Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Eliot vs Exeter vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Eliot | Exeter | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
7,146 |
16,151Highest |
2,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Sutton 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Exeter 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% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Sutton 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. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,652 145% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Eliot 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% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.