in NH #13 of 282 in MA #84 of 120 in NH
School district Dunbarton School District Acton-Boxborough John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District
High school in town None in town Acton-Boxborough Regional High John Stark Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.5Highest
11.4Lowest
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.