Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Epping vs Strafford vs Hopkinton
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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Strafford | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
7,430Highest |
4,306 |
6,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
45±2.8Lowest 4% 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%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Dunbarton and Hopkinton 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% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Strafford 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 26% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
| Hopkinton 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 20% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
$506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
| Hopkinton 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 22% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,270±$129 15% below NH |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 23% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Lowest 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Hopkinton 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 | #28 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Epping School District | Strafford School District | Hopkinton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | Hopkinton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| 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.