Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Eliot vs Strafford 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
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Strafford has the youngest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Strafford | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
7,146Highest |
4,306 |
2,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Lowest 19% 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% |
17.6%±3.5 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%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Sutton 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% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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. |
$122,105±$22k 51% 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. |
$427,900±$29k 29% 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. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
$1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% 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% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% 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. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Strafford School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.