Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Epping vs Bennington vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k median).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k 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 | Epping | Bennington | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
7,430Highest |
1,588Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington 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 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
32 minLowest 21% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Epping School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.